Expectations Run High as Bulls Begin Practice Tuesday
TAMPA, SEPT. 23, 2019 – Fresh off one of the greatest seasons in school history that included the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) championship and a single-season school record 24 victories, the USF men's basketball team begins its preparations for the 2019-20 season on Tuesday with its first preseason practice.
The Bulls return all five starters from last season and will also have the services of Oklahoma State transfer
Ezacuras Dawson III (Miami) and redshirt freshman
Madut Akec (Bradenton, Fla.), both of whom sat out last season. Overall, USF returns 92.4 percent of its scoring, 94.6 percent of its rebounding and 90.3 percent of its minutes.
Last season, guard
Laquincy Rideau (West Palm Beach, Fla.) earned AAC Defensive Player of the Year honors after pacing the league with 2.9 steals per game. Rideau registered 101 steals and finished the year with the fourth-most of any player in the NCAA and the most single-season steals in conference history. He also led the league with 5.4 assists per game and became the first player in league history to pace The American in both steals in assists. Additionally, Rideau was one of only three players in the NCAA with 100 assists and 100 steals. He also scored 13.4 points per game and was selected to the All-AAC Third Team.
Forward
Alexis Yetna (Paris) was tabbed the 2019 American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year after finishing the season tops in the league in rebounding with 9.6 per game and pulling down a single-season league record 346 boards. Yetna also added 12.3 points per game and paced the conference with 15 double-doubles.
Fellow guard
David Collins (Youngstown, Ohio) was also tabbed All-AAC Third Team after leading USF and ranking 12th in The American in scoring with 15.9 points per game. Collins poured in 587 points last season to finish with the ninth-most points scored in a single season in league history. He also made 206 free throws to record the second-most in conference history. In addition, Collins was fourth in The American with 2.1 steals per game and was named the CBI MVP.
USF begins live competition on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. with a home exhibition game against Saint Leo before opening the regular season one week later against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Overall, the schedule features 13 teams that earned postseason bids last year, 17 games inside the Yuengling Center and three of the top holiday tournaments in the nation that will pit USF against Utah State, Loyola Chicago and Florida State.
Season tickets are available starting at less than $6 per game. Fans also have the opportunity to select their seats earlier than the general public by becoming season ticket members. Season ticket deposits may be purchased at USFBullsTix.com or by calling 1-800-GO-BULLS.Â
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF men's' basketball news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
About USF Men's Basketball
The USF men's basketball team is led by head coach Brian Gregory. On March 22, 2017, 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 owns nearly 250 career head coaching wins and six postseason appearances, including the 2010 NIT Championship. In his second season at the helm of the Bulls, Gregory led the team to the best win turnaround in the NCAA, the most single-season wins in school history and the 2019 College Basketball Invitational championship.Â
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, appeared in the NIT eight times and won the 2019 College Basketball Invitational.
For tickets, contact the USF Ticket Office at 1-800-Go-Bulls or by going online to USFBullsTix.com.
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