TAMPA, Fla. (January 23, 2024) – The University of South Florida men’s basketball team is back on the road for an American Athletic Conference game against Temple on Wednesday, January 24. The Bulls (11-5, 4-1) and the Owls are scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip on ESPN+.
The 11-5 start is the best since the Bulls opened the season with a 12-4 mark for the 2001-02 campaign. South Florida has scored 70 or more points in 10 consecutive games, which ties the longest streak since the 1992-93 season.
Pryor on Fire
Kasean Pryor was named the AAC Player of the Week. For the week, he led the Bulls with 23.0 points per game and 10.0 rebounds per game. The junior forward helped lead South Florida to a 2-0 record for the week, including a win on the road at No. 10 Memphis. Against the Tigers, he recorded 21 points and brought down 10 rebounds. He went 9-for-11 from the free-throw line and his final free throw of the game put the Bulls on top 74-73. He added two assists and one steal. In Sunday’s game against Wichita State, Pryor recorded a game-high 25 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the week. He has scored 20 or more points in three straight games. He was a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line and tied a program record with a perfect free-throw percentage. For the week, he was the only player in the American Athletic Conference to record two double-doubles while averaging over 20 points per game.
For the season, Pryor leads the team with 6.9 rebounds per contest. His 5.36 defensive rebounds per game are tied for 106th in the country and fifth in the conference. He averages 12.2 points per game with 25 assists and 21 steals. He has a team-best 15 blocks. He is shooting 82.7 percent from the free-throw line, which is tied for 147th in the NCAA and sixth in the AAC. He is the only player since the start of the 2010-11 season to record a game with 25 or more points, have five steals, five blocks, shoot above 90 percent from the free-throw line, and have one or fewer turnovers. He achieved this feat against Rice on January 12.
Bulls at a Glance
Chris Youngblood is tied for the team lead with 14.4 points per game. He is averaging 2.4 rebounds per game to go along with 33 assists, 13 steals, and 10 blocks. He is shooting 82.4 percent from the free-throw line, which is tied for 154th in the country and seventh in the AAC. Jayden Reid leads the team with 63 assists. He is tied for 146th in the NCAA with 3.9 assists per game and is seventh in the AAC. He has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.00, which is tied for 29th in the country, second in the conference, and third among NCAA freshmen. He is tied for the team lead with 21 steals. He averages 2.6 rebounds per game to go along with 7.4 points per contest.
‘Sel’ing Point
Selton Miguel is 141st in the country with 2.38 3-pointers per game, which is fifth in the conference. He is tied for the team lead with 14.4 points per contest. He is fourth on the squad with 3.9 boards per game. He is third on the squad with 19 steals and is third on the team with 32 assists. He has added five blocks.
Strong Bench
South Florida’s bench is 36th in the NCAA and second in the conference averaging 27.69 points per contest. The USF bench has outscored its opponent’s bench 443-288. Opposing benches are averaging just 18.0 points per game.
Cashing in on Free Opportunities
The Bulls are tied for 26th in the NCAA and fourth in the conference with 17.1 made free throws per game. USF is 30th in the country with 23.3 free-throw attempts per game, which is fourth in the AAC.
Fast and Furious
The Bulls have been playing stout defense and are tied for 20th in the NCAA with a turnover margin of 4.0, which is tops in the conference. South Florida is tied for 54th in the country with 14.44 forced turnovers per contest, which is third in the AAC. USF has used the turnovers to lead to fastbreak opportunities. The Bulls are 65th in the nation with 13.06 fastbreak points per game, which is fifth in the conference.
Last Time Out
South Florida recorded its third-consecutive come-from-behind win with a 72-68 victory against Wichita State. Kasean Pryor recorded a game-high 25 points, which was his third-straight game with 20 or more points. He brought down a game-high 10 rebounds for his second-consecutive game with a double. He added one assist and a steal, he tied a program record with a perfect free-throw percentage. He shot 11-for-11 from the free-throw line. Jose Placer posted a 17-point game, while he shot 6-of-7 from the field and 3-of-4 from 3-point range. It is his third game in double figures. He dished out one assist. Kobe Knox closed out the double-digit scorers with 10 points. It was his fifth game on the season in double figures. He collected a game-high four assists.
