By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA - Poise could officially become Anthony Collins' middle name by the end of the basketball season.
The point guard has crushed the freshman stereotype on the way to leading the Bulls' NCAA Tournament push down the floor. Collins has a plus-1.6 assist-to-turnover ratio this season and his importance to USF's offense was apparent in Wednesday night's 58-51 victory at No. 18 Louisville.
The Houston native dished out a modest three assists, but he tied for the most minutes of any USF player with 35 and turned the ball over only three times in arguably USF's biggest win in 20 years.
"(He is) a very good thinker; he doesn't play like a freshman," Louisville head coach Rick Pitino said. "He's the best freshman point guard I've seen mentally in some time. He doesn't rattle; he knows what to do."
The Bulls are now knocking loudly on the NCAA Tournament door after beating the Cardinals for the first time since 1992. Collins, deservingly so, has received his share of the credit. He ranks sixth in the Big East with 5.4 assists per game, fourth in free throw percentage (85.2) and 12th in steals (1.6).
"Anthony Collins handled the pressure so well," USF head coach Stan Heath said after Wednesday's win. "I've got to check his birth certificate. He cannot be a freshman doing what he's doing out here. He's unbelievable."
PACK THE HOUSE
USF is giving its fans a great opportunity to watch the team's regular season finale at a cheap price.
Saturday's noon game against West Virginia at the Tampa Bay Times Forum will cost a ticket buyer just $10 and children get in for free. Every seat in the lower bowl will have a special white T-shirt as a gift, courtesy of Grow Financial Federal Credit Union and Sagicor Life Insurance.
That's just a small portion of the benefits of attending the game. Get all the details of the Bulls' special offers to fans here.
Saturday also marks senior day for USF and Heath hopes his team can make it a memorable one.
"We've got four seniors, Hugh Robertson, Ron Anderson, Augustus Gilchrist and Alberto Damour; we want to send those guys off right for the way they've helped our program," he said.
