TAMPA, Fla. (December 15, 2023) – The University of South Florida men's basketball team is back inside the friendly confines of the Yuengling Center on Saturday, Dec. 16, for a matchup with Loyola Chicago. The Bulls (4-4) and the Golden Lions (6-4) are scheduled for a 4 p.m. tip on ESPN+.
The theme for Saturday’s game is the Holiday Celebration. Wear your favorite ugly sweater to the game. If you do not have one, we have you covered. The first 1,000 fans on Saturday will receive a USF ugly sweater. The Spyros Bros will be your halftime entertainment. Santa will be making an appearance and will be available for photos.
Earlier this week, Selton Miguel was named to the American Athletic Conference Honor Roll after he led South Florida with 20 points in the win against Florida State on Saturday, Dec. 9.
For just the second time in USF history, both the men’s and women’s teams scored 100 points in the same week. The South Florida women defeated Gardner-Webb 105-75 on Sunday, just two days before the USF men’s victory against UAPB. The previous was a 104-84 victory for the men against Fordham, on November 19, 2001, and a 101-47 victory for the women against Savannah State on November 24, 2001.
Bulls at a Glance
Selton Miguel leads the team with 13.8 points per contest and is second on the team with 4.1 boards per game. He is second on the squad with 13 steals. He has added 17 assists and one block. Chris Youngblood is second on the squad with 12.8 points per game. He is averaging 2.3 rebounds per game to go along with 14 assists, four steals, and three blocks. He is shooting 87.5 percent from the free-throw line, which is tied for 72nd in the country and third in the AAC. Jayden Reid leads the team with 37 assists. He is tied for 78th in the NCAA with 4.6 assists per game and is fourth in the AAC. He has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.70, which is 15th in the country, best in the conference, and is second among NCAA freshmen. He paces the squad with 12 steals and is averaging 2.9 rebounds per game to go along with 8.0 points per contest. Kasean Pryor leads the team with 6.1 rebounds per contest. He averages 7.9 points per game with 10 assists and eight steals. He is tied for a team-best five blocks. He is shooting 88.5 percent from the free-throw line, which is tied for 60th in the country and second in the AAC.
Strong Bench
South Florida’s bench is 16th in the NCAA averaging 33.25 points per contest. The USF bench has outscored its opponent's bench 266-141. Opposing benches are averaging just 17.62 points per game.
Fast and Furious
The Bulls have been playing stout defense and are tied for 27th in the NCAA with a turnover margin of 3.9, which is third in the conference. South Florida is tied for 46th in the country with 15.50 forced turnovers per contest, which is third in the AAC. USF has used the turnovers to lead to fastbreak opportunities. The Bulls are 20th in the nation with 16.62 fastbreak points per game, which is the best in the conference.
Last Time Out
South Florida recorded a 104-86 victory against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday. Kasean Pryor recorded a career-high 19 points to lead USF. He added six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a game-high two blocks. Kobe Knox finished with a career-best as a Bull with 18 points. He dished out five assists with three rebounds and one blocked shot. Sam Hines Jr. posted a season-best 16 points. He finished tied for a game-high eight rebounds. Jayden Reid notched a career-high 16 points to go along with a team-high eight assists. Selton Miguel posted a 14-point performance, his sixth game in double figures. He tied a career-high with four made 3-pointers as he went 4-of-7 behind the 3-point line. Chris Youngblood added an 11-point performance, for his fifth game in double figures.
Historic Night Against Arkansas-Pine Bluff
The Bulls had six players finish in double digits for the first time in program history. The 104 points tied for the 10th-most points in USF history. It was the 26th time in USF history that a team scored 100 points. It is the first time since January 23, 2010, against Providence in a 109-105 OT win. It is the first game to reach 100 points without going to overtime, since FAU on November 17, 2007, with a 100-69 victory.
History with Loyola Chicago
The Bulls and Ramblers will meet for the third time on Saturday. South Florida won the previous two meetings, including a 66-55 victory on November 25, 2019, in the Cayman Islands. South Florida is 1-0 against Loyola Chicago in Tampa.
Scouting the Ramblers
The Loyola bench is 19th in the NCAA averaging 32.30 bench points per game. As a unit, they are tied for 26th in the nation with 176.5 assists per contest. The Ramblers are tied for 40th in the country averaging 9.4 3-pointers per game. Philip Alston leads the team averaging 13.8 points per contest. He is averaging 3.8 rebounds per game to go along with five assists, five steals, and four blocks. Des Watson is second on the team averaging 12.3 points a game. He is averaging 3.1 rebounds a contest with 15 assists, six steals, and two blocks. Jayden Dawson rounds out the double-digit scorers with 10.0 points a game. He has added 2.7 rebounds per game to go along with 10 assists, eight steals, and three blocks. Miles Rubin paces the team with 23 blocks, which is tied for 19th in the country. His 2.30 blocks per game are 22nd in the NCAA. He leads the team with 4.6 rebounds a game. Brandon Norris leads the team with 53 assists, which are tied for 39th in the nation, and his 5.3 assists per game are tied for 39th in the country.
Tale of the Tape
USF | Category | LUC |
75.4 | POINTS PER GAME | 75.6 |
70.1 | OPP. POINTS PER GAME | 69.6 |
.409 | FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .460 |
.436 | OPP. FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .401 |
.297 | 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .366 |
.322 | OPP. 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .368 |
.745 | FREE THROW PERCENTAGE | .703 |
37.8 | REBOUNDS PER GAME | 36.8 |
0.0 | REBOUNDING MARGIN | 3.4 |
14.9 | ASSISTS PER GAME | 17.5 |
11.6 | TURNOVERS PER GAME | 13.2 |
3.9 | TURNOVER MARGIN | -0.6 |
8.0 | STEALS PER GAME | 6.7 |
2.9 | BLOCKS PER GAME | 5.2 |