No. 25 Ranked South Florida Travels to North for Clash with Charlotte

The Bulls are riding a program-record 13-game win streak



TAMPA, Fla. (March 1, 2024) – The No. 24 ranked University of South Florida men’s basketball team takes to the road for an American Athletic Conference clash with Charlotte on Saturday. The Bulls (21-5, 14-1 AAC) and the 49ers (17-10, 11-4 AAC) are slated for a 4 p.m. jump on ESPN+.



On Monday, South Florida earned a No. 25 ranking in the AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll. USF has a three-game lead with three games left to play in the American Athletic Conference as it seeks an outright conference championship, the program’s first regular-season conference title in program history. The Bulls won the Sun Belt Conference tournament in 1990. USF has won 20 games in the regular season for the first time in program history and just the sixth time overall. With 21 wins, USF is within three of the program season record of 24. The Bulls’ 13-game winning streak is the longest winning streak in program history, surpassing a 12-game streak set during the 1980-81 season. USF has won 19 of its last 20 overall. The 13-game winning streak is the second-longest active streak in the NCAA behind Saint Mary’s with 15 straight. The 14 wins in conference play are the most in USF program history. The 10,659 fans that watched USF beat No. 24 FAU on Feb. 18 marked a new program record for attendance, breaking a mark set in 2001. The Bulls’ victory over No. 24 FAU marked their second Top 25 win of the season (W, 74-73, at No. 10 Memphis), the first time doing so since 2011-12.



‘Sel’ing Point

Selton Miguel is tied for 189th in the country with 2.19 3-pointers per game, which is fifth in the conference. He paces the team with 15.0 points per contest. He is fourth on the squad with 3.4 boards per game. He is tied for third on the squad with 27 steals and is second on the team with 59 assists. He has added eight blocks.



CY in the YC

Chris Youngblood is second on the team with 14.9 points per game. He is averaging 2.5 rebounds per game to go along with 55 assists, 16 blocks, and 13 steals. He is shooting 82.4 percent from the free-throw line, which is tied for 148th in the country and is third in the AAC. His 2.15 3-pointers per game are tied for 205th in the country and ninth in the conference.



Pryor on Fire

Kasean Pryor was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll after he led the Bulls with 9.5 rebounds per game and was second on the team with 15.5 points per game for the week. He added five assists with two blocks and two steals. In the win at UTSA, he recorded his ninth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He added four assists, two blocks, and one steal. In the win against SMU, he recorded his 13th game in double figures with a game-high 19 points, while shooting a perfect 1.000 percent from the field, 6-for-6. He finished one rebound shy of a double-double, with nine boards. He added an assist and a steal. For the season, he leads the team with 7.4 rebounds per contest. His 5.92 defensive rebounds per game are 74th in the NCAA and fifth in the AAC. He is third on the squad averaging 12.0 points per game. He is tied for the team lead in blocks with 20. He is second on the team lead with 29 steals. He has added 38 assists. He is shooting 81.9 percent from the free-throw line, which is tied for 159th in the country and sixth in the conference.



Bulls at a Glance

Jayden Reid leads the team with 85 assists. He is tied for 259th in the NCAA with 3.3 assists per game and is tied for eighth in the AAC. He has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.12, which is tied for 123rd in the country, eighth in the conference, and eighth among NCAA freshmen. He has a team-best 33 steals. He averages 2.5 rebounds per game to go along with 6.7 points per contest. Kobe Knox is tied for the team lead with 20 blocks. He averages 8.6 points per game and 3.0 rebounds per game. Brandon Stroud is second on the team with 5.8 rebounds per contest. He averages 5.3 points a game with 35 assists, 27 steals, and eight blocks.



Strong Bench

South Florida’s bench is 25th in the NCAA and second in the conference averaging 28.23 points per contest. The USF bench has outscored its opponent's bench 734-478. Opposing benches are averaging just 18.38 points per game.



Cashing in on Free Opportunities

The Bulls are tied for 41st in the NCAA and tied for fourth in the conference with 16.3 made free throws per game. USF is tied for 54th in the country with 22.0 free-throw attempts per game, which is tied for fifth in the AAC.



