USF Athletics

Young Bulls Gain Confidence Heading Into Conference Play

December 27, 2017

MATCHUP: Houston (10-2) at USF (7-6)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, Dec. 28/7 p.m.
LOCATION: Sun Dome, Tampa
TV: ESPNews (Jay Alter, Mark Wise)
RADIO: 820-AM, Bulls Unlimited (Jim Lighthall, Neil Solondz)
LIVE STATS
PURCHASE TICKETS
GAME NOTES
 

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, DEC. 27, 2017 – Rapidly improving USF men's basketball put together the program's best nonconference run in four years and now the Bulls are looking to make more strides in league play.

Riding a three-game winning streak, USF (7-6) has a huge opportunity to make waves in The American at home against Houston (10-2) on Thursday night. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Sun Dome and the conference opener for both teams will be televised on ESPNews.

No matter what happens Thursday night, Brian Gregory certainly has the new-look Bulls on the right path. With a rebuilt roster, USF has already matched the program's entire 2016-17 wins total after holding off Charlotte, 78-76, back on Dec. 21.

"We're a much better team than we were on opening night against Florida Atlantic, there's no question about that," head coach Brian Gregory said before practice Wednesday. "Now the challenge is can you continue that ascension?"

USF's players are up for opportunity, especially the future of the program that's already contributing in the present.

The last time out, freshman Justin Brown set new career highs with 12 points and four three-pointers in 18 minutes. The 6-foot-6 guard from Birmingham, Ala., has averaged 10 points the past two games and has earned increased playing time that's up to 16.5 minutes per outing.

With 15 made threes so far, sharp-shooting Brown needs just nine more to crack the top 10 on USF's freshman single-season chart.

"As the season has gone on, I feel I've gradually gotten better and have gotten more of a feel for the game," Brown said.

Brown's freshman counterpart, David Collins, also is getting a chance to contribute early, averaging 15.3 minutes and posting five or more points in five of his eight games. The 6-foot-3 guard from Youngstown, Ohio missed five games with an injury and came back strong with six points in eight minutes against Charlotte.

"I'm pleased with David and Justin. It takes a very, very special freshman and a mature freshman not to have any dips," Gregory said. "These guys have been pretty steady, maybe not always statistically, but in terms of their approach and in terms of them wanting to get better."

USF's freshmen hope to help the Bulls win four in a row for the first time since 2013 on Thursday night and Gregory said he won't shy away from using his young talent in tough conference action.

"These next two and a half months are going to be important because they're going to play significant minutes," Gregory said. "… Like all freshmen, as many minutes as they get this year, it's got to help them heading into the future."

Know the Opponent
Houston heads to Tampa with momentum after becoming one of four teams in The American to post double-digit win totals in nonconference play.

The Cougars rank second in the league with 81.2 points per game while senior guard Rob Gray is The American's top individual scorer at 20.7 points per game. Senior forward Devin Davis (12.0 ppg) and junior guard Corey Davis Jr. (10.9 ppg) are also averaging double-digit scoring figures for head coach Kelvin Sampson's productive squad.

"I've known Kelvin for a long time, his teams are always tough. They always rebound and they always defend," Gregory said. "This team does those to a high level, but they score at ease. That's why it's a team that is at the top of our league, is going to challenge for the championship and is an NCAA tournament team."

Bulls Bits

• WRAPPING UP THE HOME STAND: Thursday will mark the end of USF's five-game home stand that's seen the Bulls go 3-1 inside the Sun Dome. Overall, the Bulls are 6-3 at home this season.
• AAC OPENERS AND HOUSTON SERIES: USF seeks its first victory in an American Athletic Conference opener since the league's start in 2013-14. Houston has a 14-12 edge in its all-time series with USF after winning the last meeting, 70-56, on Dec. 31, 2016.
• BANKS EARNS CONFERENCE RECOGNITION: Graduate wing Payton Banks (Orange, Calif.) was named to The American's weekly honor roll after averaging 18 points and 5.5 rebounds during USF's 2-0 run last week.
• DISHING IT OUT: Graduate guard Stephan Jiggetts (Forestville, Md.) has kept USF's offense moving with 23 assists during the three-game winning streak. Jiggetts ranks fifth in The American with an assist-to-turnover ratio of nearly 2.0.

 
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 10^th 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.

For tickets, contact the USF Ticket Office at 1-800-Go-Bulls or by going online to USFBullsTix.com.