PHOTO GALLERY

By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA - Pack your bags USF fans because the Bulls are going dancing.

The USF men's basketball team's sweet season hit its highest note yet Sunday when the Bulls made their first NCAA tournament in 20 years. USF (20-13) is headed to Dayton, Ohio to face California 9 p.m. Wednesday with the winner heading down to Nashville, Tenn., to take on Temple in Friday's second round.

"It is exhilarating, exciting and such an opportunity for all of our student-athletes, and particularly our seniors who have worked so hard and deserve this opportunity to play," USF President Judy Genshaft said. "We're proud. Go Bulls."

The Bulls certainly did their part to get an invite to arguably the best event in sports. USF set a program best with 12 Big East regular-season wins, made its first appearance in the conference's quarterfinals and now gets to bring the Big East Coach of the Year to the field of 68.

"We still feel like we can play better basketball and we're excited to have an opportunity to go forward," head coach Stan Heath said.

Finding out the news wasn't easy, however, for a team that's been declared in, out and everything in between by college basketball critics in the past month. The Bulls had to wait about 40 minutes before their name was called on Sunday's nationally-televised selection show.

"I was on the edge of my seat. It definitely made the experience a lot more exciting," junior Toarlyn Fitzpatrick said with a smile. "It means a lot to the program and the city itself. It's exciting for everyone that got up for our team and supported us."

Ron Anderson Jr. has made it clear all season that his main goal was to help the Bulls reach a destination that many basketball experts once thought was well down the road for USF. The senior is now headed to the second NCAA tournament of his career and was proud of the Bulls' response to the big news.

"Right after they called our name, guys celebrated for a little bit, but then they got in business mode," he said. "We're ready for practice tomorrow. Our guys are eager to get it started."

That businesslike attitude has been with the Bulls all season and was a huge reason why they defied the odds to reach the tournament. USF improved last season's win total by 10 games while leading the Big East in scoring defense.

"They deserve to be in this tournament," USF Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Doug Woolard said. "The thing to me is they can win games in this tournament and I think the committee felt that. It's an exciting time and certainly a great time to be a USF Bull."

NCAA tournament talk can produce enough pressure to boil a team over the top, but the Bulls responded by winning seven of their past nine games when talk was the loudest. One of those victories came against Big East tournament champion Louisville on Feb. 29 that could have made the difference in USF being in or out of the tournament.

"It's been 20 years and I can't tell you how many alumni and former players have talked about it and wanted our program to get back there," Heath said.

"Just getting in isn't enough," Heath added. "We're excited, we accomplished some goals but we certainly want to advance."

Cal (24-9) will no doubt be a challenge on Wednesday and the Bulls are ready to turn the page on past success and open the book for more groundbreaking material.

"We've got to make sure that we understand it's a new season and we have to play hard," Heath said. "Every team in this field is extremely good and we have to play good basketball."