With the USF SunDome undergoing renovation, our intrepid basketball reporter will follow the South Florida basketball team around the USF campus this season, as the team plays its games in different buildings across the campus. Check back after each home game for updates (hopefully).

The debut performance of guard Jawanza Poland spurred the USF Bulls to a 70-55 victory over the Cleveland State Vikings at Pizzo Elementary School.

"With the university on Christmas break, we wanted the guys to have some fans here for support," said athletic director Doug Woolard.

Pizzo Elementary is located on the USF campus, in a cooperative effort between USF and Hillsborough County. The game was held during an extended recess.

Poland opened the game with a thunderous put-back dunk, to the delight of all 621 students at Pizzo, as attendance to the game was compulsory.

Both teams shot poorly in the first half (USF 35.7%, CSU 33.3%), as they had trouble adjusting to the six-foot rims at the school's playground.

In the second half, however the Bulls altered their strategy to take a large lead.

"When they challenged our shots, we just jumped as high as we could," said USF guard Anthony Collins, "And then we would shoot directly down into their out-streched arms. With the rim so low, it was goaltending every time."

Cleveland St. committed an NCAA record 14 goaltending penalties, helping USF shoot 65% in the second half.

"We couldn't win," said Cleveland St coach Gary Waters."Either we jump and challenge and get called for goaltending, or we don't challenge and they hit open shots."

Despite the improved second-half effort by the Bulls, the crowd was less than enthusiastic

"The crowd was really into it during the first half," said forward Augustus Gilchrist. "but then in the second half, the kindergarten to second graders had nap time. Kind of killed the support."

Notes: At halftime, 5'11" guard Mike McCloskey performed a spirited dunking exhibition.

"It's the only time I get to dunk, ever, so it was great to get out and show what I can do," said McCluskey.

The game was delayed 22 minutes during the second half as mass hysteria ensued at the sight of an ice cream truck.

Freshman Jordan Omegbehin was involved in an incident on playground complex. Omegbehin, 7'3" and 291 lbs, became stuck while sliding down the swirly tube slide. Campus security informed authorities, who utilized the jaws of life to remove the player, who is redshirting this season.

"I'm just sitting on the bench every game, bored out of my mind," said Omegbehin. "After the kids were using my arms as monkey bars, they kept goading me into going down the slide. Peer pressure is tough."

Omegbehin escaped withou any injuries except the incessant teasing by the students.

"Jordan's really big," said first grader Todd Jenkins, "but my dad is bigger."

In honor of Poland's outstanding debut performance, after the game the Tampa Bay chapter of the NAACP renamed Kwanza, the African-American held next week, to Jawanzaa.

With the USF SunDome undergoing renovation, our intrepid basketball reporter will follow the South Florida basketball team around the USF campus this season, as the team plays its games in different buildings across the campus. Check back after each home game for updates (hopefully).

After a back and forth first half, the USF Bulls used a great rebounding effort and some local magic to pull away from the Florida A&M Rattlers 83-59 Sunday at the reanimated specter of the Special Event Center.

The Special Events Center (SEC), which hosted lectures and concerts, was demolished in 2005 to help make way for the new Marshall Center.

Athletic Director Doug Woolard said the building reanimated due to the lunar eclipse over the weekend.

"After doing some research into the history of the campus," Woolard said "we saw that during a previous eclipse, ghost planes started landing on a reanimated airstrip in the middle of campus, much like the air field that existed at the campus' location before USF was formed"

"So we made an educated guess that with this eclipse the Special Event Center would reanimate, and sure enough it worked out."

"When I looked at the schedule, and saw the SEC on there, I thought, hey, didn't they demolish that building," said coach Stan Heath. "I mean, it's not on the campus map at all.

"But leave it to the creative schedulers at our athletic department to find us another quality venue on on this beautiful campus."

FAMU stayed competitive early despite shooting only 39% from the field in the first half.

"It took us awhile to adjust to the murky atmosphere," said FAMU guard Brandon Hosely, who shot 2-8 from the field.

Hugh Robertson, who got a rare start in place of Ron Anderson, pulled down a career-high 21 rebounds.