Fast and Furious

The Bulls have been playing stout defense and are tied for 65th in the NCAA with a turnover margin of 1.9, which is fourth in the conference. South Florida is 102nd in the country with 12.88 forced turnovers per contest, which is sixth in the AAC. USF has used the turnovers to lead to fastbreak opportunities. The Bulls are 80th in the nation with 11.92 fastbreak points per game, which is eighth in the conference.



Last Time Out

The Bulls extended their winning streak to 13 conference games, extending the longest streak in program history. The 14 wins in conference play are the most in program history, surpassing the 12 wins in the Big East in 2011-12.The 13-game winning streak is the longest winning streak in program history, surpassing a 12-game streak set during the 1980-81 season. The back-to-back sellouts mark a first in program history. It is just the second time in program history that there were two sellouts in the same season. USF holds the second-longest winning streak in the NCAA. Kasean Pryor recorded his 13th game in double figures with a game-high 19 points, while shooting a perfect 1.000 percent from the field, 6-for-6. He finished one rebound shy of a double-double, with nine boards. He added an assist and a steal. Selton Miguel finished with 18 points, his 22nd game in double digits. He chipped in with two rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block. Chris Youngblood closed out the double-digit scorers with 12 points, his 21st game with double figures. He added a game-high five assists and three rebounds.



History with Charlotte

South Florida and Charlotte will meet for the 56th time on Saturday. The Bulls hold the series advantage 30-25. South Florida has won three of the last five meetings, including a 72-69 victory in Tampa earlier this season. The Bulls are 11-13 in games played in Charlotte.



Scouting the 49ers

As a unit, Charlotte is tied for 23rd in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to 65.3 points per game, which is second in the AAC. The 49ers lead the AAC and are tied for 13th in the NCAA with 9.6 turnovers per game. Opponents are shooting 31.2 percent from 3-point range, which is tied for 50th in the country and fourth in the league. Lu’Cye Patterson paces CLT with 14.4 points per game. He averages 3.4 rebounds per game with 67 assists, 26 steals, and five blocks. Igor Milicic Jr. is second on the squad averaging 12.7 points per game. He has a team-best 8.4 rebounds per contest. His 6.89 defensive rebounds per game are tied for 26th in the NCAA and second in the AAC. He is tied for 48th in the NCAA with nine double-doubles, which is third in the AAC. He has a team-high 32 blocks to go along with 48 assists and 17 steals. Dishon Jackson is third on the team averaging 11.7 points per contest. He averages 6.0 rebounds a game with 48 36 assists, 26 blocks, and 15 steals. Nik Graves rounds out the double-digit scorers with 10.0 points per contest. He has a team-high 80 assists. His 2.67 assists-to-turnover ratio is tied for 48th in the NCAA and second in the AAC. He averages 3.2 rebounds a game with a team-best 27 steals and four blocks.



Tale of the Tape



American Athletic Conference Standings (as of February 29)

1. South Florida – 21-5, 14-1

2. Florida Atlantic – 21-7, 11-4

3. Charlotte – 17-10, 11-4

4. SMU – 19-9, 10-5

5. UAB – 18-10, 10-5

6. Memphis – 21-8, 10-6

7. North Texas – 15-12. 8-7

8. ECU – 14-14, 7-8

9. Rice – 11-17, 5-10

10. Tulsa – 14-14, 5-11

11. Tulane – 13-14, 4-11

12. Temple – 11-17, 4-11

13. Wichita State – 12-17, 4-12

14. UTSA – 10-19, 4-12

Coach has a lot to say and on his soapbox about the ridiculous NET rankings to decide who should or who shouldn’t be in the NCAAT. He gets pretty loud about it. More and more coaches are going to be going off about this and that is when a change will happen.
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Antonio Henley 2025 DL from Gaither HS

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So I'll start with Karter Knox and the truth is no one knows what the hell is going to happen from coaches to media.

This is a quote from my one of the more plugged-in hoops guys on Knox.

"I don't think USF has the cash, but his brother is there and he'd get a ridiculous usage rate there. Big questions around AAR moving already."

So that brings me to what is the latest scuttlebutt from people who typically know things about what Knox is doing.

OTE is trying to put together a package to keep him there one more year and showcase him for the NBA so he would avoid going to the G-League. They can get him a post-grad year there or whatever the hell it is called.

As I think others have pointed out, Kenny Payne is trying to save his job with a prayer of landing Knox and Joson Sanon as a package deal Sanon is looking to reclassify and UK is also sniffing around on him along with Knox for 2024.

