Matchup: USF (5-19, 2-9) vs. SMU (19-2, 8-2)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 7
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Tampa, Fla. | Sun Dome (10,411)
TV: CBSSN (John Sadak, Chris Walker)
Radio: 820 AM (Jim Lighthall, Jim Louk) | BullsCast
XM 84 | Sirius 84
TAMPA, FEB. 6, 2016 – USF's men's basketball team hosts No. 12 SMU Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Sun Dome.
The Bulls (5-19, 2-9 American Athletic Conference) are coming off an 88-57 loss at Cincinnati on Thursday, while the Mustangs (19-2, 8-2) are coming off a 71-68 loss at Houston on Monday. SMU's only two losses of the season have come in its last two road games.
The Bulls are led by Jahmal McMurray and his 15.0 points per game, which ranks seventh in the conference. The guard is moving up the freshman single-season records list quickly in a number of categories. McMurray, currently at 360 points, needs two more points to move into the No. 4 position on USF's freshman scoring list. His 51 made 3-pointers this season is the fourth-most for a freshman at USF. Radenko Dobras' freshman record of 72 is within reach for McMurray, who averages 2.1 3-pointers per game.
Senior center Jaleel Cousins is coming off of his seventh double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds at Cincinnati. The seven double-doubles is the most in a season at USF since Victor Rudd had seven as a senior during the 2012-13 season.
SMU leads the all-time series 6-3 and has won four of the last five meetings. The Mustangs won the first meeting this season, 72-58, on Jan. 2 in Dallas. McMurray hit three 3-pointers and had 17 points to lead the Bulls.
QUICK NOTES
> USF is looking for its first win over a ranked team since Feb. 19, 2012, a 58-51 win at No. 19 Louisville.
> USF is trying for its first win over a ranked team at home since Jan. 13, 2012 vs. No. 23 Seton Hall (55-53).
> Jaleel Cousins is coming off his seventh double-double of the season at Cincinnati (10 points/10 rebounds).
> Jahmal McMurray has averaged 18.3 points in the last eight games.
> USF has been without its third-leading scorer Chris Perry over the past four games (violation of team rules).
> USF's strength of schedule ranks No. 48 according to the NCAA.
> USF has been outrebounded only four times in its last 13 games and is +4.5 during that span.
> Freshman Jahmal McMurray has led the team this season and ranks seventh in the conference in scoring (15.0).
> USF ranks third in the conference and 19th in the NCAA with 5.5 blocks per game.
> USF ranks third in the conference and 27th in the NCAA in 3-point field goal defense (30.8 percent).
> Jahmal McMurray is tied for the most minutes played of any freshman in the country at 35.4 (Austin Nehls, CCS).
OPPONENT INFORMATION
> SMU is 5-2 on the road with both of the losses coming in its last two road games, at Temple and at Houston.
> SMU's field goal percentage of 50.1 ranks fourth in the NCAA. The Mustangs also rank 11th with a 3-point percentage of 40.8.
> Senior Nic Moore is one of 10 finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award.
> Senior Jordan Tolbert leads the conference with 9.1 rebounds per game.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
The game will be televised by CBSSN with John Sadak and Chris Walker on the call. Listen to the radio broadcast and the voices of Jim Lighthall and Jim Louk on 820 AM and online at GoUSFBulls.com or the TuneIn radio app.
SEASON INFORMATION
> This is the 45th season of USF basketball, which began in the fall of 1971. USF picked up its 600th win vs. Jacksonville.
> USF is thin at the guard position with Roddy Peters out indefinitely after suffering a fractured left foot against NC State. Sophomore guard Troy Holston Jr. went down with a torn ACL in July. Three more scholarship players are unavailable in Tulio Da Silva (non-qualifier), Isaiah Manderson (transfer) and Geno Thorpe (transfer).
> The Bulls possess one of the biggest front courts in the league with 6-11 Jaleel Cousins, 6-11 Ruben Guerrero, 6-8 Luis Santos and 6-8 Chris Perry. Angel Nunez (6-8) can play the two, three or four positions.
WEEKLY RADIO SHOW
The USF Basketball Show will air 12 times this season, nine from Beef 'O' Brady's at 4103 USF Cedar Circle and three from Hooters at 13606 Bruce B Downs Blvd. The show features head coach Orlando Antigua with host Jim Lighthall. All 12 shows will air on 820 AM and online at GoUSFBulls.com. Fans are invited to come out and meet the coach. Questions can be submitted through Twitter by sending them to @USFMBB.
The next show is Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at Beef 'O' Brady's.
TV SHOW
USF's TV show, USF Basketball: Run With The Bulls provides six episodes of behind-the scenes access and stunning cinematography covering Orlando Antigua's program. It airs January through March multiple times on Bright House Sports Network (Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m., Thursdays at 6 p.m.), FOX Sports Sun (Thursdays at 11:30 p.m.) and WFDB TV (Saturday at noon). Show debut dates are Jan. 7, Jan. 21, Feb. 4, Feb. 18, March 3 and March 17. The show can also be viewed on YouTube at YouTube.com/BullsVision.
UP NEXT
USF hits the road for a game at Temple on Feb. 14 before playing at East Carolina on Feb. 16. The Bulls' next home game is Feb. 20 against Memphis. Purchase tickets by going to USFBullsTix.com.
The USF men's basketball team is led by Orlando Antigua, who is in his second season as the head coach after spending the previous six season as an assistant to Naismith Hall of Fame coach John Calipari. USF has retired three numbers in its 45-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.
