TAMPA, Fla. (December 29, 2024) – The University of South Florida men's basketball team returns to the friendly confines of the Yuengling Center for a New Year's Eve clash with East Carolina. The Bulls (7-6) and the Pirates (8-5) are slated for a 3 p.m. tip on Tuesday, December 31, on ESPN+.

South Florida's quest to defend its 2023-24 American Athletic Conference regular season championship begins Tuesday.
 
Back-to-Back 23+ Assists                            
The Bulls recorded back-to-back games with 23 or more assists for the first time since 2000. South Florida produced 23 assists against East Texas A&M and 28 versus Webber International.
 
Sharp Shooting
South Florida finished the game shooting 58.3 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from 3-point range against Webber International. It is the first time since 2002 that USF has shot at least 55.0 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from behind the 3-point line in back-to-back games. It is tied for the longest streak in AAC history.
 
Making it Count at the Line
USF is tied for 62nd in the country and third in the AAC with a free-throw percentage of 75.7 percent.
 
Stout Long-Range Defense
The Bulls have held opponents to 30.6 percent from 3-point range. USF is tied for 83rd in the NCAA and third in the AAC in 3-point defense.
 
Getting Out in Transition
South Florida is 25th in the nation and is fourth in the conference with 15.85 fastbreak points per game.
 
Looking at the Bulls
Jayden Reid is averaging a team-best 12.5 points per game. He leads the team with 55 assists. He is second on the team with 20 steals. He is averaging 2.4 rebounds per game with one block. Jamille Reynolds is second on the team with 11.1 points a game. He has a team-high 7.4 rebounds per game. His 7.4 rebounds per contest are tied for 123rd in the NCAA and are tied for fifth in the AAC. He is averaging 6.00 defensive rebounds per game, which is tied for 53rd in the nation and third in the conference. With three double-doubles, he is tied for 74th in the country and tied for third in the AAC. He leads the squad with 12 blocks. Kobe Knox is averaging 10.2 points per game. He has dished out 18 assists, notched 11 steals, and has three blocks. Kasen Jennings closes out the double-digit scorers with 10.1 points per contest. He is second on the team with 33 assists. He has added 10 steals. CJ Brown is second on the team lead with 11 blocks. He is averaging 6.1 points per game. Brandon Stroud is tied for second on the team with 4.9 rebounds a game. He averages 8.3 points per game with 29 assists, 23 steals, and one block. De'Ante Green is tied for second on the squad with 4.9 rebounds per game. He averages 7.0 points per game with eight assists, eight steals, and six blocks.
 
History with East Carolina
The Bulls and Pirates will meet for the 29th time on Tuesday. South Florida has won the last two meetings, including an 81-59 victory in the AAC Tournament. USF is 7-4 at home against ECU.
 
Scouting the Pirates
The Pirates are tied for 27th in the NCAA and fifth in the AAC with 24.7 free-throw attempts per game. ECU is tied for 31st in the nation and is second in the conference with 13.69 defensive rebounds per game. RJ Felton leads the Pirates with 17.5 points per game. He is second on the team with 6.4 rebounds per game. He has added 34 assists, 19 steals, and nine blocks. CJ Walker is second on the team with 16.5 points per contest. He has a team-best 6.8 rebounds per contest. Jordan Riley averages 13.8 points per game. He has a team-best 24 steals. He averages 5.9 rebounds per game with 23 assists and seven blocks. Cam Hayes closes out the double-digit scorers with 10.8 per game. He leads the squad with 50 assists. Jayshayne Woodard paces the team with 12 blocks.
 
Tale of the Tape 

USF	Category	ECU
78.8	POINTS PER GAME	77.2
74.2	OPP. POINTS PER GAME	70.5
.470	FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE	.438
.443	OPP. FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE	.425
.340	3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE	.286
.306	OPP. 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE	.358
.757	FREE THROW PERCENTAGE	.707
35.3	REBOUNDS PER GAME	38.9
1.5	REBOUNDING MARGIN	3.6
16.0	ASSISTS PER GAME	12.8
12.4	TURNOVERS PER GAME	10.5
0.5	TURNOVER MARGIN	2.5
8.2	STEALS PER GAME	7.8
3.0	BLOCKS PER GAME	4.3

 
Follow Live
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: statbroadcast.com
Listen: Bulls Unlimited
Tickets: ticketmaster.com
 
About USF Men's Basketball
The University of South Florida men's basketball, led by interim head coach Ben Fletcher, is a member of the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls enter their 2024-25 campaign, presented by Tampa General Hospital, on the heels of their best season in program history, in which they claimed their first-ever regular season conference title, won a record 25 games, and earned a Top 25 ranking for the first time in program history. A presence on the college basketball scene for more than five decades, South Florida has earned two conference titles and three NCAA tournament bids (1990, 1992, and 2012), appeared in the NIT eight times, and won the 2019 College Basketball Invitational. 
 
South Florida is wearing patches with the initials AAR this season in memory of their head coach, Amir Abdur-Rahim, who passed away in October 2024.
 
The Bulls play their home games at the 10,400-seat Yuengling Center, located on South Florida's Tampa campus. 
 
Men's basketball single-game and season tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls or by visiting USFBullsTix.com.
 
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