The way my buddy put it to me is USF is hanging around the hoop with him hoping for a chance to hit the basket at the buzzer. If somehow USF pulls this off it will mean that CAAR is staying put at least for another full year and won't jump on any jobs this cycle and honestly it would not shock me to see him stay put for a year or two and wait for something he really wants to open. I just don't see FSU if Hamilton retires being a destination job for CAAR. That would probably be the most appealing job right now that he could get unless some weird dominoes fell.

Kobe Knox still has two years left at USF if he wants to use them and them playing together would be good and Karter would likely dominate in the AAC as a freshman scorer so that is the sales pitch.

UK is hanging around too, the thing I keep hearing on UK and Knox is they don't love the kid and the fit. They haven't put on the full-court press either.

There is still the G-League as well.

So he has 5 options, stay at OTE, G-League, USF, UK or a wing and a prayer to Louisville. I just can't fathom Louisville keeping Payne for another year. They suck so bad and shouldn't be as bad as they are. They are 1-10 on the road this season with the only win coming at Miami in front of a half-empty building.

The Knox family have kept this very tight and I'm sure they are watching all of the dominoes and trying to make a decision. Signing with Adidas helps Louisville and USF though on that front as well.

I'll keep digging, I'm seeing someone who will know more about it on Saturday in person.

I officially took the plunge as it is their 'giving week'. Encourage others to at least do the $10/month minimum level.

See Why, He’s CY


TAMPA, Fla. (February 29, 2024) – He’s the alpha dog of USF basketball, an unquestioned leader, a clutch performer, a forthright spokesman, and a man’s man who believes in hard work and no excuses.

Bulls guard Chris Youngblood quickly passes around the credit, saying he’s just one component in USF’s breakthrough season. And that’s true enough.

But when doing a deep dive on why the No. 25-ranked Bulls are 21-5 (14-1 American Athletic Conference), what allowed them to build a program-record 13-game winning streak, and how they’ve planted the seeds for USF to become a basketball-mad campus, one thing appears certain:

When investigators dust for evidence of the prime suspects in this hoops transformation, they will find Youngblood’s fingerprints prominent in every area.

It has all led to Saturday afternoon and, potentially, yet another milestone. If the Bulls win on the road against the very capable Charlotte 49ers (17-10, 11-4), USF will capture the first regular-season conference championship in the program’s 53-season history.

It’s the latest stop on the Road to March Madness. For Youngblood, though, it’s simply the next game. All season long, his Bulls teammates have followed that example.

“He’s all about winning — no more, no less,’’ guard Jose Placer said. “No individual comes before winning. Nothing comes before winning. It’s pretty much that simple.’’

“He’s the head of the snake,’’ forward Kasean Pryor said. “He has an unreal mentality, accountability, and consistency on a daily basis. He holds himself to the highest standard — always. And because of that, we’ve learned to do the same thing.’’

“Chris is a great basketball player, no doubt about that,’’ Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim said. “But even more than that, he’s a phenomenal human being.’’

Youngblood, a 6-foot-4, 218-pound senior (who has one season of eligibility remaining), averages 14.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 41.5 percent from 3-point range and 82.4 percent from the free-throw line. Including his first three seasons at Kennesaw State — before following Abdur-Rahim to USF — he has 1,614 career points.

The numbers are revealing — but they don’t tell the whole story.

To really know the person, Abdur-Rahim said, you must visit the home of Dupree and LaDonna Youngblood. There was discipline, of course, but mostly high expectations of how their son should carry himself. It was chores from an early age. It was the reinforcement of values, which eventually became habits.

To really know the player, you must check out the basketball program at East Coweta High School, about a 45-minute drive from downtown Atlanta. That’s where Coach Royal Maxwell put Youngblood and his teammates through a physical and mental regimen, teaching them unwavering toughness, while emphasizing fundamentals. The game-day execution was exquisite in its simplicity.

“I feel like I have a solid foundation … and I thank my parents and coaches for that,’’ Youngblood said. “I like to say that, no matter what, I never blink. When I was younger, I was blinking all the time. I was nervous. I doubted myself.

“Now I feel like I have confidence. Big confidence.’’

He’s Chris Youngblood.

Or as everyone calls him … C.Y.

The initials are pronounced like this:

See-Why.

