The University of South Florida stands at 6-1 in the American Athletic Conference trailing Florida Atlantic and Charlotte who are one half-game ahead of the Bulls at 7-1. The Bulls and Pirates are scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip on ESPN+ with ECU are 4-4 in the AAC but are very dangerous at home.
There is still a long way to go but the work being by the first-year head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim is stunning and he is rebuilding the USF basketball program at an amazing rate. The Bulls start a 2-game road trip tonight to ECU and Saturday at North Texas before the big showdown next Wednesday when Charlotte comes to Tampa.
USF is coming off a big Saturday win over UTSA where Kobe Knox led the Bulls with 18 points. Five South Florida players finished in double figures as the Bulls slowed down the Roadrunners with an 89-72 victory.
USF recorded a program record 18 3-pointers, which is a record that has stood since December 7, 1991. The Bulls tied the record earlier this season with a 14-point performance against Alabama State on December 29, 2023. The 18 3-pointers are the second most in an AAC conference game this season and are tied for the 20th most in a single game in the NCAA this year.
The Bulls have started with a record of 13-5 for just the seventh time in program history. It is the first since the 2001-02 season that USF has started 13-5. The Bulls have started 13-5 five times now and have started 14-4 twice. The 6-1 start to conference play ties the best start in program history. The only other time the Bulls started conference play 6-1 was in the 2000-01 season as a member of the Conference USA. For the third time this season, the Bulls finished with five guys in double figures.
Notables
· USF recorded a program record 18 3-pointers, which is a record that has stood since December 7, 1991. The Bulls tied the record earlier this season with a 14-point performance against Alabama State on December 29, 2023.
· The 18 3-pointers are the second most in an AAC conference game this season and are tied for the 20th most in a single game in the NCAA.
· The Bulls have started 13-5 for just the seventh time in program history. It is the first since the 2001-02 season that USF has started 13-5. The Bulls have started 13-5 five times now and have started 14-4 twice.
· The 6-1 start to conference play ties the best start in program history. The only other time the Bulls started conference play 6-1 was in the 2000-01 season as a member of the Conference USA.
· For the third time this season, the Bulls finished with five guys in double figures.
· Kobe Knox tied a season-high with 18 points as notched a season-best three 3-pointers with a 3-for-4 game from long distance. He added a game-high four blocks, which was a season-best. He brought down five rebounds with two assists and two steals. It was his seventh game in double figures this season.
· Jose Placer added a 16-point performance while shooting 4-for-6 from 3-point range. He added four assists and two rebounds. It was his fourth game in double digits this season.
· Selton Miguel posted 15 points, a season-high six assists, and one rebound.
· Chris Youngblood went for 15 points and collected three rebounds with one assist.
· Kasean Pryor closed out the double-digit scorers with 12 points to go along with two rebounds and an assist.
· Brandon Stroud produced a monster game on the glass with a season-high 12 rebounds. He chipped in with seven points and four assists. He was a perfect 2-for-2 from the field, 1-for-1 from 3-point range, and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line.