Bulls at Blue demons preview & game thread

[Vega]

Since taking over a downtrodden USF program in 2007, Stan Heath has rarely been able to utter the following sentence: “Anything less than a victory would have been a downer.’‘

That was Heath following USF’s 99-93 victory against Providence on Saturday.

The same can be said Tuesday when USF plays at DePaul, a program in disarray after the dismissal of Coach Jerry Wainwright earlier this season. DePaul, once one of the nation’s top independent programs, is now the Big East’s doormat.

The Blue Demons enter Tuesday night’s game on a 10-game losing streak and one win in their last 34 conference games. Meanwhile, USF can finish with a .500 record in the conference and perhaps earn a first-round bye in next week’s Big East Tournament if the Bulls can win their final two games and have luck on their side.

Based on the recent past, USF seems in good shape to win back-to-back games for the first time in nearly a month. Not so fast, Heath warns.

“We’ve just learned so many different things about playing in this league, and one of the things is you better throw all of the records out of the window,’’ Heath said. “We’ve got DePaul next. And DePaul is not an easy out. We’ve got to make sure that we have total focus.’‘

While an NCAA berth is unlikely for the Bulls, they want to finish strong and win 20 games in a season for the first time since 1990, and also go to the postseaon for the first time since 2002.

In Saturday’s victory, USF looked like a team capable of both by closing out the Friars with a 26-11 run over the final 7:30. Before rallying, the Bulls trailed 82-73 and appeared headed to their fifth loss in six games.

Instead, Dominique Jones regained his scoring magic — he finished with a team-high 26 points — and four players scored 18 or more points, including 21 from forward Augustus Gilchrist.

Senior Mike Mercer, who scored 18 against the Friars, called the Providence game a must-win after USF’s dismal performance in a 74-49 loss at Villanova six days ago. Following Saturday’s win, Mercer’s attitude was more upbeat about the team’s prospects entering the Big East Tournament.

“We’ve faced so many things, so we all just bonded together and got it done,’’ he said. “We have to keep playing like that.’‘

The Bulls (17-11, 7-9) are currently in a four-way tie for ninth in the Big East standings, fighting Cincinnati, Connecticut and Seton Hall to move up to eighth and earn that first-round bye. Notre Dame (19-10, 8-8) is currently eighth and holds the tiebreaker with USF — the Irish swept the season series.

But first, USF must play DePaul. And like Heath said about Providence, anything but a win would be a downer.

“We’re playing at their place and I’m sure that they’d like to get us,’’ he said. “We’ve got to stay focused game by game and possession by possession.’‘

GameBox: USF at DePaul

TIP-OFF: 7:30 p.m.; AllState Arena, Chicago

RECORDS: USF 17-11 (7-9); DePaul 8-20 (1-15)

RADIO/TV: ESPNU/1250 AM

NEED TO KNOW: USF is 6-15 all-time against DePaul, but Bulls are 2-1 vs. Blue Demons under Stan Heath … DePaul has lost 10 consecutive games and 16 of 17 overall. … USF senior G/F Mike Mercer is shooting 58.1 percent and averaging 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds last four games … Tracy Webster was named interim coach earlier this season when DePaul fired Jerry Wainwright … Blue Demons C/F Mac Koshwal averages a double-double with 15.4 points and 10.1 rebounds.

http://sports.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/related/C127/

[Vega]

Game Preview from a DePaul pov

South Florida (17-11, 7-9) is coming off a 99-93 win over the visitors from Providence on Saturday night.

While the Golden Bulls are much improved this season, their chances of making the NCAA tournament are slim. A loss to DePaul (8-20, 1-15) would seal their postseason fate.

This is without a doubt coach Stan Heath’s best South Florida squad yet during his three year tenure in Tampa. USF is led by junior guard Dominique Jones, who scored 26 against Providence. Jones currently ranks 10th in the nation in scoring (21.6 ppg) and second in the Big East. No doubt there will be a few NBA scouts at Allstate Arena on Tuesday night to check out Jones.

It’s no secret that DePaul has struggled against teams with dominant post players. The Demons sole Big East win came against Marquette, a team without a big man. Like other opposing centers, 6-11 Gus Gilchrist will present a challenge for the Demons. Gilchrist, who dropped 21 points in the Providence game, is 100 percent now after missing more than two months with a severely sprained ankle.

“(Jones) really attacks the basket,†DePaul interim coach Tracy Webster rold WSCR radio. “They do a really good job in transition. That’s how they score a lot of their points. Dominique Jones is going to get the majority of their shots, but they have some versatile big guys in Gilchrist, who will step out and shoot the three, and Mike Mercer, a transfer, he’s a really good scorer as well. We have to get back in transition. We told our guys after the Rutgers game, ‘if you think Rutgers runs, wait till we play South Florida’. They’re going to get back and try to run it down our throat the entire game.â€

The Demons are coming off a disappointing loss at Rutgers on Saturday where they once again squandered a second half lead to the Scarlet Knights. DePaul coach Tracy Webster was disappointed in the Blue Demons’ performance in the last couple games. For DePaul to bring an end to their 10 game Big East losing streak, Webster is going to need a game where everyone steps up for a full 40 minutes.

The Last Time

In January, 2009, Dominique Jones scored 26 points and Augustus Gilchrist had 16 points and 11 rebounds to help USF down DePaul 70-61.

Dar Tucker led the Demons with 19 points and Mac Koshwal contributed with 17.

http://depaul.scout.com/2/950314.html

[callmesuperman]

We can't look past Depaul! There are only hard road games in the BE; never easy ones. On a given night in this league any team can beat anyone or lose against anyone. This has been a great year for Bulls basketball whether it is NCAAT,NIT, or worse. I hope to see a great effort tonight and am hoping for a strong finish, but it won't be easy!

[Triple B]

Golden Bulls??

[Vega]

Golden Bulls??

What?? You didn't get the memo about the name change? 

[Velcro]

Better than our original nickname "golden brahmas"  aka golden chickens

See page 9 of this pdf:  (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/university-communications-and-marketing/marketing/USF-Magazine/2006/pdfs/Spring.pdf)

"And it tells of a last minute

catch that saved the university from

naming an Asian chicken (the

Brahma) instead of a bull (the

Brahman) as its official mascot."

all the more funny that we have a tailgating group that uses the word Brahma instead of Brahman  LOL 

[BobbyBull]

Can't look past this one.  Still can't figure out why everyone says our chances are "slim."  We have a clear path to 20 or 21 wins.  Uconn and a win in the BE Tourny is the only thing standing between 9-9 and 20 win bulls season.

[Triple B]

Can't look past this one.  Still can't figure out why everyone says our chances are "slim."  We have a clear path to 20 or 21 wins.  Uconn and a win in the BE Tourny is the only thing standing between 9-9 and 20 win bulls season.

There is no such thing as a "clear path" when talking Bulls hoops ....

[Guest nybullsfan]

There is no such thing as a "clear path" when talking Bulls hoops sports.

FIFY

[Cubanbull]

This is a tough game for the Bulls.

Yes beating DePaul would give us 18 win, but this is an empty win that would do ZERO for our RPI ranking.

on the other hand a LOSS here would be horrendous.