Men's Basketball October 14, 2014 USF

10 Essential Bulls: Tony Grier

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As we approach a highly anticipated USF basketball season, let's look back at some of the student-athletes who got us here. Our list of 10 essential USF basketball players may not line up perfectly with yours; discussion and debate is welcomed.

We'll list these 10 players in no particular order. They may or may not have huge statistics, and they may or may not have been a part of the big plays we all remember. But because of their talent, their effort or even their timing, they provided a major influence on our USF men's basketball program.

By JIM LOUK
Voice of the Bulls

TAMPA, OCT. 14, 2014 -

There may not have been two more different back to back USF basketball seasons than 1979-80 and 1980-81. The '79-80 team went 6-21. Coach Chip Connor was fired midway through the season and interim Gordon Gibbons finished up. It was the last season of a nomadic lifestyle for the program, playing in multiple arenas with no on-campus facility.

1980-81 brought a high profile new head coach, Lee Rose, a brand new on-campus arena, the Sun Dome, the first ever post season USF appearance, and the beginning of the modern era of Bulls basketball.

What did all the changes mean to Tony Grier?

0.3 points per game.

Grier was a model of consistency from the moment he joined the Bulls as a sophomore in the 1979-80 season. He was named the Sun Belt Conference sophomore of the year (not an easy task on a six win team), and he led the league in scoring at 19.5 points per game.

A year later as a member of a completely different USF program, Grier once again led the league at 19.2 points per game. And this time, he was part of one of the biggest turnarounds in program history.

The Bulls tripled their win total over the previous year, going 18-11. Grier, who started every game that season, was part of the first ever USF post season game, an NIT battle against Connecticut on March 12, 1981.

After a solid senior year with a 17-11 Bulls team in 1981-82, Grier finished his career atop the all-time USF scoring charts with 1,475 points. That's still good for seventh all-time at USF, and is all the more remarkable when you remember it came in just three years, and without the three point shot.

The 6-3 guard shot 48% from the floor for his career, and his 18.2 points per game is third all-time for the Bulls.

His time at USF is well chronicled in a book he wrote a few years ago. Grier was an integral piece of the puzzle as USF's basketball program moved forward and changed dramatically. Even though the ride hasn't always been smooth since then, Bulls basketball has never looked back.

USF men's basketball season tickets are on sale now and available online at GoUSFBulls.com, by calling 1-800-GoBulls, or in person at the USF Ticket Office. Season ticket members may renew their tickets online today.

The Bulls return three players who saw playing time last season in Corey Allen Jr., Anthony Collins, and Chris Perry. USF welcomes six newcomers as well as Jake Bodway, Dre Clayton and Bo Zeigler who redshirted their freshman season. Orlando Antigua is in his first season as head coach after spending the past five seasons as an assistant coach at Kentucky.