MBB USF Looks to Continue Winning Streak Thursday vs. UConn

[Brad]

USF ATHLETICS 

GoUSFBulls.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Web Release:http://www.gousfbulls.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7700&ATCLID=210738467

 

Matchup: USF (7-21, 4-11) vs. UConn (19-8, 9-5)

Date: Thursday, Feb. 25

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Location: Tampa, Fla. | Sun Dome (10,411)

TV: CBSSN (Dave Ryan, Steve Wolf)

Radio: 820 AM (Jim Lighthall, Todd Kalas) |BullsCast

Game Notes: USF  | UConn

Follow: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

 

USF Looks to Continue Winning Streak Thursday vs. UConn

Freshman Jahmal McMurray continues to lead the Bulls in scoring with 15.7 points per game.

 

TAMPA, FEB. 23, 2016 – USF will chase its third consecutive win on Thursday, when it takes on UConn at 7:30 p.m. at the Sun Dome.

 

The Bulls (7-21, 4-11 American Athletic Conference) are coming off consecutive wins for the second time this season after an 80-71 victory over Memphis on Saturday. A win over the Huskies (19-8, 9-5) on Thursday would give the Bulls a three-game conference winning streak for the first time since 2012.

 

USF defeated Memphis with a team effort that included a 19-point scoring performance by senior guard Nehamias Morillo, who has averaged 17.7 points over the last three games. Sophomore center Ruben Guerrero recorded seven of USF’s nine blocked shots against the Tigers. It was the most blocked shots by a USF player since Kentrell Gransberry had seven against UAB on Dec. 8, 2007. USF’s 5.6 blocks per game rank third in the conference and 13^th in the NCAA. The Bulls have blocked 157 shots as a team this season, seven shy of the school record of 164, set by the 2005-06 team.

 

USF boasts the reigning American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week, Jahmal McMurray, who has averaged 20.5 points over the last eight games. The freshman from Topeka, Kan., currently leads The American with 18.1 point per game during conference outings. 

 

QUICK NOTES

> USF has not had three-straight conference wins since 2012... at Providence, vs. Villanova, at Pitt.

> USF’s four conference wins are its most since the 2011-12 season (12-6, Big East).

> USF has shot over 43 percent from the field in seven of its last eight games and has a record of 4-4 over that span.

> USF is 6-1 in games when it shoots over 40 percent from the field and holds its opponent to under 40 percent.

> USF has been outrebounded only five times in its last 17 games.

> Jahmal McMurray has led the team this season and ranks fifth in the conference in scoring (15.7).

> Jahmal McMurray nationally among freshmen... minutes: second, 35.6... points: T-17th, 15.7.

 

OPPONENT INFORMATION
> UConn is 5-3 on the road and has lost its last two, at Temple and at Cincinnati.

> The Huskies rank third in the nation in field goal percentage defense (37.7) and free throw percentage (77.6).

> UConn was ranked as highly as 18th this season and received one vote in the AP Top 25 on Monday.

> Sophomore Daniel Hamilton, a preseason first team all-conference player, ranks second in the conference with 5.0 assists per game.

 

PROMOTIONS

The first 1,000 fans inside the Sun Dome on Thursday will receive a “Bulls Unite” T-shirt.

 

BROADCAST INFORMATION

The game will be televised by CBSSN with Dave Ryan and Steve Wolf on the call. Listen to the radio broadcast and the voices of Jim Lighthall and Jim Louk on 820 AM and online at GoUSFBulls.com, the TuneIn radio app, Sirius 108 or XM 201.

 

SEASON INFORMATION
> This is the 45th season of USF basketball, which began in the fall of 1971. USF picked up its 600th win vs. Jacksonville.

> USF is thin at the guard position with Roddy Peters out indefinitely after suffering a fractured left foot against NC State. Sophomore guard Troy Holston Jr. went down with a torn ACL in July. Three more scholarship players are unavailable in Tulio Da Silva (non-qualifier), Isaiah Manderson (transfer) and Geno Thorpe (transfer).

> The Bulls possess one of the biggest front courts in the league with 6-11 Jaleel Cousins, 6-11 Ruben Guerrero, 6-8 Luis Santos and 6-8 Chris Perry. Angel Nunez (6-8) can play the two, three or four positions.

 

WEEKLY RADIO SHOW
The USF Basketball Show will air 12 times this season, nine from Beef ‘O’ Brady’s at 4103 USF Cedar Circle and three from Hooters at 13606 Bruce B Downs Blvd. The show features head coach Orlando Antigua with host Jim Lighthall. All 12 shows will air on 820 AM and online at GoUSFBulls.com. Fans are invited to come out and meet the coach. Questions can be submitted through Twitter by sending them to @USFMBB.

 

The next show is Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s on campus.

 

TV SHOW
USF’s TV show, USF Basketball: Run With The Bulls provides six episodes of behind-the scenes access and stunning cinematography covering Orlando Antigua’s program. It airs January through March multiple times on Bright House Sports Network (Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m., Thursdays at 6 p.m.), FOX Sports Sun (Thursdays at 11:30 p.m.) and WFDB TV (Saturday at noon). Upcoming show debut dates are Feb. 18, March 3 and March 17. The show can also be viewed on YouTube at YouTube.com/BullsVision. 

 

UP NEXT

USF hosts East Carolina on March 2 at 9 p.m. It will be senior night for Jaleel Cousins, Nehemias Morillo and Angel Nunez. Purchase tickets by going to USFBullsTix.com.

[DELdaBull]

Not gonna happen 

[raptorcj]

Tall order esp with Brimah back. But I'd actually give our guys a shot at this thing, the way they've been shooting. They have to hit on all cylinders, but it would be a great statement to the AAC before the conference tourney.

[TarHeel_Bull]

1 hour ago, DELdaBull said:

Not gonna happen 

That's what everyone on here was saying about Houston while we were on our losing streak, and a lot of people thought we would end with 1 or no conference wins. If this team continues to play like it has and McMurray has a better shooting performance than last game, who knows. Not saying it's likely but it is definately possible.

[Ionbull]

29 minutes ago, Bulls_Fan09 said:

That's what everyone on here was saying about Houston while we were on our losing streak, and a lot of people thought we would end with 1 or no conference wins. If this team continues to play like it has and McMurray has a better shooting performance than last game, who knows. Not saying it's likely but it is definately possible.

If they play like they did against Memphis anything is possible. Looking for a tough and well fought match. 

[FlowerPower]

UConn games always draw a lot of people. Should be a good game!

[Paisa el Toro]

McMurray will be there, ready to stare UConn down. Who decides to show up with him today, is anyone's guess. McBuckets is straight money!

[bullsfan27]

Looks like morillo and McMurray  showed up but the rest of the team forgot how to shoot. 3-13 from the floor with all 3 made baskets being a 3 ball

[CPR]

Including this game, we'll be lucky to go 1-2 down the stretch.

[JoshuaG]

This looks bad... 

Come on young fellas, lets get within a respectable point difference.