GAMEDAY INFORMATION
University of South Florida (7-6) at Memphis (10-3)
Thursday, December 29 | 8 p.m. ET
VENUE: FedEx Forum | Memphis, Tenn.
SERIES: Memphis leads, 30-7
TV: ESPN+
RADIO: 102.5 HD-2 The Strike | Bulls Unlimited
LIVE STATS: Here
TWITTER UPDATES: @USFMBB
GAME NOTES: View
By Joey Johnston
USF men's basketball (7-6) is on a major roll, having won seven of its last eight games, capped by the 92-73 home victory against NJIT on Dec. 22. The Bulls have a five-game winning streak for only the second time in the past 15 seasons.
Now comes a new challenge.
Dead ahead is the American Athletic Conference schedule, beginning with Thursday night's game at powerful Memphis (10-3). USF is bidding for its 16th victory in conference season-openers and winning at Memphis would be sweet indeed.
Actually, under Coach Brian Gregory, there have been a pair of wins at Memphis (75-51 in 2017-18 for the Tigers' worst home defeat in 25 seasons and 75-73 in 2019-20). There was also a last-season 58-57 loss in 2020-21 at the FedEx Forum. USF has won two of its last three visits to Memphis with the last two being decided by a combined three points (1-1 record).
USF's most memorable victories in conference season-openers? Here's a final four (in chronological order):
USF 72, Charlotte 70 (Sun Belt Conference, Dec. 23, 1978) — Freshman Jorge Azcoitia delivered the game-winner from the corner as USF downed the 49ers at Curtis Hixon Convention Center. It avenged a 70-68 overtime defeat against Charlotte during the previous season in the first-ever Sun Belt Conference game.
USF 89, Charlotte 86 (Sun Belt Conference, Jan. 4, 1990) — Marvin Taylor's running 3-pointer with two seconds remaining was the difference as USF snapped a 10-game losing streak in Sun Belt road games. It set the tone for USF's Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship and its first NCAA Tournament bid.
USF 117, TCU 108 (Conference USA, Jan. 5, 2002) — B.B. Waldon had a career-high 37 points and point guard Reggie Kohn had a career-high 14 assists as USF won at the Sun Dome in the highest-scoring game in program history.
USF 74, Cincinnati 71 (American Athletic Conference, Dec. 16, 2020) — Michael Durr put USF ahead to stay with a dunk at the 3:55 mark, then iced it on a free throw with eight seconds remaining and the Bulls got their first win at Cincinnati since the 1987-88 season. It also ended an overall 11-game losing streak at the hands of the Bearcats.
Here's the complete list of USF's 15 wins in conference season-openers.
American Athletic Conference
2020-21 — USF 74, Cincinnati 71
2018-19 — USF 76, Conn 68
Big East Conference
2007-08 — USF 68, Rutgers 45
Conference USA
2004-05 — USF 72, East Carolina 71
2001-02 — USF 117, TCU 108
2000-01 — USF 59, Southern Miss 49
1999-00 — USF 88, UAB 69
1998-99 — USF 75, Marquette 63
Sun Belt Conference
1990-91 — USF 82, Old Dominion 75 (OT)
1989-90 — USF 89, Charlotte 86
1986-87 — USF 68, Old Dominion 52
1983-84 — USF 71, Old Dominion 57
1982-83 — USF 71, Jacksonville 68
1980-81 — USF 65, Jacksonville 60
1978-79 — USF 72, Charlotte 70
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, who enters his sixth season in 2022-23. Gregory was introduced as the 10th head coach in program history in March of 2017 after previously leading 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 over 300 career head coaching wins and six postseason appearances, including the 2010 NIT Championship with Dayton. 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.
USF has retired three numbers in its 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.
– #GoBulls –
