Bulls Getting a Boost From Fearless Freshman Collins
MATCHUP: No. 14/13 Cincinnati (14-2, 3-0) at USF (7-10, 0-4)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, Jan. 13/7 p.m.
LOCATION: Sun Dome, Tampa
TV: ESPNews (Jay Alter, Mark Adams)
RADIO: 820-AM,
Bulls Unlimited (Jim Lighthall, Neil Solondz)
TWITTER UPDATES: @USFMBB
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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, JAN. 12, 2018 – Having already faced Houston, SMU and Wichita State, head coach
Brian Gregory's Bulls are gearing up for another one of The American's toughest teams on the schedule.
USF gets its second consecutive top-25 test Saturday at 7 p.m., when the Bulls host No. 14/13 Cincinnati at the Sun Dome. Reserve your seats for the ESPNews game at
USFBullsTix.com.
"This game is not for the weak of heart, or weak of spirit, or weak of physicality," Gregory said. "That's the way they play. That's the brand that they've created and we have to rise to that challenge."
Looking for its first win over a ranked team since 2012, USF is embracing the opportunity with a fearless freshman focused on more production. Guard
David Collins (Youngstown, Ohio) heads into Saturday ranking second on the team with 9.3 points in league play while averaging 22.8 minutes per outing.
"David has not been fazed by the amount of playing time that he's earned come the conference season," Gregory said. "… He's brought it every single day since he's been here."
Using an all-out approach like Russell Westbrook, one of his favorite players, Collins has provided a spark for the Bulls since returning from an injury on Dec. 21. In the conference opener, Collins scored a career-high 15 points against Houston and put up 12 more points in a tough environment the last time out at No. 5 Wichita State on Jan. 7.
"I think playing with that edge helps me a lot," he said. "If I'm always playing hard, I know I'm always contributing to the team and helping us in some aspect of the game."
Collins didn't let his intensity dip while logging in at least 20 minutes in three of USF's first four conference games. But instead of trying to be like Russell, or Mike, he's just trying to take after mom.
Collins' family tradition of basketball excellence began with his mother, Dorothy, who is still Youngstown State's all-time scoring leader (2,324 points). Dorothy averaged 21.5 points in her collegiate career from 1984-88 and Collins' sister, Doriyon, also played basketball at Division II Gannon University.
"I'm always trying to get past my mom," Collins said with a smile. "She still thinks she's the best basketball player in the house."
Dorothy was in the house at Wichita State to support Collins last week, which was another impressive chapter in the freshman's promising career. In 22 minutes of action, Collins went 4-for-8 from the field with three rebounds, two steals and an assist in his 12-point performance.
"The heart that he plays with, the intensity level, the energy that he plays with are great character traits," Gregory said. "You see it every day in practice. You see it in every workout and now you're starting to see it in live competition against some really, really high-level competition."
Know the Opponent
Cincinnati (14-2, 3-0) has won seven straight games and is looking for a 4-0 start in conference play for the second consecutive season.
Head coach Mick Cronin's Bearcats lead The American in scoring defense (58.6 ppg), field goal percentage defense (36.7), steals (8.4 per game) and blocks (5.5 per game) while ranking third in scoring (79.0 ppg).
Four Bearcats are averaging double-digit scoring figures with junior Jacob Evans leading the way at 13.8 points per game. Evans and Gary Clark (12.7 ppg) each scored 18 points the last time out in a 76-56 home win over SMU on Jan. 7.
Saturday will mark the 40
th USF-Cincinnati meeting. The Bearcats have a 31-8 advantage in the series and have won eight straight games against the Bulls.
Bulls Bits
BANKS UPDATE: The Bulls hope to get leading scorer Payton Banks (12.7 ppg) back in the lineup after he missed last game and three of the past four outings with an illness. "He's been able to do some workouts," Gregory said before practice Thursday afternoon. "We'll see how he does in practice a little bit. It's more how he recovers from the physical aspects, or workouts, and different things like that. I think the progress has been made this week that we want. We just need to see over the next 72 hours to see how he'll be come Saturday evening."- USF VS. RANKED TEAMS: Saturday will be USF's 132nd game against a ranked opponent and its second top-25 test in a six-day span. The Bulls' last victory against a ranked foe was a 58-51 win at No. 19 Louisville on Feb. 29, 2012. USF's last home win over a ranked opponent was a 56-55 victory over No. 23 Seton Hall on Jan. 13, 2012.
BROWN IS BATTLE TESTED: Freshman Justin Brown (Birmingham, Ala.) has played a team-leading 32.8 minutes per game in conference play. Brown is tied for 10th on USF's all-time freshman season chart with 24 made three-pointers.- ANOTHER MR. 100: Graduate guard Stephan Jiggetts (Forestville, Md.) will become the third Bull to play in his 100th career game this season on Saturday. Jiggetts has started in 75 straight games, dating back to his redshirt sophomore season at Fairleigh Dickinson in 2015-16.
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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.
For tickets, contact the USF Ticket Office at 1-800-Go-Bulls or by going online to USFBullsTix.com.
– #GoBulls –
