Fans Pick Rideau's Buzzer-Beater as Bulls' Top Play of 2019-20
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, APRIL 11, 2020 – While sports remain on hold during this difficult time, USF Athletics found a fun way for followers to enjoy the program's own interactive version of the Sweet 16.
Starting on March 26, Bulls Nation logged onto social media accounts, relived magical moments throughout 2019-20 and decided what deserved to reach the the pinnacle of
USF's Top Plays of the Year tournament.
"I really loved that," said Vice President of Athletics
Michael Kelly, an avid social media user. "… The BullsVision folks did a great job of putting the videos together, so you can remember those plays, look at them again and compare them in one little video before you make your vote."
Tough choices had to be made by USF faithful through four rounds of competition on the cool NCAA tournament-style bracket filled with sweet seeded plays. Nearly 7,600 votes were cast on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook during the Amalie Motor Oil-sponsored event that reached the championship round Monday.
Twenty-four hours later, one big winner was determined between two very deserving plays.
One choice was men's basketball senior
Laquincy Rideau's dramatic, buzzer-beating three that sunk SMU and shook the Yuengling Center on March 7.
The other exciting selection was
Kyndall Williams' clutch walk-off homer against No. 12 Tennessee at USF Softball Stadium. The junior will never forget being mobbed by ecstatic teammates at home plate following the first home run of her collegiate career on Feb. 22.
In true championship fashion, this one ended up being a nail-biter.
Receiving 52.6 percent of the final votes, Rideau raised his arms - like he did in the thrilling season finale - once he found out his nothing-but-net shot reigned supreme.
Rideau made sure to thank fans on social media and let everyone know how his epic final shot with the program went down on Senior Night.
"I can remember the play like yesterday," he said with a big smile. "… Two seconds on the shot clock, I just pulled up and shot the three. I closed my eyes and fell to the floor. I opened my eyes and the next thing you know, the shot went in. The crowd was going crazy. It's just an amazing feeling."
On behalf of USF Athletics, thank you to everyone in Bulls Nation for making the Top Plays tournament and entire 2019-20 season so special. Also, while you stay safe at home, keep following USF team accounts on social for replays of more important moments in program history.
About USF Athletics
USF Athletics sponsors 19 varsity men's and women's teams that compete in 11 different sports, 18 at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls' athletic program began in 1965 and is in its 54th season in 2019-20. Nearly 450 student-athletes train and compete in the athletic district located on the east end of the campus in Tampa, Fla. The Bulls have claimed 19 American Athletic Conference team titles since joining the conference in 2013, and own 120 conference titles overall. Eleven USF programs reached national postseason competition in the 2018-19 season and six were ranked in the Top 25 nationally. The Bulls posted a combined annual grade-point average over 3.0 for the fourth straight year in 2018-19 and have posted a program record 10 straight semesters with a combined GPA over 3.0. USF has had 309 student-athletes earn their degree since 2016-17.
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@USFAthletics) and
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