They actually spell out the driving forces of his life.

A Man Of Vision

See (v.) — To perceive with the eyes. To discern visually.

“God blessed a lot of us with sight,’’ Abdur-Rahim said. “But not everyone has a vision. Stevie Wonder had a vision. He had an idea of who he wanted to be and the type of music he wanted to make. That had nothing to do with his inability to see. It had everything to do with his vision.’’

Youngblood wears contacts now. If he takes them out, he really can’t make out the words on banners high in the Yuengling Center rafters. He first needed glasses at age 7 and often wore them in sports.

At his first football practice, those glasses were driven under his helmet after a hard hit … and that’s a big reason why it was his last football practice. He got exasperated in basketball when his glasses fell off. So, he went to the Kareem-like goggles, secured by a strap, but he still heard giggles and teasing.

“I knew I was going to beat you,’’ Youngblood said. “What are you going to say then? People saw my glasses or goggles and probably thought I wasn’t (a good player). But then they saw my game. And they knew I actually was a player.’’

Even when he felt “blind as a bat’’ without the eyewear, Youngblood always felt knew he could see the future.

College basketball coaches began lining up. One of his top choices was Xavier University, a basketball-rich program from the Big East Conference.

But after meeting Abdur-Rahim, the new head coach at Kennesaw State, a struggling program with practically no Division I tradition, the selection seemed obvious.

To him, it was clear-cut.

He picked Kennesaw State. He believed in the coach. He believed in the program’s potential. But when Abdur-Rahim’s Owls went 1-28 as Youngblood graduated from high school, that decision was openly mocked.

No one could see Youngblood’s logic.

But he had the vision to know differently.

“Christopher is definitely a forward thinker and not one to just follow the crowd,’’ Youngblood’s father said. “He’s not a guy caught up in the moment. He knew Kennesaw would become a good program. And so did I.’"

The Owls became the fastest program to go from one victory to an NCAA Tournament bid, winning last season’s Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament and giving Xavier — ironically enough — all it could handle before falling 72-67 in the NCAA’s first round.

That got the attention of USF and a few weeks later, Abdur-Rahim was headed to Tampa. Not long after that, Youngblood was right behind him.

“There was no question that I was following Coach Amir, regardless of where he was going,’’ Youngblood said. “I’m not sure I even knew where USF was located. I knew they worn green uniforms. Other than that, it was pure faith.’’

There was frustration in the early season, particularly during the road swing to Hofstra and UMass, when Youngblood plummeted into the worst shooting slump of his life — 3-for-22 from the field, 11 straight misses, and 1-for-9 from 3-point range.

He heard cruel whispers — was Youngblood actually good enough for the AAC? — and decided to delete his Twitter account. Abdur-Rahim stayed the course: “The shots are going to start falling.’’

Youngblood followed the lead of his coach.

“Some people, when they aren’t making shots, they panic,’’ Youngblood said. “I know it’s a long season, a lot of games. There was plenty of time to turn it around. At times, I was laughing about it. I think God was testing me.

“I actually saw myself thriving on the court. I saw this team winning games. Nobody else from the outside thought it would happen. I kept working. I could see it very clearly.’’

A man of vision.

Longtime USF staff member to move into new role



TAMPA, FEB. 29, 2024 – South Florida Football Head Coach Alex Golesh has announced that longtime USF football staff member Albert Boone has moved into the role of director of football relations with additional duties as assistant director of player development.



Boone will enter his ninth season with the USF football program in 2024, having served under four head coaches and in multiple roles from recruiting and player personnel to operations.



“Albert has been a tremendous asset to the USF football program for many years and has built incredibly strong relationships with hundreds of players, staff, alumni, donors and many others around our program,” Golesh said. “I am excited to have Albert assume this new role as we continue to strengthen our connection with our former players and elevate our relationships and engagement throughout our USF football community.”



In his new role, Boone will direct outreach, engagement and a year-round slate of events aimed at connecting former USF players to the current Bulls players, staff and program. Keeping former players informed on the happenings in the current program, conducting regular events around games and other opportunities throughout the year and providing a consistent and direct personal point of contact will be among his key duties.



Boone will also work closely with Director of Player Development Jeff Jones in fostering the development of current Bulls and their growth in community and campus engagement, leadership, and off-the-field skill sets necessary for success in life after their time at USF.



