Bulls Eager to Show Their Progress in Free Exhibition Game
October 30, 2017 | Men's Basketball
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, OCT. 27, 2017 – USF men's basketball is working hard to put together a winning formula for the season and the Bulls are anxious to show their progress.
Fans are welcome to watch USF's first game action of the season on Friday at the Sun Dome. Head coach Brian Gregory's Bulls will face Flagler College in a 7 p.m. exhibition test that's free for fans to attend. Parking in the Sun Dome lots also will be free.
"I'm looking forward to it," said guard Stephan Jiggetts, one of USF's three new grad transfers. "It's my last year and I believe we're going to surprise a lot of people."
Confidence continues to grow for a new-look roster that's been sharpening its skills through three weeks of preseason practices at the Muma Center.
"Everything is coming together," graduate wing Payton Banks said. "Practices are getting a little more difficult. More plays are going in and everybody is trying to get better."
Banks and the Bulls know they're getting the most out of practices under the guidance of their new, veteran head coach. Two wins away from No. 250 in his career, Gregory previously led programs at Georgia Tech (2011-16) and Dayton (2003-11) and spent nearly a decade as an assistant under legendary Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Last season, Gregory reunited with Izzo as a consultant for Michigan State and fully prepared to lead the Bulls into their new era.
"To go back to Michigan State, you confirm some things that you're doing right, but you also are able to make some adjustments in some things that you would do differently, or how you handle different situations," Gregory said. "All that stuff, it was a really good educational process for me. It also kind of got the energy flowing again and the juices flowing again to get back on the court."
Using a high-energy coaching approach, Gregory has been running all over the court with the Bulls this preseason and players say it's making a big difference in their progression.
"It's a huge thing, especially when the head coach gets involved," Banks said. "A lot of places, it's just the assistant coaches. This is a guy that puts you on the floor. When he shows you how he wants it done, it's easy to kind of transition that."
Fans can watch Gregory and the Bulls fit the winning pieces together throughout 2017-18 by purchasing seasons tickets HERE.
About USF Men's Basketball
The USF men's basketball team is led by head coach Brian Gregory. On March 22, Gregory was introduced as the 10th head coach in program history. He previously led programs at Georgia Tech (2011-16) and Dayton (2003-11). Gregory spent nearly a decade as an assistant coach under Michigan State's Hall of Fame head coach Tom Izzo and helped the Spartans win the 2000 NCAA National Championship. Gregory brings nearly 250 career head coaching wins and six postseason appearances, including the 2010 NIT Championship, to Tampa. USF has retired three numbers in its 47-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.
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF men's' basketball news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, OCT. 27, 2017 – USF men's basketball is working hard to put together a winning formula for the season and the Bulls are anxious to show their progress.
Fans are welcome to watch USF's first game action of the season on Friday at the Sun Dome. Head coach Brian Gregory's Bulls will face Flagler College in a 7 p.m. exhibition test that's free for fans to attend. Parking in the Sun Dome lots also will be free.
"I'm looking forward to it," said guard Stephan Jiggetts, one of USF's three new grad transfers. "It's my last year and I believe we're going to surprise a lot of people."Confidence continues to grow for a new-look roster that's been sharpening its skills through three weeks of preseason practices at the Muma Center.
"Everything is coming together," graduate wing Payton Banks said. "Practices are getting a little more difficult. More plays are going in and everybody is trying to get better."
Banks and the Bulls know they're getting the most out of practices under the guidance of their new, veteran head coach. Two wins away from No. 250 in his career, Gregory previously led programs at Georgia Tech (2011-16) and Dayton (2003-11) and spent nearly a decade as an assistant under legendary Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Last season, Gregory reunited with Izzo as a consultant for Michigan State and fully prepared to lead the Bulls into their new era.
"To go back to Michigan State, you confirm some things that you're doing right, but you also are able to make some adjustments in some things that you would do differently, or how you handle different situations," Gregory said. "All that stuff, it was a really good educational process for me. It also kind of got the energy flowing again and the juices flowing again to get back on the court."
Using a high-energy coaching approach, Gregory has been running all over the court with the Bulls this preseason and players say it's making a big difference in their progression.
"It's a huge thing, especially when the head coach gets involved," Banks said. "A lot of places, it's just the assistant coaches. This is a guy that puts you on the floor. When he shows you how he wants it done, it's easy to kind of transition that."
Fans can watch Gregory and the Bulls fit the winning pieces together throughout 2017-18 by purchasing seasons tickets HERE.
About USF Men's Basketball
The USF men's basketball team is led by head coach Brian Gregory. On March 22, Gregory was introduced as the 10th head coach in program history. He previously led programs at Georgia Tech (2011-16) and Dayton (2003-11). Gregory spent nearly a decade as an assistant coach under Michigan State's Hall of Fame head coach Tom Izzo and helped the Spartans win the 2000 NCAA National Championship. Gregory brings nearly 250 career head coaching wins and six postseason appearances, including the 2010 NIT Championship, to Tampa. USF has retired three numbers in its 47-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.
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF men's' basketball news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
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