Next game: USF (13-18, 6-12) vs. Wichita State (18-13, 8-10)
When: Thursday, March 13, 12:30 p.m.
TV/radio: ESPN-U and Bulls Unlimited
Logic says this USF men’s basketball season will be over soon, perhaps by the time the final buzzer sounds on the Bulls’ opening game in the American Athletic Conference tournament.
The Bulls are heavy underdogs as they kick off the tournament against Wichita State. They’ve lost seven of their last eight games, but the success of this season shouldn’t be measured by that statistic.
We all know why that is true. The Bulls have never faced a more challenging season than this one, and we know why. After head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim died unexpectedly last October 24 – 11 days before the season opener against Florida – he was in the thoughts and minds of every one associated with this team every single day.
Every. Single. Day.
“Anytime you go through an ordeal like these guys have had to go through. It's not easy. And I think what people see is the surface. You know, you see them play a game, but you don't see what they go through every single day,” interim head coach Ben Fletcher said.
“That type of loss, it just doesn't go away, mainly because a lot of these guys came specifically (to USF) to play for Amir. And so, in a way it’s is unfair for them, and that's why I think a lot of people have to give them grace.”
Athletics at the Division I level can be unforgiving, particularly in a situation like this, grace was only going to go so far. While opponents may have felt sympathy for what USF was going through, they weren’t going to let up.
Meanwhile, the Bulls players had to prepare for a season where they would be the target as defending regular season AAC champion. That was challenging enough, without factoring emotions into the equation.
Forward Kobe Knox told Joey Johnston of GoUSFBulls.com that his mind sometimes wandered during games. That was especially true when he looked at the end-zone seats that had been renamed The Amir Abdur-Rahim student section.
"I knew he wasn't going to be there, but I looked over there anyway,'' Knox said. "That spot was where he climbed into the seats so he could dance with the students.
“I'd feel sad that he was not there, but the memory of what we had and what he brought to us made me so happy at the same time. Still, it's hard for me to comprehend what has happened.''
This season has been punctuated by a few highs – such as the 91-72 win at Wichita State on January 6 and the home game 63-56 win over Tulsa where the Bulls outscored the visitors 19-2 in the final five minutes.
But, of course, there were lows, too. The stunning 77-69 home-court loss against Bethune-Cookman comes to mind.
The Bulls need to win four games in four days to keep their season going. We know that probably won’t happen.
Ben Fletcher is correct, though. No matter what happens at the tournament, this team deserves grace. The Bulls also deserve respect. In the midst of tragedy, they continued to play as hard as a team could.
Every. Single. Night.
That’s what Amir Abdur-Rahim would have expected, and the Bulls didn’t let him down.