USF new kid in the Big East

[Brad]

USF new kid in the Big East

Stretch of 16 straight conference games begins tonight at home against West Virginia.

BY ALAN DELL CORRESPONDENT

TAMPA -- The University of South Florida men's basketball team is down to six healthy scholarship players, but the Big East Conference schedule begins tonight and no one is waiting for the Bulls to mend.

USF makes its inaugural appearance in the Big East Conference at 7 p.m. in the Sun Dome against 24th ranked-West Virginia. It begins a string of 16 straight league games where the Bulls can expect to be the underdog in every game.

USF head coach Robert McCullum knew his team's first year in the conference would be extremely difficult, but he wasn't prepared for the loss of so many players due to injuries and other factors.

The lack of experienced quality players has shown itself in the turnover department. The Bulls are averaging 21.5 turnovers per game, which have accounted for 32.1 percent of the 62.8 points per game opponents are averaging. Only one player, walk-on point guard Chris Capko, has more assists than turnovers.

The Bulls (6-7) have lost three of their last four, including an embarrassing 75-68 overtime defeat to Bethune-Cookman, which USF hadn't lost to in more than a decade.

Most of the depletion has occurred in the backcourt. The Bulls lost heralded guard David Sills when McCullum released him for conduct detrimental to the team. The biggest loss, though, came when freshman point guard Chris Howard tore his ACL in the preseason.

Sophomore Collin Dennis could've moved over to point guard, but hurt his ankle, leaving the duties to Capko, who averaged about three minutes a game last season. Marius Prekevicius, USF's top returning 3-point shooter, left the team to play professionally in his native Europe.

"Howard was the one we expected so much from," McCullum said. "In a controlled scrimmage against Florida State, (FSU) coach Leonard Hamilton predicted he would make the All-Big East freshman team. Two days later Howard was lost for the season."

USF has gotten solid play from transfers Melvin Buckley and McHugh Mattis, two 6-foot-6 juniors. Buckley, a transfer from Purdue, is third on the team in scoring (12.5 points per game) and Mattis is averaging 10 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Senior guard James Holmes is fifth in the Big East in scoring and leads the Bulls with a 19.6 points-per-game average.

Solomon Jones, USF's 6-foot-10 center, is second in the Big East in rebounding (10.1 rpg) and leads the conference in blocked shots (3.69 per game).

The Bulls will have their hands full with a WVU team (8-3) that loves to shoot the 3-pointer and has perhaps the nation's top 3-point shooting center in Kevin Pittsnogle. He is third in the Big East in 3-point shooting (27-for-57) behind teammate Mike Gansey (28-for-57). Pittsnogle is averaging 20.2 points per game and Gansey is dropping in 18.9 points per contest.

Story Link

[USF03]

Wow... I hope our guys stand up and fight tonight.  To win agaisnt WVU would be big... but I don't know if I could have faith in these guys after whats happened so far.

[Velcro]

Only one player, walk-on point guard Chris Capko, has more assists than turnovers.

that is very misleading... not all turnovers are awarded to the passer, even if they are to blame.

[TyBull]

I am attending the game tonite. I hope that it is not like viewing the "Titanic".

[smazza]

good luck rmc