The Bulls will hold the first of 15 spring practices on Tues., March 5, and will have two practices before the University’s Spring Break (March 10-16). Following Spring Break, USF will return for four weeks of practices leading up to the annual Spring Game, which will return to Corbett Stadium on the USF campus on Sat., April 13.

It looks like the Big 12 has figured out how to game the system. We need to follow suit and everyone else and maybe they will change this garbage system.

From USF

TAMPA, FEB. 27, 2024 – South Florida Football Head Coach Alex Golesh has announced several additions and promotions for his second USF staff as the Bulls prepare for the start of spring practices on March 5.

New additions to the Bulls' staff include Director of Football Operations Zach Cole, who comes to USF from Tennessee where he worked with Golesh and Football Chief of Staff Andrew Warsaw as assistant director of football operations, serving for two seasons on Josh Heupel's Tennessee staff and before that working for four seasons at Texas A&M.

Will Shields was promoted to coordinator of scouting strategy within the USF player personnel department that was a key in helping to garner the Bulls' highest-rated recruiting class in a decade and the top 2024 class outside the autonomous conferences.

The Bulls have also added several quality control analysts and graduate assistants, including Larry Scott III, the son of former USF player and longtime coaching staff member Larry Scott, who is now the head coach at Howard University. The younger Scott will serve as a quality control analyst for the defensive line.

Also joining the Bulls' stable of quality control analysts is De'Vonte Danzey, a former all-conference offensive lineman at Auburn, who will work with the USF offensive line. Golesh also promoted Jared Peery to a senior offensive analyst position working with quarterbacks and offensive graduate assistant Parker Carmichael to a quality control analyst position working with the Bulls' tight ends.

USF also has three new graduate assistants heading into 2024, including the return of former Bulls linebacker Keyon Helton (2018-21) as a graduate assistant working with defensive backs. Tampa native and former Georgia Tech defensive lineman Kyle Cerge-Henderson returns to the Bay area as a graduate assistant working with the defensive line, while former Central Michigan linebacker Kumehnnu Gwilly will serve as a graduate assistant working with running backs.

The Bulls will hold the first of 15 spring practices on Tues., March 5, and will have two practices before the University's Spring Break (March 10-16). Following Spring Break, USF will return for four weeks of practices leading up to the annual Spring Game, which will return to Corbett Stadium on the USF campus on Sat., April 13.

Fowler Avenue's Giving Week for NIL. I hope you ladies have opened up your purses and stepped to the plate so we can continue to compete at a high level in every sport. Give or go home.

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I’m already liking what I am seeing.

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Mustangs are a 1.5 point favorite against the Bulls, with an over/under of 146.5. SMU is 7-3 ATS on the road this season while USF is 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 home games, and 14-2-3 ATS in their last 19 games. Most importantly, the Bulls are 7-0-1 ATS as an underdog in their last 8, and all 7 covers were outright wins.

USF Release

Bulls coming off back-to-back home sellouts, riding program record 13-game win streak



TAMPA, Fla. (February 26, 2024) – For the first time in program history, the University of South Florida men’s basketball team is ranked in the AP Top 25 College Basketball Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll.



South Florida checked in at No. 25 in both polls after extending a program-record win streak to 13 games with a 79-68 victory over SMU (19-5) before the Bulls second-straight sellout crowd at Yuengling Center on Sunday.



More than 10,000 fans watched South Florida improve to 21-5 overall and 14-1 in the American Athletic Conference. USF has a three-game lead in the conference standings with three games left to play. The 13-game winning streak is the second-longest active streak in the NCAA this season and the Bulls’ 14 wins in conference play are the most in program history, surpassing the 12 wins in the Big East in 2011-12.



The Bulls have drawn nearly 21,000 fans to Yuengling Center in their last two home games (10,251 on Sunday), including nearly 7,000 students, as they posted a pair of sellouts in the same season for just the second time in program history.



In 1991, USF got 58 votes in the AP poll two spots out of 25th after beating Iowa. Two nights later, on New Year’s Eve, the Bulls lost at Cincinnati, an eventual Final 4 team. That’s as close as USF has come previously to being ranked.



Notables From the Bulls’ Record-Setting Season

· USF has a three-game lead with three games left to play in the American Athletic Conference as it seeks an outright conference championship, the program’s first regular-season conference title in program history. The Bulls won the Sun Belt Conference tournament in 1990.