"It was like the ball was magically drawn to me," said Robertson. "I mean, really drawn to me. It followed me into the locker room at the half, and even into the shower after the game."

Anderson and Victor Rudd were both late scratches for the game. Anderson was out with the flu. It was initially thought that Rudd also had the flu, but, due to the lunar eclipse, he transformed, phantasmagorically, into a werebull.

"We thought about running some Teenwolf style plays for Victor," said coach Heath, "but the team trainers advised against it."

Notes: Longtime Marshall Center night custodian Sam Brown theorized that the time period of the SEC apparition was the Ziggy Marley Concert in May of 2002.

"This place tonight smells just like that dank herb from that concert," Brown said.

--- The USF Bull topiary, which normally stands in the location of the former SEC building, was seen drinking water at the pond outside WUSF-TV. It then tried to cross Willow Drive, but was struck by a food services delivery truck.

"Good riddance, that thing was fugly," said junior Tamika Richards.

--- A raucous crowd of 3,889 attended Sunday's game.

"It was nice to see the support," said coach Heath. "Now it may have been due to the fact that the majority of the crowd was zombies, but we appreciate any support we can get."

"It's too bad the zombies were the only ones left in the stands at the end, though," said Robertson "It would have been nice if our living fans hadn't left so early."

Among the undead were Alex Rivas and B. B. Waldon.

I'm not much of an NFL fan, but I happened to catch the opening minutes of the Giants at Cowboys game tonight and saw that of all the starters USF seems to have the most starters with three (JPP, Mike Jenkins, and Jacquian Williams). I think Miami and LSU also had two starters on the line up.

My question for the moderators and the masses is, what match-up of NFL teams would have the most USF starters?

Considering the Big East Football program is looking to add a set of schools that aren't even east of the Mississippi River - Houston, Southern Methodist, San Diego St., Boise St. - the moniker of "Big East" becomes a mockery.

Continue reading this post »

With the USF SunDome undergoing renovation, our intrepid basketball reporter will follow the South Florida basketball team around the USF campus this season, as the team plays its games in different buildings across the campus. Check back after each home game for updates (hopefully).

St. Petersburg - USF had four players scoring in double figures as the Bulls downed the Florida Atlantic Owls 68-55 on Saturday aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Alligator docked at the USF-St. Petersburg College of Marine Science

Florida Governor Rick Scott was on hand as guest of honor, and threw the honorary tip-off. Gov. Scott referenced the Carrier Classic, a game earlier this month between North Carolina and Michigan State played on an aircraft carrier in San Diego.

"We saw what they did in San Diego a couple weeks back, so we thought this would be a great chance to showcase the two of our state universities," said Gov. Scott.

"We figured that since FAU has 'Atlantic' in their name, that our opponents would be right at home on the water," said USF athletic director Doug Wollard.

However, due to state budget shortfalls, and the shallowness of the marina at USF-St. Pete, an aircraft carrier was not deemed feasible. Instead, Scott chose the CGC Alligator, a Coast Guard Cutter based nearby at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg.

Since the CGC Alligator is only 87 feet long, and the regulation court is 94 feet, it was decided to configure the court perpendicular to the ship, across its deck at bow, with the ends of the court hovering over the water. The benches were located on temporary seating affixed to pontoons at either end of the court, while the 2109 fans in attendance sat on shore.

Forwards Tolaryn Fitzpatrick and Ron Anderson each contributed double-doubles to the Bulls' effort.

Anderson was a game-time decision because of his fear of open water due to his inability to swim. However, coach Stan Heath suggested he wear plastic floaties throughout the game, and Anderson came through with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

"There's nothing in the rule-book outlawing floaties," said coach Heath.

"They gave me a lot of confidence," said Anderson. His protective armor aided him in collecting six rebounds on the offensive end.

Anderson and Anthony Collins were the only two Bulls to shoot over 50% for the game as the ship's swaying reeked havoc with both teams shooting.

"I'm on a boat!," Collins added.

Fitzpatrick shot 3-4 on three-pointers, but only 3-8 inside the three-point line.

