USF men honor Amir Abdur-Rahim in the way he would have wanted in double OT win

Next game: Wichita State (12-10, 2-7) vs. USF (12-11, 5-5)

When: Sunday, February 9, 2 p.m. at the Yuengling Center

Media: ESPN+ and Bulls Unlimited

Amir Abdur-Rahim was at the University of South Florida for an all-too-brief time, but his impact will echo for generations to come because of a simple word: love. It's how he lived his life.

His love for his family, the players on his basketball team, the people he worked with, the USF students, and those he met throughout the Tampa Bay community was the real thing. So it was fitting that his life was celebrated Thursday night at the Yuengling Center with the words he lived his life by: Love Wins.

A national TV audience watched USF win a double-overtime thriller 100-91 over Temple, and, really, it couldn’t have ended any other way. The Bulls battled, flew around the court, dove for loose balls, and made clutch plays -- just like he taught them.

It was exhiliarting and melancholy at the same time, coming against the bigger picture of a night to focus on an exemplary life as the American Athletic Conference formally honored Abdur-Rahim as the league’s honorary Coach of the Year.

It also created a sportsmanship award in his name, which is fitting.

"The thing that's remarkable about who Amir was and what he did was he was not in the conference for a long time, but the more people I've spoken to and the more I've understood what his impact has been, deep and permanent. It's almost like he was coaching in the league for 20 years. And that's what I think is special about this," AAC Commissioner Tim Pernetti said.

Pernetti added, "He's he's had a short term, permanent impact on the American and he deserves to be honored in this way forever."

Those who knew him best are still processing their grief over his passing shortly before the season began at the age of 43. In many ways, it still doesn’t seem real, even though they are reminded of that reality every day.

“Guys, it's hard right because a lot of these guys came here to play for Coach. That makes it difficult and as much as a guy that loves to help people, I can't help them with that I can't and I know it,” interim coach Ben Fletcher said.

“There are days where I struggle, but the one thing that we say is there are gonna be days that I need y'all, and they're gonna be days where y'all need me, you know. That's the best thing about this team. We've been there for each other.”

In many ways this is the most difficult season in USF basketball history. The Bulls have had to deal their grief while navigating a challenging schedule, but that’s not all. Key players have missed games because of injuries or illness, and opposing teams don’t take it easy just because USF is hurting.

“I'm telling you guys, we should be so proud of these dudes. Man, so proud of them guys. Because all they've done since the day that they start calling my phone saying that they want to practice, all they've done is work, work, and I don't think people understand what they had to go through,” Fletcher said.

Even if the Bulls don’t win another game this season, they can look back on this game as a time when they willed themselves to victory because it’s what Coach Amir would have wanted.

“We really wanted to honor him in a way that it was special for everybody you know,” Fletcher said. “Tough night, because, you know, you're full of emotions, but man, just proud of the guys for sticking it out and coming up with a win on a big night.”

Forward Jamille Reynolds was a force inside the paint, scoring 25 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Kobe Knox had 17 and Brandon Stroud – who missed the previous game at FAU – added 15.

The Bulls bench had 51 points.

But we all know the bigger message of this game. It was a formal “thank you” to the man who lifted a university and community in ways that can’t be measured. We will never know where those ripples stop, but we can say with certainty that Amir Abdur-Rahim left everyone with a lasting gift.

Yes, indeed.

Love wins.