MBB AD Harlan: USF men's basketball record 'needs to get a lot better'

[Triple B]

• Joey Knight, Times Staff Writer

Friday, February 19, 2016 11:17am

TAMPA — Like the couple of thousand others who convene at the Sun Dome on game days, USF athletic director Mark Harlan sees the ridiculously long row of guys in gray warmups on the Bulls' bench, either ineligible or incapacitated.

He sees the Bulls' schedule, ranked second-toughest in the American Athletic Conference by noted analyst Jerry Palm. He sees walk-ons being thrust into the rotation out of necessity, logging more minutes in a game than they dreamed they'd get in a season. Mostly, Harlan sees the big picture.

Which is to say, he gets it. "It's a team that, when I witness it, has really shown a lot of character," he said.

But Harlan also gets this: Division I men's basketball is a performance-based industry, and success in the win column can't be put off forever.

Hence the reason he's counting on significant improvement in Year 3 of the Orlando Antigua era in 2016-17.

"I think it is reasonable to expect that because that's my expectations," Harlan said in a phone interview.

"We know that the recruiting class that's coming in is very solid. … So we could see a full complement of scholarship athletes next year in the third year of a program where, by that time, the head coach and his staff and the elements that he's trying to put in are firmly now in place."

Rest of story

[emrober5]

Sounds like next year is make or break.

[bullsfan27]

Antigua will need a double digit win season to save his job. A 9-21 or worse record and he is gone.

[smazza]

next year is his last year

[Azmodi]

I'll go on record and predict 18 wins next year. That may include Conference tourney wins but, 18 none the less.

[TarHeel_Bull]

1 minute ago, smazza said:

next year is his last year

Are you watching the game right now? They are looking a lot better than before and are beating Memphis by 8. Next year will be his last definately if he can't win 10-12 games, but I would be shocked if he doesn't, too much talent coming in and coming back from injury.

[TarHeel_Bull]

Just now, Azmodi said:

I'll go on record and predict 18 wins next year. That may include Conference tourney wins but, 18 none the less.

Agreed

[Calibull]

19 minutes ago, Bulls_Fan09 said:

Are you watching the game right now? They are looking a lot better than before and are beating Memphis by 8. Next year will be his last definately if he can't win 10-12 games, but I would be shocked if he doesn't, too much talent coming in and coming back from injury.

I see them making a similar turnaround as the football team.  I agree... 

[raptorcj]

not convinced about a turnaround just yet, but a big win on the road is a nice spark. The shooting was outstanding again, and the bigs did their jobs too. Really liking the direction, hope they can keep it up.

[TarHeel_Bull]

5 minutes ago, raptorcj said:

not convinced about a turnaround just yet, but a big win on the road is a nice spark. The shooting was outstanding again, and the bigs did their jobs too. Really liking the direction, hope they can keep it up.

This was at home, but the rest of our conference wins had been on the road.