· USF has won 20 games in the regular season for the first time in program history and just the sixth time overall. With 21 wins, USF is within three of the program season record of 24.

· The Bulls’ 13-game winning streak is the longest winning streak in program history, surpassing a 12-game streak set during the 1980-81 season. USF has won 19 of its last 20 overall.

· The 13-game winning streak is the second-longest active streak in the NCAA behind Saint Mary’s with 15 straight.

· The 14 wins in conference play are the most in USF program history.

· The 10,659 fans that watched USF beat No. 24 FAU on Feb. 18 marked a new program record for attendance, breaking a mark set in 2001.

· The Bulls’ victory over No. 24 FAU marked their second Top 25 win of the season (W, 74-73, at No. 10 Memphis), the first time doing so since 2011-12.



Up Next

South Florida makes a trip back to North Carolina on Saturday, March 2, for a contest against Charlotte, which currently stands tied for second in the conference at 11-4. USF won the first match-up in Tampa, 72-69, on Feb. 6. The Bulls and 49ers are slated for a 4 p.m. tip on ESPN+.



To stay up-to-date on the latest USF men's basketball news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).

ChiroBulls “FAIR” Top 25 Rankings…
I figure if someone else can make one why can't I.

• 1. UCONN
• 2. Houston
• 3. Purdue
• 4. Iowa State
• 5. Duke
• 6. North Carolina
• 7. Kansas
• 8. Tennessee
• 9. Marquette
• 10. Arizona
• 11. Baylor
• 12. Auburn
• 13. Alabama
• 14. Illinois
• 15. Kentucky
• 16. St. Mary’s
• 17. Creighton
• 18. Gonzaga
• 19. USF
• 20. San Diego St.
• 22. Washington St.
• 23. Utah St.
• 23. Memphis
• 24. South Carolina
• 25. FAU

South Florida came in essentially ranked #29 last week in the Coaches Poll. Here is how the Top 25 has faired this week:

19. San Diego State (21-7) - lost to Utah State; defeated Fresno State
20. South Carolina (22-5) - lost to LSU; defeated Ole Miss
21. BYU (19-8) - defeated #11 Baylor; lost to Kansas State
22. Washington State (21-7) - defeated #4 Arizona; lost to Arizona State
23. Texas Tech - defeated TCU; lost to UCF
24. Colorado State (20-8) - lost to New Mexico; lost to UNLV
25. TCU (19-8) - lost to #23 Texas Tech; defeated Cincinnati
26. Gonzaga - defeated Portland; defeated Santa Clara
27. Virginia (20-8) - lost to Virginia Tech; lost to #10 North Carolina
28. Florida (19-8) - lost to #13 Alabama; defeated Vanderbilt
29. South Florida (21-5) - defeated UTSA; defeated SMU

USF should leapfrog Colorado State and Virginia who both went 0-2 this week. Gonzaga will move into the Top 25 with a pair of wins, so it will likely come down to if USF can leap frog #25 TCU and Florida who both went 1-1 last week, but their losses coming against Top 25 teams. I think USF cracks the Top 25 for the first time in program history on Monday and comes in at #25, although I think they could come in as high as #21.

Bull's win again! This time where it counts!

USF Release




TAMPA, Fla. (February 25, 2024) – The University of South Florida men’s basketball team returned to the friendly confines of the Yuengling Center on Sunday against SMU. The Bulls honor the legacy of Arthur Jones as part of our Equality and Inclusion game. Kasean Pryor recorded a game-high 19 points as USF defeated SMU 79-68.



With the win, USF improved to 21-5 overall and 14-1 in AAC play, while SMU fell to 19-9 overall and 10-5 in conference games. The 13-game winning streak is the second-longest active streak in the NCAA.



The Bulls extended their winning streak to 13 conference games, extending the longest streak in program history. The 14 wins in conference play are the most in program history, surpassing the 12 wins in the Big East in 2011-12. The 13-game winning streak is the longest winning streak in program history, surpassing a 12-game streak set during the 1980-81 season. The back-to-back sellouts mark a first in program history. It is just the second time in program history that there were two sellouts in the same season.



The Bulls opened the game 3-of-5 from 3-point range and started the contest with an 11-5 run. Kobe Knox, Kasean Pryor, and Jose Placer each knocked down a 3-pointer. Placer’s 3-pointer came from the USF logo.