History with Temple
The Bulls and the Owls will meet for the 23rd time on Wednesday. South Florida ended a three-game skid against Temple earlier this season with a 76-68 victory in Tampa. USF is 3-6 against Temple in games played in Philadelphia.
Scouting the Owls
Temple is currently 18th in the NCAA with 28.2 3-point attempts per game. As a unit, the Owls are tied for 53rd in the nation with a turnover margin of 2.7, which is third in the conference. Hysier Miller leads the team with 16.1 points per game. He is ninth in the country and leads the AAC with 308 field goal attempts. His 143 3-point field goal attempts are tied for 36th in the nation and most in the league. He has a team-high 87 assists, which are tied for 68th in the NCAA and tied for fourth in the AAC. He paces the squad with 29 steals. He averages 4.0 rebounds per game and has added two blocks. Jahlil White has a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game to go along with 11.8 points per game. He has 18 assists, 13 steals, and five blocks in 12 games. Jordan Riley rounds out the double-digit scorers with 11.6 points a game. He averages 5.7 rebounds a contest to go along with 21 steals, 15 assists, and 13 blocks. Steve Settle III leads the team with 15 blocks and is averaging 9.3 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Tale of the Tape
| USF | Category | TEM |
| 76.0 | POINTS PER GAME | 70.5 |
| 70.3 | OPP. POINTS PER GAME | 72.5 |
| .426 | FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .380 |
| .432 | OPP. FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .436 |
| .326 | 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .297 |
| .311 | OPP. 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .333 |
| .732 | FREE THROW PERCENTAGE | .728 |
| 36.4 | REBOUNDS PER GAME | 37.4 |
| -1.4 | REBOUNDING MARGIN | -1.9 |
| 14.3 | ASSISTS PER GAME | 11.2 |
| 10.4 | TURNOVERS PER GAME | 10.6 |
| 4.0 | TURNOVER MARGIN | 2.7 |
| 7.5 | STEALS PER GAME | 7.8 |
| 3.3 | BLOCKS PER GAME | 2.6 |
American Athletic Conference Standings (as of January 22)
1. Florida Atlantic – 15-4, 5-1
2. Charlotte – 11-7, 5-1
3. SMU – 13-5, 4-1
4. South Florida – 11-5, 4-1
5. UAB – 12-6, 4-1
6. North Texas – 11-6. 4-1
7. Memphis – 15-4, 4-2
8. Tulane – 12-6, 3-3
9. ECU – 9-10, 2-4
10. Rice – 7-11, 1-4
11. Tulsa – 10-8, 1-5
12. Temple – 8-11, 1-5
13. UTSA – 7-12, 1-5
14. Wichita State – 8-10, 0-5
Follow Live
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: owlsports.com
Listen: Bulls Unlimited
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The South Florida men’s basketball team is led by Amir Abdur-Rahim, who was named the 11th head coach in program history on March 29, 2023. Abdur-Rahim was named the 2023 Mid-Major Coach of the Year (Hugh Durham Award) after leading Kennesaw State to its first-ever Division I NCAA Tournament berth in 2022-23. Abdur-Rahim’s Kennesaw State team set an NCAA record as the fastest team to ever reach the NCAA Tournament after a one-win campaign, accomplishing the feat in a span of just three seasons. He was also named the 2022-23 NABC District 3 and ASUN Coach of the Year after leading Kennesaw State to both the regular season and tournament titles, and a school-record 26 wins.
USF has retired three numbers in its history: Chucky Atkins (12), Charlie Bradley (30), and Radenko Dobras (31). The Bulls have earned three NCAA tournament bids, appeared in the NIT eight times, and won the 2019 College Basketball Invitational.
For tickets, contact the USF Ticket Office at 1-800-Go-Bulls or by going online to USFBullsTix.com.
