GoUSFBulls.com Bulls Ready for Rematch with Memphis

[Brad]

USF ATHLETICS GoUSFBulls.com

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Bulls Ready for Rematch with Memphis

USF narrowly lost at Memphis on Jan. 14 despite trailing by as many as 16 points

Matchup: Memphis (16-6, 6-3 The American) at USF (6-14, 0-9)

Date: Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Tampa | Sun Dome (10,411)

Watch: ESPNU (Allen Bestwick, Mark Wise)

Radio: 820 AM (Jim Lighthall, Jim Louk)

Follow: Listen | Stats | Watch

 

TAMPA, FEB. 1, 2017 – The University of South Florida men’s basketball team begins the second half of the conference slate with a home game against Memphis Thursday night.

 

The Bulls and Tigers met earlier this season on Jan. 14 in Memphis. USF trailed by as many as 16 points before pulling within two points at the 2:11 mark of the second half. Memphis held off the Bulls’ comeback bid in the waning moments with some late free throws for a 61-56 win. Freshman forward Malik Fitts (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) tied his career-high with 12 points, all of which were scored in the second half.

 

USF enters the contest following a loss at No. 19 Cincinnati on Sunday. Freshman guard Michael Bibby (Phoenix) tallied a career-best 17 points in the defeat.

 

Promotion

 

USF will be participating in autism awareness on Thursday night. The team will be wearing special “Autism Warrior” shirts during warmups and the staff will don blue puzzle piece lapel pins in honor of autism awareness. The official twitter handle is @AutismSpeaks and the official hashtag is #AutismHoops.

For more information, please visit AutismSpeaks.org/Coaches

 

The Opponent

 

Memphis has won seven of its last nine games including a 57-50 victory over East Carolina on Saturday. Junior guard Jimario Rivers led the Tigers with 15 points. Redshirt freshman guard K.J. Lawson also posted 12 points.

 

U of M was projected to finish fifth in The American’s preseason coaches’ poll. The Tigers currently sit in fourth in the standings with a 6-3 mark.

Sophomore guard Dedric Lawson has a team-high 19.0 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Redshirt junior guard Markel Crawford is second on the Tigers’ statsheet with 14.8 points per game. Dedric’s brother, K.J., ranks third with 12.6 points and is second with 8.5 rebounds per game.

 

Memphis leads the all-time series with USF 23-4 but the Bulls won the last home meeting 80-71, on Feb. 20, 2016. Four USF players posted double figure points. Center Ruben Guerrero (Spain) compiled five points, 11 rebounds and a career-best seven blocks in the game.

 

Notables

• The Bulls are shooting .361 on three pointers, third best in The American.
• Under Coach Bartow’s guidance, USF is averaging nine made three-pointers per game, up from seven.
• Guard Michael Bibby is averaging 13.3 points per game over the last three contests.
• Junior guard Geno Thorpe (Pittsburgh) ranks third in The American in free throw percentage (.846), fifth in assists per game (4.4) and sixth in steals per game (1.5).
• Redshirt freshman forward Tulio Da Silva (Brazil) is eighth in the conference in rebounding per game (7.5).
• Junior center Ruben Guerrero (Spain) has 107 blocks at USF, seventh-most in program history.
• The Bulls have used 11 different starting lineups this season (Evansville leads the nation with 15).
• This year, USF is one of four NCAA Division I teams with no seniors on its roster. The other three are Bradley, Penn State and UT-Rio Grande Valley.
• The next USF Basketball Radio Show will be on Monday, Feb. 13 from World of Beer on Fowler Ave. Join interim head coach Murry Bartow and the voice of the Bulls, Jim Lighthall, for the one-hour show starting at 7 p.m. Listen live on 820-AM or online at GoUSFBulls.com.

[CousinRicky]

I have to question your use of the word "ready" in the title.  

[USFBulls12]

15 minutes ago, Bourbon Bull said:

I have to question your use of the word "ready" in the title.  

My thoughts exactly.. "ready" is an overstatement.

[bcgruber]

Is there another injury or suspension involved with tonights game....the line is off the board

[CousinRicky]

52 minutes ago, bcgruber said:

Is there another injury or suspension involved with tonights game....the line is off the board

Maybe Thorpe is out again?

[roman5]

I have 3 free tickets if anyone is interested...

[Triple B]

No Thorpe. On bench in sweats watching warm ups. 

[Triple B]

One positive already .... Annoying crowd guy is at his other gig with the Bolts and looks like Thor is taking his place here. 

[79 Bull]

Why are we never in position for a rebound like other teams? I never played ball past 8th grade but that just seems to be very basic stuff. Hate to say it again but it's so painful to watch this team.

[usfgrad84]

How many games left. This is unwatchable.