Both teams went on a dry spell over the next four minutes of play, but the Bulls held an 11-7 lead with 11:50 left in the opening stanza. The defense continued to pick up as both teams combined for nine points, but South Florida continued to lead 15-13.



The offense picked up as both teams notched 10 points each. The Bulls held a 25-23 edge with 2:44 left until the break. USF outscored SMU 9-3 to close out the half. South Florida capitalized on chances at the free-throw line and took a 34-26 lead into the break. The Bulls were a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line in the first half.



Youngblood scored seven of the nine USF points to start the second half. The Bulls extended their lead to 43-33 at the first media timeout of the second half. The two sides tallied 10 points each as USF kept a 10-point lead 53-43. Sam Hines Jr. sent the game to a media timeout with a huge block.



The Mustangs outscored the Bulls 8-5 over the next three minutes of play. During the stretch, Pryor scored all five points as South Florida held a 58-51 lead with 8:22 left on the clock. Knox knocked down another 3-pointer as USF extended its lead to 61-53 with just over six minutes left in regulation.



South Florida picked up the intensity on the defensive end and held SMU without a basket for 3:20 of play. The Bulls extended its lead to 68-53 with a 7-2 run. The Mustangs closed out the game by outscoring the Bulls 13-11, but an emphatic slam by Miguel sealed a 79-68 victory.



Pryor recorded his 13th game in double figures with a game-high 19 points, while shooting a perfect 1.000 percent from the field, 6-for-6. He finished one rebound shy of a double-double, with nine boards. He added an assist and a steal. Miguel finished with 18 points, his 22nd game in double digits. He chipped in with two rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block. Youngblood closed out the double-digit scorers with 12 points, his 21st game with double figures. He added a game-high five assists and three rebounds.



The USF bench was strong once again and outscored the SMU bench 51-28. The Bulls held an 11-1 advantage on fastbreak points. The USF defense held SMU to 33.8 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from 3-point range, both well below the season averages for the Mustangs.



Ricardo Wright led the Mustangs with 16 points. He added two rebounds and one assist. Samuell Williamson finished with 12 points seven rebounds, and a game-high four steals. Tyreek Smith and Zhuric Phelps both finished with 11 points. Smith had five rebounds and two steals. Phelps tied for a game-high nine rebounds to go along with two assists and a steal.



Notables

· The Bulls extended their winning streak to 13 conference games, extending the longest streak in program history.

· The 14 wins in conference play are the most in program history, surpassing the 12 wins in the Big East in 2011-12.

· The 13-game winning streak is the longest winning streak in program history, surpassing a 12-game streak set during the 1980-81 season.

· The 13-game winning streak is the second-longest active streak in the NCAA.

· The back-to-back sellouts mark a first in program history. It is just the second time in program history that there were two sellouts in the same season.

· Kasean Pryor recorded his 13th game in double figures with a game-high 19 points, while shooting a perfect 1.000 percent from the field, 6-for-6. He finished one rebound shy of a double-double, with nine boards. He added an assist and a steal.

· Selton Miguel finished with 18 points, his 22nd game in double digits. He chipped in with two rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.

· Chris Youngblood closed out the double-digit scorers with 12 points, his 21st game with double figures. He added a game-high five assists and three rebounds.



Next Up

South Florida makes a trip back to North Carolina on Saturday, March 2, for a contest against Charlotte. The Bulls and 49ers are slated for a 4 p.m. tip on ESPN+.

Our magic number is 1 for MBB to with their 1st Regular Season Conference Championship. All we need is one of the following:

1. One more USF win, OR
2. One loss by FAU and Charlotte and UAB

Late getting this out today with a noon tip off, but here we go. Six games on tap today:

#24 Florida Atlantic 86 South Florida 90
Tulane 67 East Carolina 81
Wichita State 61 Charlotte 72
UTSA 77 Temple 83
North Texas 62 UAB 71
Memphis 79 SMU 106

Florida Atlantic has definitely been exposed away from home and are only 4-3 in conference road games with 2 of those wins coming in OT, and another by a single point. Its certainly possible that another team could win the conference tournament giving the American 2 teams in the NCAAT.

Below are the updated rankings and records based on games through today, but with NET Rankings through yesterday.

