USF Men’s Basketball to Take on St. Joe’s in Veterans Classic at U.S. Naval Academy
June 15, 2026 | Men's Basketball
13th year of event to feature South Florida vs. St. Joseph's and Penn vs. Navy with games televised on CBS Sports Network
TAMPA, June 15, 2026 – South Florida men's basketball will compete in the 13th edition of the Veterans Classicbasketball doubleheader played Wednesday, Nov. 11 at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
The Bulls will take on St. Joseph's in a 3 p.m. tip at Navy's 5,710-seat Alumni Hall followed by Navy vs. Penn at 5:30 p.m. Both games will be televised by CBS Sports Network.
South Florida and Penn reached the 2026 NCAA Tournament while Navy and Saint Joseph's competed in the National Invitation Tournament. The four teams combined for a 93-41 record in the 2025-26 season.
The Veterans Classic, held annually around Veterans Day, honors our nation's veterans and showcases the U.S. Naval Academy. Each of the visiting teams immerse themselves in the inner workings of the U.S. Naval Academy through guided tours followed by lunch with the Brigade of Midshipmen on the day before the games. Veterans from all service branches are honored during the playing of the doubleheader.
Tickets for the Veterans Classic will go on sale at a later date. Reserved tickets for the doubleheader in the lower level of Alumni Hall are $40 and upper-level general admission seats can be purchased for $25. Please use the advanced interest LINK to receive information on tickets when available.
"The University of South Florida is honored to join the distinguished group of programs that have participated in the Veterans Classic as the event enters its 13th season. We look forward to a great match-up with a St. Joe's program coming off a 24-win season, while also giving our student-athletes the opportunity to visit the U.S. Naval Academy and pay tribute to our nation's veterans and the sacrifices they have made to protect our freedom."
St. Joe's posted a 24-12 record (13-5 A-10) last year and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 NIT. This will be the first meeting between the Bulls and Hawks since a 75-62 South Florida victory at the 2022 Sunshine Slam in Daytona Beach, Fla. The series is tied 1-1.
The Bulls have previously announced 2026-27 non-conference matchups at DePaul (Thurs., Nov. 5), at Dayton (Sat., Dec. 12) and vs. Kennesaw State (Sat., Dec. 19).
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 15, 2026 – South Florida men's basketball will compete in the 13th edition of the Veterans Classicbasketball doubleheader played Wednesday, Nov. 11 at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
The Bulls will take on St. Joseph's in a 3 p.m. tip at Navy's 5,710-seat Alumni Hall followed by Navy vs. Penn at 5:30 p.m. Both games will be televised by CBS Sports Network.
South Florida and Penn reached the 2026 NCAA Tournament while Navy and Saint Joseph's competed in the National Invitation Tournament. The four teams combined for a 93-41 record in the 2025-26 season.
The Veterans Classic, held annually around Veterans Day, honors our nation's veterans and showcases the U.S. Naval Academy. Each of the visiting teams immerse themselves in the inner workings of the U.S. Naval Academy through guided tours followed by lunch with the Brigade of Midshipmen on the day before the games. Veterans from all service branches are honored during the playing of the doubleheader.
Tickets for the Veterans Classic will go on sale at a later date. Reserved tickets for the doubleheader in the lower level of Alumni Hall are $40 and upper-level general admission seats can be purchased for $25. Please use the advanced interest LINK to receive information on tickets when available.
"The University of South Florida is honored to join the distinguished group of programs that have participated in the Veterans Classic as the event enters its 13th season. We look forward to a great match-up with a St. Joe's program coming off a 24-win season, while also giving our student-athletes the opportunity to visit the U.S. Naval Academy and pay tribute to our nation's veterans and the sacrifices they have made to protect our freedom."
St. Joe's posted a 24-12 record (13-5 A-10) last year and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 NIT. This will be the first meeting between the Bulls and Hawks since a 75-62 South Florida victory at the 2022 Sunshine Slam in Daytona Beach, Fla. The series is tied 1-1.
The Bulls have previously announced 2026-27 non-conference matchups at DePaul (Thurs., Nov. 5), at Dayton (Sat., Dec. 12) and vs. Kennesaw State (Sat., Dec. 19).
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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