Next game: USF (9-6, 2-0) at Tulane (8-7, 2-0)
When: Saturday, January 11, 2 p.m.
Media: ESPN+ Bulls Unlimited
After the USF men’s basketball team got off to an uneven start this season, especially after a startling homecourt loss to Bethune-Cookman, it was natural to ask if the hangover left from the death of head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim was too much to overcome.
It was easy to forget that the Bulls of a year ago got off to a tough start before the conference season began, and so it was with USF this season.
However, given USF’s dominating 91-72 road victory at Wichita State on Monday night, it’s reasonable to ask if these Bulls aren’t setting themselves up for another strong finish in the American Athletic Conference.
It moved to USF to 2-0 in the AAC and 9-6 overall. It’s the first 2-0 conference start in program history and the first time the Bulls have won at Wichita.
“I keep saying that no matter the opponent, the way they played against East Texas (A&M) was the blueprint. When we played that way, we're pretty darn good. And then we followed that up with Webber International,” interim head coach Ben Fletcher said.
“It does not matter the opponent. We had 28 assists We guarded. So as long as we keep playing this way and sharing the ball and really giving effort on the defensive end, you know, we'll have a chance.”
He was referring to how USF bounced back after a stunning home loss to Bethune-Cookman. Granted, beating East Texas A&M and Webber International won’t do much for USF’s RPI, but those games served to get the Bulls back on track. That led to an opening conference win against East Carolina and it continued against the Shockers.
The Bulls broke out quickly and led 48-30 at halftime. They shook off a mini-run by Wichita State to open the second half and coasted to the win.
“We told them at halftime they're a good basketball team and they're going to make a run. But it's not about what happens is how you respond to that run. And I thought we came out with a big-time response in that in that second half to kill a 7=0 run and went on one on our own,” Fletcher said.
“That's what you want to see. That's growth in this team, for this team to come on the road against this, this, this caliber of defense, and only turn it over nine times, you know?”
Oh yeah, we know.
Jamille Reynolds was a force in the paint for USF with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Jayden Reid had 17 points and Kobe Knox contributed 15.
The Bulls shot 56.9 percent from the field, including 12 3-pointers. They held the Shockers to 41 percent shooting and only 3-of-20 on 3-point attempts.
It’s a stark contrast to how the Bulls looked in struggling to put away Stetson and in lopsided losses to Utah State and, of course, Bethune-Cookman.
“This is what I was trying to explain early on in the year, and those new guys are starting to get acclimated on how we go about doing things, and that takes time. Guys, if Amir was here, it would still take time,” Fletcher said.
“That's what people don't really understand but, but it is what it is. I'm not going to get into that part, but the thing is, man, these guys are working their faces off every single day. I just hope once we get a chance to get back to the Yuengling Center, we can have a turnout. That's what these guys deserve.”