Tournament Bound

1. South Florida (19-5, 12-1); NET: #99 - At some point NET rankings be damned and you have to just look at the scoreboard; the Bulls have won 17 of 18, are receiving votes in both polls and is the hottest team in the country since early December; South Florida is now building its tournament resume.

2. Florida Atlantic (20-6, 9-3); NET: #27 – Owls have found winning on the road a challenge in the American, and now find itself essentially 3 games out of 1st place; with games remaining against SMU, Memphis (x2) and a tricky road game against North Texas; FAU now has to worry about a late season slide that could hurt their seeding.

On the Bubble

3. SMU (19-7, 10-3); NET: #41 - SMU has won 6 straight and are only 2 games out of 1st place. The Mustangs currently own the tiebreaker with Charlotte and have road games at FAU and South Florida - if SMU can extend their run they could steal the regular season conference title

4. Charlotte (17-8, 11-2); NET# 95 - the NET isn't impressive but the 49ers have won 11 of 12 with a game at Memphis later this week; Charlotte has a favorable schedule down the stretch and can still win the regular season title if they can get past the Tigers and Bulls

NIT Bound

5. Memphis (18-8, 7-6); NET #: 81 - that tough non-conference schedule has not helped the Tigers get off their conference roller coaster - Memphis opened 4-0 in the conference, then lost 4 straight, to then win 3 straight and then turn around and lose 2 straight; the Tigers last 5 games are all against teams with a winning conference record

6. UAB (17-8, 9-3); NET #:116 - the Blazers have now won 12 of their last 15 and are 5-0 at home in conference play, joining South Florida, Charlotte and FAU as the only teams unbeaten at home in conference play; UAB has upcoming games against Rice, Tulane and Wichita State, and could be 12-3 in conference heading into their road game at Memphis

Post Season Possible

7. North Texas (14-11, 7-6); NET #: 74 - the NET is impressive but the Mean Green are fading fast - losers of 5 of their last 7

Second Division

8. East Carolina (14-12, 7-6); NET #175 - The Pirates have won 3 in a row against the bottom of the conference and can get to 8-6 with their upcoming road game at Rice, but ECU finishes conference play against 4 teams with winning conference records

9. Tulane (13-12, 4-9); NET: #122 – Green wave have lost 6 of their last 7 and next 4 games are against teams with a winning conference record

10. Tulsa (13-12, 4-9); NET: #200 – half of the Golden Hurricanes conference wins have come against Rice

11. Rice (9-16, 3-9); NET: #241 - Remarkably Owls are 0-5 at home in conference play but 3-3 on the road

12. Wichita State (10-16, 2-11); NET: #160 – Shockers have only won 3 games since late November

13. Temple (9-17, 2-11); NET: #246 – Owls move up by virtue of their 6 point win against UTSA

14. UTSA (8-18, 2-11): NET: #283 – Road Runners have allowed less than 85 points in their last 5 games which is nice


All-Conference teams will be updated every other week.

SMU Mustangs (19-8, 10-4 AAC) at South Florida Bulls (20-5, 13-1 AAC)

Tampa, Florida; Sunday, 12 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Kasean Pryor and the South Florida Bulls host Zhuric Phelps and the SMU Mustangs.

The Bulls are 13-2 in home games. South Florida ranks eighth in the AAC with 23.9 defensive rebounds per game led by Pryor averaging 5.8

The Mustangs are 10-4 in conference play. SMU leads the AAC with 16.2 assists. Chuck Harris leads the Mustangs with 3.6.

South Florida scores 75.1 points, 8.9 more per game than the 66.2 SMU gives up. SMU has shot at a 46.2% rate from the field this season, 4.4 percentage points greater than the 41.8% shooting opponents of South Florida have averaged.

The Bulls and Mustangs face off Sunday for the first time in AAC play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Pryor is averaging 11.7 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Bulls. Chris Youngblood is averaging 15.4 points over the last 10 games for South Florida

Phelps is averaging 14.7 points and two steals for the Mustangs. Harris is averaging 2.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for SMU.

LAST 10 GAMES: Bulls: 10-0, averaging 73.3 points, 35.6 rebounds, 15.1 assists, 5.9 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 65.5 points per game.

Mustangs: 7-3, averaging 82.2 points, 38.4 rebounds, 16.8 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.5 points.

AP Previews SMU at South Florida