By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

DAYTON, Ohio - The Bulls have proven they belong in the NCAA tournament and they didn't sweat one bit in front of the national media Tuesday afternoon.

Head coach Stan Heath, senior forward Ron Anderson Jr. and freshman point guard Anthony Collins chatted it up at the University of Dayton a day before the program plays its first NCAA tournament game in 20 years against California.

"We're very grateful for having the spot," Anderson Jr. said. "We're going to continue doing what we're doing, continue playing Bulls basketball and playing defense."

This marks Heath's fourth NCAA tournament run as a head coach after taking Kent State to the Elite Eight back in 2002 and going to the dance twice with Arkansas. Heath hasn't touched too much on his past with this group of Bulls, but his few messages have been important.

"I wanted them to know you're in a select field of 68 teams that have legitimate chance to win the national championship, and anything can happen," he said. "Your first game is your most important game. You can't overlook anyone."

Heath also picked up valuable gems of knowledge at Michigan State, where he was an assistant under Tom Izzo from 1996-2001, and plans to share them with USF before it takes the court Wednesday.

"This tournament bracket, this is the Dayton/Nashville bracket, and we need to win three games to win this championship," he said. "I think if you can give them smaller goals to set, it helps them as they continue down the line. So those are kind of the references I use from the past."

NCAA TOURNEY PART II FOR ANDERSON  JR.

Anderson Jr. made his first NCAA tournament trip with Kansas State as a true freshman all the way back in 2008. Four years is a long time between appearances, but the Bulls' emotional leader remembers it like it was yesterday.

"It was an experience that you don't get very often. Not too many people understand how difficult it is to make the tournament," he said. "I guess coming in as a freshman that year it was a little bit easier, but I had a couple of first‑rounders on my team that helped me out."

That Wildcats team made the second round of the tournament with Michael Beasley leading the way. This trip is much different for Anderson Jr., however, with no single Bull stealing the spotlight.

"This year being that nobody's averaging double figures, everybody's coming in, knows their role. We had to become a team and we had to build through the course of the year," he said. "I think that's what makes coming back to the tournament, especially for my senior year, that much more sweet, knowing that the road to get here had its challenges and we overcame a lot."

A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT

Even-keeled Collins doesn't say much in front of cameras, especially about himself, but that didn't stop many others from talking about the freshman's loud season on the court.

The Houston native made the Big East All-Rookie team and is just one assist shy of reaching 100 despite missing the early part of the season with an injury.

"He was a Christmas gift. He's special. He really is," Heath said. "The first time he got the ball out there on the court in a game and I saw how he ran the team, guys responded to him, he was able to read the defense and make plays. I knew we had something pretty special."

Fans who've watched Collins dish it out on the court notice he doesn't fold under the pressures of big games and tough opponents. Anderson Jr. can't think of a time he saw Collins flustered on the court and said he's only seen the rising star not calm once - off the court.

"The only time I saw him panic, I was about to beat him in video games on NBA," Anderson Jr. said with a laugh. "That was the only time. Other than that he's been good."

INTENSE FOCUS

The Bulls got on the court at Dayton after meeting with the press and used every second of a 40-minute session to their advantage.

Anderson Jr. was diving for loose balls, Jawanza Poland was sharpening up his aim at the free throw line and the whole team played with an intensity that resembled a Final Four game in its final two minutes.

It was definitely a good sign for Bulls fans who are eager to watch the green and gold get going in the biggest game of the season Wednesday night.

USF hasn't had much time to prepare for California, but the team's main focus is all about staying true to what got it to this point.

"Basically I think you just stick to your principles and also you have to switch things up according to them and don't let them do certain tendencies that they like to do, but also stick to the principles that got you here," Collins said. "I think we'll be fine."