BullyPulpit

You are high tech, I am sure you can figure out why.

Maybe Loyola Chicago, FSU and UNI will win out??? That is really what we need at this point.

Defense is almost always the difference. Our D was elite in 2011-2012. This team has that winning mentality. USF trailed by 11 points to Rice with 13:40 left to go in the game and came back to win by 8. That preceded the giant 20 point comeback against Memphis. When you know the game is never out of reach it creates the necessary mindset to mount the comeback.

Maybe this season's FAU is USF?

Just saw that Charlotte knocked off #4 Florida State on the road last night 6-5. They are the defending CUSA champs and that was a pretty big statement win to start the season.

That 2011-2012 season was fun. To go 12-6 in the Big East far eclipses anything else the program has accomplished. The Bulls were picked to finish 14th in the conference and ended up in a tie for 4th, but was seeded 6th in the tournament due to tiebreakers. That squad upset Cincy and Louisville and took care of business against the bottom half of the conference and barely lost in the conference tournament to Notre Dame in OT, who was the beneficiary of the double-bye (top 4 seeds got the double-bye).The Big East was the second best conference in the country that season. The following teams made the tournament: #1 Syracuse (31-2), #3 Marquette (25-7), #3 Georgetown (23-8), #4 Louisville (26-9), #6 Cincy (24-10), #7 Notre Dame (22-11), #9 UCONN (21-13), #10 WVU (19-13), #12 (USF) 20-13. USF handled Cal easily in the First Four and then thumped Temple in the First Round. They absolutely should have beaten Ohio in the Round of 32 and would have had a chance to go up against UNC in the Sweet 16. Up by 6 at the half, but Ohio got hot from 3 point range. Ahhh, what could have been.

WBB has taken a big step back this season. Losing Puisis for the season certainly didn't help things, but hopefully that is the sacrificial lamb that is needed to pay for the success in the other programs. Also, baseball was picked to finish 5th in the conference but actually received a first-place vote, presumably from ECU's head coach. At least the coach of the best team in the conference feels like we can compete.

It remains to be seen if we have one of his traditional "aces" on this squad. We struggled through the season last year and Peyton Dixon, while dependable, just isn't a Nevins of Corrick. Belle Sardja is really the wildcard for the rotation this year. She dominated as a JC pitcher and helped lead her team to 2 national titles and was the JC pitcher of the year last season. It will also be interesting to see how the two freshman pitchers develop. The pressure isn't on this squad as they were picked to finish 4th in the conference behind Wichita State, Charlotte, and UNT.

I am concerned by the lack of offense in the first game. The Sophomore pitcher for Illinois State, Hannah Meshnick, did not have the resume of a pitcher that would hold the Bulls to one hit over 9 innings. She didn't strike out a single batter, so it was likely just a fluke, but time will tell. The bats coming alive against BCC was expected and a welcome sight. The Bulls host Michigan, Oregon State, Florida (#16), and Kansas over the next 4 days. Let's hope we are at least 4-2 on Tuesday.

Well, last night didn't go totally according to plan. UAB is still very much alive for a top 4 seed after upsetting FAU. That was probably a worst case outcome for the Bulls. It does improve our chance of attaining the regular season conference title. Memphis survived in a hideous game against Temple. Almost 50 fouls combined and some of the worst FT shooting you have ever seen. Made the old USF squads look like Pistol Pete. They remain 3.5 back of us, so we are safely ahead for the time being. They certainly look like a group of talented players that have not been coached up and don't have the it factor. Assuming the Bulls continue to take care of business against the lesser competition, the SMU game still looms the largest as far as a top 4 seed is concerned.

I think they were trying to figure out the correct price point. Ultimately, $20 seems fair for GA and the 300 level given the demand for this game. Let's just hope that FAU falling last night doesn't stifle the enthusiasm for this game. The Bulls have to take care of business the next two games for there to be the highest energy and enthusiasm possible. The Rice game tomorrow has me somewhat concerned.

Rankings are just window dressing and pretty much meaningless. This team will get the attention they deserve if they keep winning.

We are no longer tied with anyone for first place. Let's go take care of business on the road Saturday. Hopefully no emotional letdown after the big win Tuesday night.

See, I told you they looked beatable! UAB wanted it more. They were scrappy and crashed the boards. This takes a little bit of the shine off of the matchup on February 18. We are now all alone in first place. Can't fall into a trap the next two games.

I should add that two freshman combined for a no-hitter in the BCC game.

They are undoubtedly a tough squad and the best team we will have faced, by far. Having said that, Charlotte was able to beat them in part thanks to their size. If we can just match them from outside, we can win this one. The players are going to be up amped for this game. The key will be to keep emotions in check and play smart basketball.

Kasean Pryor has a chance to present FAU with a matchup nightmare.

It's softball season! CKE and the ladies are off to a good start beating Illinois St. in a pitchers' duel 1-0 in 9 innings. They won while only getting 1 hit. The bats came alive in the second game against BCC, winning by mercy rule 10-0 in 5 innings. Tomorrow they face a Michigan squad that is receiving top 25 votes. Let's hope for another successful season by the most successful program in USF history.

Watching FAU v. UAB on ESPN2 and I think we will matchup really well against them. Their big might give us some trouble but they are small everywhere else. Our guys are bigger and stronger, but also fast. We have to defend the 3 well, as FAU likes to take a lot of them. I really hope we take care of business the next two games and the Foam Dome is lit!

Demand must be really high because they just doubled the price for the tickets in the 300 level. They were $10 each and are now $20 each.

I'm not saying FSU staying in the ACC is impossible, but FSU went scorched Earth against the conference. They made it really hard for either side to save face at this point.

Could be as many as 9,000 at the FAU game.....the homecourt advantage alone will be worth 5 points!

I am interested in purchasing 2 tickets if anyone is looking to sell.

One more loss and the at-large is off the table. 25-6 MIGHT get us into the tournament. Until that loss happens, we cheer for Memphis to continue to win, IMO. If/when we take another loss, then we only worry about the things that will make a top 4 seed more likely. That's the way I am approaching things.

The goal is to win every game and win the conference title but, at a minimum, the goal for USF should be to finish in the top 4 of the conference (preferably the top 2) and earn the double-bye in the tournament. Playing with fresh legs in the quarterfinals will be a huge advantage. Last season, all 4 of the top 4 seeds advanced to the semis and that was with the single bye in place. As it stands, the most important game remaining on USF's schedule is SMU. A win over the Mustangs would give the Bulls the head-to-head tiebreaker over SMU, UNT, and Memphis. Unfortunately, UAB has the head-to-head tiebreaker over us, but they still have difficult games remaining hosting FAU, UNT, and SMU and going on the road to Memphis. As it stands, we essentially have a 3.5 game cushion over UNT and Memphis by way of the tiebreaker. Significant games (bolded team = team to root for): February 8 FAU @ UAB - While winning the regular season crown would be nice, getting a top-4 seed is the ultimate goal. From that perspective, we should be cheering for FAU to beat UAB, which would widen our lead over UAB to 2.5 games and make a potential win over FAU look more impressive. Memphis @ Temple - USF's hopes for an at-large bid are slim. We already hold a 4 game lead over Memphis. So long as we have a chance to run the table in conference play and get into the at-large conversation, we should be rooting for Memphis to win out. February 11 UAB @ Tulsa Charlotte @ Temple UNT @ SMU Tulane @ Memphis