TAMPA, Fla., November 15, 2025 – The University of South Florida men's basketball team (2–1) will travel to Kennesaw, Georgia, to face Kennesaw State (3–0) in the inaugural "Love Wins Classic" on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at VyStar Arena. The game will air on ESPN+ with radio coverage available on Bulls Unlimited.
Both programs will honor the life and legacy of their former head coach, Amir Abdur-Rahim, who passed away before the 2024–25 season. The 'Love Wins Classic' was created to celebrate his impact on both programs, their student-athletes, and the broader basketball community. The event will continue next season, with South Florida hosting the game in Tampa.
Kennesaw State will hold a halftime recognition celebrating Abdur-Rahim's life, legacy, and the message he shared through the game he loved. The Bulls will be debuting special 'Love Wins' uniforms.
The uniforms, modeled after the classic black bomber jacket Abdur-Rahim loved to wear, are designed with his phrases and mantras stitched throughout the design.
E.D.G.E, T.R.U.T.H., This ain't the same old South Florida, and Bulls Nation are all displayed on the new South Florida threads that will debut on Sunday.
At Kennesaw State, Abdur-Rahim led the Owls from a one-win season to a 26–8 record, Atlantic Sun championships, and the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023.
At South Florida, Abdur-Rahim led the Bulls to their first national ranking in program history and an American Conference regular season championship in 2023-24.
Ranking Comparison
South Florida (2-1) enters this game with a KenPom rating of 92 and a BPI of 85. Kennesaw State (3-0) has a KenPom rating of 135 and a BPI of 100. The Owls are sixth in the nation in offensive tempo, and the Bulls sit at seventh.
Last Time Out
South Florida defeated Coppin State, 100–50, on Wednesday at the Yuengling Center, marking the second-largest margin of victory in program history. Junior forward
Joseph Pinion led the Bulls with a career-high 24 points and six three-point field goals.
Five Bulls scored in double figures for the second time this season. Alongside Pinion's 24,
Wes Enis added 11 points with three three-pointers, sophomore
CJ Brown finished with 11 points and four assists,
Izaiyah Nelson recorded his second double-double of the season with 14 points and 13 rebounds, and
Caleb Sanders contributed 12 points off the bench, hitting two threes.
South Florida continued their defensive consistency by forcing at least 18 turnovers and recording 11 steals for the third straight game.
Kennesaw State played at home last Wednesday, Nov. 12, defeating Point University 111-60. Their other two wins have come at FAMU (92-72) and vs. Paine College (105-29).
Series History
Sunday marks the second-ever meeting between South Florida and Kennesaw State. The teams last faced off on November 28, 2016, when the Bulls defeated the Owls 71–69 in Tampa.
Connections
- Head coaches Bryan Hodgson and Antoine Pettway coached together at the University of Alabama on Nate Oats' staff from 2019 through 2023.
- Homecoming: CJ Brown and Izaiyah Nelson both hail from Marietta, Georgia, and Cobb County.
Up Next
Following this game, the Bulls travel to Stillwater, Okla. to face Oklahoma State University on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. ET. The game will stream live on ESPN+, with radio coverage available on Bulls Unlimited.
Tickets:
Men's basketball single-game and season tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls or by visiting USFBullsTix.com.
Follow us:
Follow South Florida men's basketball on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
About USF Men's Basketball
South Florida men's basketball named Bryan Hodgson, 37, as the program's 12th head coach on March 24, 2025. Hodgson came to Tampa from Arkansas State, where he led the program to back-to-back 20-win seasons and its first postseason appearance since 1999 in his two seasons at the helm.
The program, entering its 55th season in 2025-26, most recently won the American Athletic Conference regular season championship in 2023-24 and has made 13 postseason appearances, including three NCAA Tournaments, nine NITs, and a CBI championship in 2019. Three former Bulls – Chucky Atkins, Charlie Bradley, and Rodenko Dobras – have had their jerseys retired and are members of the USF Athletic Hall of Fame. The Bulls play their home games at the 10,400-seat Yuengling Center on the USF Tampa campus.
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