USF Men’s Basketball to Take On Kennesaw State on December 19 in Second Edition of the Love Wins Classic
June 10, 2026 | Men's Basketball
Game honoring the legacy of Amir Adbur-Rahim to be played in Yuengling Center for the first time in 2026
TAMPA, June 10, 2026 – The South Florida and Kennesaw State men's basketball teams will meet to honor the legacy and impact of Amir Abdur-Rahim with the second edition of the Love Wins Classic set for Saturday, Dec. 19 in the Yuengling Center.
The Bulls won the first edition of the Classic at Kennesaw State last November, 108-89.
Abdur-Rahim, who passed tragically at the age of 43 on October 24, 2024, had a profound impact at both universities and the communities they serve as well as across the greater basketball community. He led Bulls basketball to a program-record 25 wins, the program's first Top 25 ranking, and first regular season conference championship in 2023-24, with his one season on campus creating positive impacts far beyond the basketball court.
Abdur-Rahim led the Kennesaw State program from 2019-23, taking the Owls to their first winning season, an Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament title and first NCAA Tournament appearance.
Abdur-Rahim was inducted into the USF Athletic Hall of Fame in 2025 and the student section in the Yuengling Center was named in his honor, reflecting the tremendous connection and enthusiasm he shared with USF students. The American Conference named him the honorary 2024-25 Coach of the Year and created the Amir Abdur-Rahim Sportsmanship Award in his honor.
Kennesaw State posted a 21-14 record in 2025-26 and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Conference USA Tournament in head coach Antoine Pettway's third season.
South Florida holds a 2-0 lead in the series.
The Bulls have previously announced 2026-27 non-conference matchups at DePaul (Thurs., Nov. 5) and at Dayton (Sat., Dec. 12).
The Bulls welcomed 15 new players in head coach Chris Mack's first season at the helm as South Florida returned no players from the 2025-26 squad that went 25-9, reached the NCAA tournament and won an American Conference title (claiming both the regular season and tournament crowns) for the second time in three years. The Bulls reloaded with 12 transfer portal additions and three high school signees. The portal class features four players with a composite rating of .9100 or higher and a four-star rating, according to 247Sports. The Bulls' average transfer rating of 89.00 ranks third among Group of 6 programs, while the overall class ranked among the top 10 nationally among the Group of 6 according to 247Sports.
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Follow South Florida men's basketball on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
About USF Men's Basketball
South Florida men's basketball named Chris Mack as the program's 13th head coach on March 25, 2026. Mack came to Tampa after a pair of 20-win seasons at the College of Charleston. With more than 300 career wins, he brought a career winning percentage of nearly 68 percent to South Florida, including 12 20-win seasons and nine NCAA Tournament appearances. He led both Xavier and Louisville to the NCAA Tournament and made four Sweet 16 appearances and one Elite Eight with Xavier.
The program, entering its 56th season in 2026-27, won American Conference regular-season championships in 2024 and 2026 and claimed the conference tournament title in 2026. The Bulls have made 14 postseason appearances, including four NCAA Tournaments (the last in 2026), nine NITs, and a CBI championship in 2019. Three former Bulls players – Chucky Atkins, Charlie Bradley, and Rodenko Dobras – have had their jerseys retired and are members of the USF Athletic Hall of Fame, while two coaches – Amir Abdur-Rahim (2023-24) and Bobby Paschal (1986-96) – join them in the Hall of Fame.
The Bulls play their home games at the 10,400-seat Yuengling Center on the USF Tampa campus.
TAMPA, June 10, 2026 – The South Florida and Kennesaw State men's basketball teams will meet to honor the legacy and impact of Amir Abdur-Rahim with the second edition of the Love Wins Classic set for Saturday, Dec. 19 in the Yuengling Center.
The Bulls won the first edition of the Classic at Kennesaw State last November, 108-89.
Abdur-Rahim, who passed tragically at the age of 43 on October 24, 2024, had a profound impact at both universities and the communities they serve as well as across the greater basketball community. He led Bulls basketball to a program-record 25 wins, the program's first Top 25 ranking, and first regular season conference championship in 2023-24, with his one season on campus creating positive impacts far beyond the basketball court.
Abdur-Rahim led the Kennesaw State program from 2019-23, taking the Owls to their first winning season, an Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament title and first NCAA Tournament appearance.
Abdur-Rahim was inducted into the USF Athletic Hall of Fame in 2025 and the student section in the Yuengling Center was named in his honor, reflecting the tremendous connection and enthusiasm he shared with USF students. The American Conference named him the honorary 2024-25 Coach of the Year and created the Amir Abdur-Rahim Sportsmanship Award in his honor.
Kennesaw State posted a 21-14 record in 2025-26 and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Conference USA Tournament in head coach Antoine Pettway's third season.
South Florida holds a 2-0 lead in the series.
The Bulls have previously announced 2026-27 non-conference matchups at DePaul (Thurs., Nov. 5) and at Dayton (Sat., Dec. 12).
The Bulls welcomed 15 new players in head coach Chris Mack's first season at the helm as South Florida returned no players from the 2025-26 squad that went 25-9, reached the NCAA tournament and won an American Conference title (claiming both the regular season and tournament crowns) for the second time in three years. The Bulls reloaded with 12 transfer portal additions and three high school signees. The portal class features four players with a composite rating of .9100 or higher and a four-star rating, according to 247Sports. The Bulls' average transfer rating of 89.00 ranks third among Group of 6 programs, while the overall class ranked among the top 10 nationally among the Group of 6 according to 247Sports.
Follow us:
Follow South Florida men's basketball on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
About USF Men's Basketball
South Florida men's basketball named Chris Mack as the program's 13th head coach on March 25, 2026. Mack came to Tampa after a pair of 20-win seasons at the College of Charleston. With more than 300 career wins, he brought a career winning percentage of nearly 68 percent to South Florida, including 12 20-win seasons and nine NCAA Tournament appearances. He led both Xavier and Louisville to the NCAA Tournament and made four Sweet 16 appearances and one Elite Eight with Xavier.
The program, entering its 56th season in 2026-27, won American Conference regular-season championships in 2024 and 2026 and claimed the conference tournament title in 2026. The Bulls have made 14 postseason appearances, including four NCAA Tournaments (the last in 2026), nine NITs, and a CBI championship in 2019. Three former Bulls players – Chucky Atkins, Charlie Bradley, and Rodenko Dobras – have had their jerseys retired and are members of the USF Athletic Hall of Fame, while two coaches – Amir Abdur-Rahim (2023-24) and Bobby Paschal (1986-96) – join them in the Hall of Fame.
The Bulls play their home games at the 10,400-seat Yuengling Center on the USF Tampa campus.
– #GoBulls –
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