MBB Official In game Chat: USF Hosts SMU Tuesday at 7 p.m.

[Brad]

USF ATHLETICS GoUSFBulls.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: Jan. 27, 2014

 

Web Release: http://www.gousfbulls.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7700&ATCLID=209387174

 

 

Date: Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Location: Sun Dome (10,411)

TV: ESPNNews (Rich Hollenberg, Mark Adams) | WatchESPN

Radio: 98.7 FM The Fan, Sirius: 110, XM: 193 (Jim Lighthall, Todd Kalas) | BullsCast

Game Notes: USF | SMU

Follow: Live Stats | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Tickets

 

USF Hosts SMU Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Bulls look to get on track at home

 

TAMPA, JAN. 27, 2014 â€“ USF will try to snap a four-game home losing streak on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against SMU, which has won five straight.

 

Six of the Bulls’ 10 wins have come in the Sun Dome, but they haven’t won at home since before the New Year, a 73-70 win against Florida A&M on Dec. 19. To break the skid, USF (10-10, 1-6 The American) will have to beat SMU, a team who is 12 games over .500 for the first time since 2000-01. It is another tough game early on for the Bulls who have not played a team under .500 since Jan. 9 at Temple, also their last win.

 

PAJAMA PARTY

Fans are encouraged to come dressed in their pajamas on Tuesday. Those dressed up will have an opportunity to be chosen for contests throughout the game where various prizes will be won including a cruise for two.

 

SCOUTING SMU

The Mustangs are 16-4 overall and 5-2 in The American following a 75-68 win at Houston on Sunday. The Mustangs are led by guard Nic Moore who scored 22 of his game and career-high 29 points in the second half of the win over the Cougars. SMU, which has dominant home record of 10-0, leads The American in field goal percentage (48.7) and field goal defense (36.2). On the road, the Mustangs are 4-3 with losses at Arkansas, Cincinnati and Louisville.

 

SERIES

SMU leads the all-time series 3-2 including a 1-1 record in Tampa. The last meeting was won by SMU 71-54 on Jan. 15 in Dallas. Zach LeDay, a native of the Dallas area, scored a season-high 12 points in his homecoming.

 

NOTES

» On Sunday at Memphis, USF lost for the first time while recording at least 15 assists (3-1)

» USF’s 16 offensive rebounds on Sunday was a season high, one better than in the season opener vs. Tennessee Tech (15). It was the most since the last game in 2012-13 against Seton Hall (27).

» Memphis native Martino Brock is coming off a season-high 17 points at Memphis.

» Victor Rudd and Corey Allen Jr. are the only two players to start in every game this season for the Bulls

» In every game Victor Rudd has recorded at least 10 rebounds, he’s had at least 10 points for a double-double

» Musa Abdul-Aleem has missed the last three games due to illness. He is 13-of-53 (24.5 percent) from three-point range, but 9-of-14 from two

» John Egbunu has recorded at least one blocked shot in all but five games this season (FGCU, Miss. State, vs. Cincy, vs. UL, at Memphis)

» John Egbunu’s 26 blocks on the season is the third most ever at USF among freshmen, first is 50

» Only five teams have attempted fewer three-pointers per game than USF (13.0)

» 59.7 percent of USF’s scoring has come via two-pointers, the 12th most in the NCAA according to KenPom

» 41.1 percent of USF’s scoring has come from three newcomers: Corey Allen Jr., John Egbunu and Chris Perry

» 21.6 percent of USF’s scoring has come from Victor Rudd

» USF is 0-7 when shooting under 40 percent from the field

» USF is 5-1 when leading at halftime, but 2-9 when trailing at the break

» USF is 7-0 when committing fewer turnovers than its opponent

» Victor Rudd is one of two players (TaShawn Thomas/UH) in the American Conference to rank in the top 10 in scoring and rebounding. 10th in scoring (14.8), 8th in rebounding (6.9)

» Corey Allen Jr. ranks 13th in assists (3.2), 13th in steals (1.5), third in minutes played (34.2)

» John Egbunu ranks 8th in the conference in rebounding (6.9), the most of any freshman, 11th in blocked shots (1.3), 7th in offensive rebounding (2.7)

» Chris Perry ranks 16th in the conference in rebounding (5.6)

 

LAST TIME OUT

There were eight lead changes in the game, but all in the first five minutes of play as No. 23 Memphis made 10 3-pointers to beat USF 80-58 on Sunday.

 

RUDD NEARING 1,000

Senior forward Victor Rudd is 10 points away from becoming the 18th player to reach 1,000 career points at USF.  Now in his third season with the Bulls, Rudd totaled 38 points as a freshman at Arizona State (2009-10).

 

ANTHONY COLLINS IS ON BOARD

Junior point guard Anthony Collins volunteered to speak to the media on Monday, Jan. 27 to reemphasize his commitment to USF and coach Stan Heath.  Collins said he’s committed to finishing his career at USF and is “100 percent” behind coach Heath.  He doesn’t know when he will return, but doesn’t want to go out there at 50 percent. Collins is suffering from complications of surgery over the summer to remove an inflamed bursa sack in his left knee. The knee is still swollen and painful.

 

TOUGH STRETCH

The Bulls played No. 19 Cincinnati on Jan. 18, No. 12 Louisville on Jan. 22 and at No. 23 Memphis on Jan. 26.  It was the first time since the 2010-11 season that the Bulls will play three straight ranked teams. Then USF lost to No. 8 Notre Dame 78-55 (2/12/11), at No. 4 Pittsburgh 67-55 (2/16/11) and No. 9 Georgetown 61-55 (2/19/11).

 

WELL-ROUNDED RUDD

Victor Rudd has played a more well-rounded game this season. His assist total of 38 is more than all of last year when he had 32 assists in 30 games.   

 

PAINTING                                                                                           

When USF scored 50 points in the paint at Temple, it was the most cine recording 50 on March 9, 2010 in a 58-46 win over Depaul. The Bulls have outscored their opponents down low 668-525 on the season.

 

UP NEXT

USF plays three of its next four on the road beginning at No. 13 Cincinnati on Sunday at noon ET. The Bearcats won the first meeting 61-54 on Jan. 18.

 

[NewEnglandBull]

PJ party???? Que those Bulls Pen member who show pics of women...yes I am waiting...

[Nuke]

She looks ready for the game

[Vega]

Hopefully SMU takes USF lightly and we see an upset happen. As his record has indicated, Heath has sucked as a HC most of his career, but he normally gets to enjoy an upset or two every season. Beating SMU isn't a major upset, because they aren't ranked, however this season a win over the Ponies would be considered one. Go Bulls!!!

[NCBull]

8-5 SMU up 14:46 just had an actual post play run!!

[swamprat]

Shooting 20%.

[swamprat]

That makes 3 terrible entry passes.

[NCBull]

8-6 10:22

[NCBull]

Yes, four minutes, one total point. Fun stuff here.

[Bear]

SMU looks like USF right now...