Matchup: USF (0-0) vs. Nova Southeastern (0-0)
Date: Monday, Nov. 7
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Tampa | Sun Dome
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Radio: 1040 AM (Jim Lighthall, Todd Kalas)
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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, NOV. 6, 2016 – USF's men's basketball season begins with a tune-up that will feature three new impact players for the Bulls.
Guards Geno Thorpe and Michael Bibby, along with forward Tulio Da Silva, will make their Green and Gold debuts when USF hosts Nova Southeastern 7 p.m. Monday in an exhibition game at the Sun Dome.
Head coach Orlando Antigua has stressed the importance of total commitment to defense, which is a strong suit for Thorpe. The 6-foot-4 junior transfer sat out last season after grabbing 38 steals in 34 games as a sophomore at Penn State. Learn about Thorpe's journey to USF HERE.
Thorpe was a 1,000-point scorer at Shaler High School in Pittsburgh and he averaged 8.7 points as a sophomore with the Nittany Lions.
“(Thorpe) is another dynamic guard that can really create a shot and get to the rim,” Antigua said.
USF picked up a dynamic scorer by signing the son of 17-year NBA veteran, Mike Bibby. Michael Bibby averaged 19.3 points and five assists as a senior at Shadow Mountain High School in Arizona. The 6-foot-3 freshman led his high school to two state championships and he was the Arizona Player of the Year in 2016.
“I want to win games, that's what I've been about my whole life,” Bibby said. “I love to win.”
At 6-foot-7, Da Silva adds more size to the roster and he's considered one of the most athletic players on the team. The redshirt freshman forward practiced with USF, but didn't play last season after being rated as a four-star recruit out of Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville.
Da Silva also gained valuable experience playing for the Brazilian national team at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship.
“Probably this is the most versatile team we've had,” Antigua said at USF media day. “We've got guys that can play multiple positions. It's probably our most skilled team we've had as well. Certainly our shooting is going to improve.”
The Opponent
USF will look improve to 2-0 all-time against Nova Southeastern, a talented Division-II team that plays in the Sunshine State Conference.
Sharks head coach Gary Tuell has won 153 games in 12 seasons with the program. Nova Southeastern finished in sixth place in the SSC last season and returns all-conference pick Harrison Goodrick, the league's leading rebounder in 2015-16.
USF won the schools' first-ever meeting by a 99-60 margin in the regular season on Nov. 22, 2002.
Notables
This is the 46th season of USF men's basketball, which began in the fall of 1971.
The Bulls are 11-0 in exhibition games since 2005. USF defeated Eckerd, another SSC opponent, by a 78-64 margin in exhibition play last season.
Junior center Ruben Guerrero is ready for a bigger role for the Bulls. The 7-foot native of Marbella, Spain grew an inch since last season and he's the top returning rebounder at 5.6 boards per game.
The USF men's basketball team is led by Orlando Antigua, who is in his third season as the head coach after spending the previous six season as an assistant to Naismith Hall of Fame coach John Calipari. The Bulls return five from last season's team including American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team member Jahmal McMurray who scored the second-most points ever by a USF freshman last season. The Bulls will also have four additions that sat out last season; Tulio Da Silva, Troy Holston, Isaiah Manderson and Geno Thorpe.
USF has retired three numbers in its 46-year history: Chucky Atkins (12), Charlie Bradley (30) and Radenko Dobras (31). The Bulls have earned three NCAA tournament bids and appeared in the NIT eight times. In the 2011-12 season, USF was one win away from an appearance in the Sweet 16.
To renew season tickets, contact the USF Ticket Office at 1-800-Go-Bulls or by going online to USFBullsTix.com.
