By Joey Johnston
 
COLUMBIA, S.C. (March 19, 2023) – While setting the stage for the biggest challenge — and the biggest opportunity — of his women's basketball coaching career, USF's Jose Fernandez channeled his inner Norman Dale.
 
As the No. 8-seeded USF Bulls (27-6) prepare for Sunday's NCAA Tournament second-round showdown against the prohibitive favorite No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks (33-0), the stakes might seem overwhelming.
 
Or simple.
 
"This is one of the best atmospheres in college basketball,'' Fernandez said. "But as a coach, hopefully you talk about 94 feet by 50 feet (court's length and width) and 10 feet (height of the rims) and just take care of what's going to happen on the floor.''
 
Norman Dale, of course, wasn't real. He was a coaching character that led the improbable small-town state-championship basketball team in "Hoosiers,'' a 1986 big-screen film that never fails to evoke the anything-is-possible emotions.
 
USF-South Carolina is VERY real. It will play out before what's expected to be a large crowd at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina and a nationwide audience on ABC-TV, which doesn't require a monthly subscription fee or a cable hookup. The Bulls will play before every basketball-loving fan who has a workable television (and maybe some rabbit ears).
 
South Carolina, coached by Hall of Famer Dawn Staley, a three-time Olympic gold medalist who now stars in Aflac commercials, is the defending national champion. Dating to the 2020-21 season, the Gamecocks have won 75 of their last 77 games (the defeats were both last season, a two-pointer and a one-pointer in overtime). Their 33 victories this season have been by an average 30.1-point margin (26.1-point margin in SEC games) and only five were in single digits.
 
The Gamecocks are led by three-time unanimous first-team All-American Aliyah Boston, a 6-foot-5 post player who was the 2022 National Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA Tournament.
 
But the Bulls are no slouch. USF, the American Athletic Conference regular-season champion, has tied the program record for single-season victories and can reach its first Sweet 16.
 
USF relies on 6-4 senior center Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (16.8 points, 12.4 rebounds), 5-7 senior guard Elena Tsineke (17.8 points) and 6-1 wing Sammie Puisis (15.8 points, 89.3 free-throw percentage, 101 made 3-pointers), along with 5-11 freshman forward Carla Brito (8.8 points, 5.9 rebounds).
 
Fankam Mendjiadeu vs. Boston figures to be a matchup to watch inside the paint.
 
"She (Fankam Mendjiadeu) posts up so strong,'' Staley said. "She's very, very active on both sides of the basketball. She's unafraid. She wants the ball and she does a really good job at scoring — she's very efficient when her two feet are in the paint. She runs the floor extremely well. There are a lot of similarities (between her and Boston) and they will command a lot of attention.''
 
Fernandez acknowledged the importance of Fankam Mendjiadeu, but said it will require a balanced attack to upset the Gamecocks.
 
"The team that beats these guys (Gamecocks), a lot of things have to happen,'' Fernandez said. "Got to shoot the ball well from the free-throw line. Got to score in transition. We have three really, really good (players) who are going to have to be special. They must play up to their standard. That's how these things happen.
 
"What concerns me (about South Carolina) is their size and their rebounding ability because sometimes their best offense is getting it off the glass and putting it in. How are we going to collectively defend the paint, limit their paint touches and also their second and third opportunities?''
 
Fernandez said he doesn't believe intimidation will be a factor. The Bulls defeated nationally ranked foes Texas and Arkansas, while also taking on the likes of NC State, Ohio State and Villanova. Last season, the Bulls defeated Oregon and Stanford, while taking Tennessee and UConn down to the wire.
 
"We take it as a great opportunity,'' Puisis said. "I look at it as they have all the pressure on them. It's March. Anything can happen. We're going to do what we do and see what happens.''
 
"We have nothing to lose,'' Brito said. "It's going to be a good fight.''
 
Staley showed great respect to USF's program. She remembered the Bulls from last season's NCAA field — also in Columbia, a first-round defeat against Miami — and was impressed by the Bulls' 67-65 comeback overtime victory against No. 9 Marquette on Friday.
 
"It's cool to watch them,'' Staley said. "You could see their culture. You could see their connectivity. You could see how well they play together. You don't win a game like they won (Friday) without having that because they were down the entire game. But yet, you never saw frustration. You just saw them keep grinding it out.''
 
Much more grinding will be necessary on Sunday afternoon.
 
It's not a movie. It's real life. For what it's worth, the court will still be 94 feet by 50 feet. The rims are still 10 feet high. And it's March. Anything can — and does — happen (just ask No. 16-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson on the men's side).
 
Yes, it's a huge challenge.
 
But, oh, what a huge opportunity.'
 
Catch The Bulls on Bulls Unlimited & ESPN+
The majority of USF's regular-season games will be streamed live on the ESPN+ platform. The American Athletic Conference and ESPN began a new 12-year television rights agreement which started in 2020-21. Subscriptions for the ESPN+ app is $9.99 monthly or $99.99 annually and can be packaged with Hulu and Disney+ streaming services. A step-by-step guide for subscribing to ESPN+ is located here.
 
In addition, all games this season will be broadcast live on USF Bulls Unlimited, with Darek Sharp (home and away) and Brigid Merenda (for home games only) on the call. Bulls Unlimited is available via the free Tune In app (search "Bulls Unlimited'') and provides static-free quality whether you're listening on your streaming device, laptop or desktop.
 
About USF Women's Basketball
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South Florida recorded its 10^th 20-win season during the 2021-22 campaign while playing in its sixth American Athletic Conference championship game in its nine years in the conference. The Bulls achieved their highest national ranking of the season when it checked in at No. 13 in the Nov. 30 Associated Press Top 25 Poll, and advanced to their seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in the last nine years.
 
USF has made 17 postseason tournament appearances and had eight NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez's 22 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to 10 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship, and has won over 400 career games. Fernandez was named a finalist for the WBCA and semifinalist for the Naismith National Coach of the Year Awards. He was also tabbed the 2021 American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year at the conclusion of the 2020-21 campaign.
 
In 2021-22, the Bulls had three players recognized by The American for impressive seasons, including Elena Tsineke (All-Conference First Team), Bethy Mununga (All-Conference Second Team) and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (All-Conference Second Team).
 
In addition, Tsineke and Mununga were named to the American Athletic Conference All-Tournament Team.