"I found that when everyone was on one side of of the court, the ship would lean," said Fitzpatrick, "so I just starting taking three-pointers in transition and things worked out."

Despite the aquatic venue, Florida Atlantic shot only 37% from the field.

"We did a poor job of representing our ocean today," said Florida Atlantic coach Mike Jarvis.

With the USF SunDome undergoing renovation, our intrepid basketball reporter will follow the South Florida basketball team around the USF campus this season, as the team plays its games in different buildings across the campus. Check back after each home game for updates (hopefully).

Forward Ron Anderson paced the USF squad with a season-high 17 points as the Bulls defeated Georgia Southern 66-46 at Beta Hall on Wednesday.

"What better home-court advantage can you have than playing in your dormitory," said coach Stan Heath. "The vibe here is great. They guys felt right at home."

"Of course we felt comfortable," said freshman guard Anthony Collins. "My room is right down the hall."

Collins handled the ball well, registering six assists to only one turnover. With the Bulls comfortably ahead, Collins spent most of the second half in his pajamas and flip-flops, eating cold pizza.

The Bulls easily handled the Eagles, even with forward Augustus Gilchrist sitting out the game because he was stuck in the Beta hall elevator.

"I was a little scared, but I knew the guys would do well," said Gilchrist. He passed the time by watching an episode of Breaking Bad on his iPhone, until elevator maintenance staffers repaired the malfunction early in the second half. With the Bulls ahead, coach Heath kept Gilchrist out for the game.

For locker rooms, the teams used the communal kitchens on the second and third floors.

"This season has been tough," said GSU guard Ben Drayton. "Coach is giving an impassioned speech, trying to help us get back into the game, but some kid left his ramen cooking on the stove, and I'm thinking 'should I turn it off? It might burn.' But maybe he likes his ramen mushy or something. We all like ramen differently."

"I was really distracted, so it put me off my game," said Drayton, who was held to nine points, and only made four of his 12 attempts from the field.

"After the game, some kid left a pot with beefaroni just sitting there," said USF guard Blake Nash, who came off the bench to contribute nine points and four assists. "I mean, it had been sitting there since halftime, and it was cold, but I was hungry so I just ate it. I feel so bad now though.

"I'd like to give this message to the kid. If you are reading this, come down to 2 West sometime and we can get pizza and play FIFA."

Just then, freshman Tyler Bentson entered the kitchen to retrieve his saucepan, which had previously contained the beefaroni.

"It's all good, man," said Bentson. "We saw the game on TV and you guys played great."

Notes: USF picked up the "southern double," defeating Florida Southern and Georgia Southern this season.

"We're 2-0 versus teams with 'southern' in their name" said coach Heath.

After the game, the Bulls quickly added to their schedule Southern Mississippi, Southern California, Southern North Dakota State, Quebec Southern, South Sudan and South Southern University of the South.  

With 4 minutes left in the first overtime, USF scores the golden goal on a cross from Sebastien Thuriere to Wes Charpie, and beats UCF 2-1.

USF survives a first half where they were outshot 6-0, a blown 1-0 lead, a doubly botched penalty kick (Leston Paul feinted during the attempt, which you can't do, then he hit the goalpost), and a serious UCF threat to win it in the last 20 seconds of regulation. USF got a couple tremendous saves from goalkeeper Chris Blais.

An exciting game which we will have more to say about later. And, oh yeah: attendance was 3,029.

(ETA: the story at gousfbulls.com has video highlights. If you just want to see the game-winner, it starts at about 1:30.)

(UPDATE: The Tampa Bay Sports Commission will once again provide free admission to the game next Sunday (Nov 27), time TBD.

(UPDATE: The opponent will be New Mexico, who beat Duke 2-1 in overtime. UNM is undefeated, with 18 wins and 3 ties.)

With the USF SunDome undergoing renovation, our intrepid basketball reporter will follow the South Florida basketball team around the USF campus this season, as the team plays its games in different buildings across the campus. Check back after each home game for updates (hopefully).

Lakeland - USF used a swarming defense to corral Florida Southern College 73-43 in the lobby of the USF-Polytechnic Lakeland Technology Building.

"It's great getting to a regional campus," said coach Stan Heath. "The people here at USF-Lakeland, I mean, USF-Polytechnic, have been really great to us today."

The Bulls defense dominated, holding the Mocs to only 16 points on 18% shooting in the first half.

The narrowness of the lobby contributed to a defensive coaching chess match.

"We normally run a man-to-man defense, but this venue made that tough," said coach Stan Heath. "So we decided to go with a zone. Now, a lot of teams run a 2-3 zone, or a match-up zone, but not many teams have seen a 1-1-1-1-1 zone."

"It really clogged up the lane," said forward Augustus Gilchrist, who led the team with 15 points and a season-high six blocks. "And in a space this narrow, the lane is all there is."

"Our defense was really great today," added Heath. "I can't remember the last time we won by 30 points."

Gilchrist then reminded Heath that the Bulls defeated University of Tampa last week 75-43.

"Well, we always forget about the last game," Heath said. "The next game coming up is always the most important."

"That's coach for you," Gilchrist said.

USF-Polytechnic will re-locate in 2013 to a brand new campus designed by world famous architect Santiago Calatrava.

"We're moving to a new campus in a couple of years, so we know what the basketball team is going through," said USF-Polytechnic chancellor Marshall Goodman. "This has been a great showcase for USF-Lakeland, excuse me, USF-Polytechnic."

Notes: This was a home game of sorts for the Florida Southern Mocs, as the Florida Southern campus is located just a few miles up the road from the USF-Polytechnic campus. The Florida Southern campus was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and is home to the largest collection of Wright's architecture in the world

"I know they got Santiago Calatrava designing their new campus up at USF-Lakeland, I mean, USF-Polywhatever," said Florida Southern senior guard Jay Hubble. "But Calatrava ain't got (expletive) on Frank Lloyd Wright. And you can quote me on that."

With the USF SunDome undergoing renovation, our intrepid basketball reporter will follow the South Florida basketball team around the USF campus this season, as the team plays its games in different buildings across the campus. Check back after each home game for updates (hopefully).

Tampa - Victor Rudd had a South Florida season-high 30 points as USF defeated Marist 81-67 at the Business Administration Building.

Marist's defense had a difficult time with USF's offense, especially the screen and roll. The building, affectionately called "The Bunker," has unique architecture, and the Bulls used the building's architecture to confuse the Red Foxes' defense.

"I've been screened by other big dudes before," Marist center Adam Kemp said, "but I've never been screened by a staircase. Those things came out of nowhere."

"How do you game-plan for staircases and landings coming from every angle," asked Marist head coach Chuck Martin. "It was like seven on five out there."

The game was delayed 25 minutes because, like most newcomers to the Business building, the Marist squad got lost.

"This is some serious home-court advantage," said Martin. "The building’s half underground, the halls and stairs go every which-way, and there's grass on the roof.

"I know the building was built during the Cold War, but whatever knucklehead designed it must have thought the apocalypse was coming soon."

USF senior forward Alberto Damour, an international business major, prepped the team with his knowledge of the building's intricacies.

"I'm in this place everyday, so I know all the ins and outs of the place," Damour said. "I've spent four years here, so it's like my home away from home."

"Talking to Alberto really gave me insight into this place," said guard LaVonte Dority, who led the team with five assists. "The building can be intimidating, but I was able to use angles they've never seen before to set us up for easy buckets."

Notes: The games attendance fluctuated between 37 and 245, depending on whether students were moving to classes or not. Among those in attendance were seven protesters from Occupy BSN. BSN is the building's three-letter campus designation.

"The game was a nice respite from the rampant, unbridled capitalism that goes on in this place," said junior Christina Gonzales. She brought a sign to the game that said "We are the 1% . . . of USF students who attend baskeball games."

As your friendly neighborhood VD5 member and Florida Southern alum, I was wondering who would be heading over to the Lakeland Center to check out this matchup.

Should be a good time.  I was impressed with Florida Southern's ability to hang on early last season, similar to how they held on to almost beat Miami earlier this year.

In the end, I think USF's bigs will be too much to handle, but I absolutely can not wait to be there to find out.

Anyone else?