Matchup: USF (1-1) vs. IUPUI (1-2)
Date: Wednesday, November 13
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Tampa, Fla. | Yuengling Center
TV: ESPN3 (Drew Fellios, Mark Wise)
Radio: Bulls Unlimited (Jim Lighthall, Joey Johnston)
TAMPA, NOV. 12, 2019 – The USF men’s basketball team returns to the Yuengling Center Wednesday at 7 p.m. when the Bulls host IUPUI in the on-campus round of the Cayman Islands Classic.
USF (1-1) turned in another strong defensive effort Sunday against Boston College, forcing 28 turnovers and registering 18 steals for the eighth-most in a single game in school history for both categories. Junior guard David Collins (Youngstown, Ohio) tied a career high with seven steals and added a team-high 19 points. Collins scored 18 points in the season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and ranks fifth in The American with 18.5 points per game.
Senior guard Laquincy Rideau (West Palm Beach, Fla.) added 14 points and two steals and stands second on the team with 12.0 points per game. Junior Justin Brown (Atlanta) pours in 8.5 points per game and is shooting 44.4 percent from beyond the arc.
THE OPPONENT
IUPUI snapped its two-game losing streak on Monday with a 72-55 victory over Anderson University. Junior guard Marcus Burk scored 25 points and added four steals, while Jaylen Minnett finished with 17 points, five rebounds and three steals for the Jaguars.
Burks paces the IUPUI offense with 19.0 points per game and is shooting 43.4 percent from the field. Minnett stands on second on the team with 13.7 points per game and Elyjah Goss leads the Jaguars with 7.0 rebounds per game.
QUOTABLE
“IUPUI has two dynamic scorers on the perimeter and Isaiah Williams at the four is a very difficult matchup. Goss is as good of offensive rebounder as there is around. I think he played 14 minutes last night and had 10 rebounds and 11 points. We’re going to have to do a great job on the glass and do a really good job defensively to try and take away their ability to shoot three-pointers. They can really stretch you with those perimeter players. We have to play better and we have to play how we’re supposed to play for 40 minutes. If we do that, we’re always going to be in good shape.” — Head Coach Brian Gregory
NOTABLE
• USF has made at least one three-pointer in 131 consecutive games.
• David Collins is 107 points shy of becoming the 20th member of the USF 1,000 point club.
• USF and IUPUI are playing for the first time in history.
• USF is 16-5 at home against non-conference competition under head coach Brian Gregory.
• Junior Justin Brown is 13 three-pointers away from moving into the top 10 all-time at USF.
• Laquincy Rideau was one of only three players in the NCAA last season with 100 steals and 100 assists.
• David Collins has made 302 career free throws and ranks seventh all-time in school history.
• USF is 8-7 all-time against school currently in the Horizon League.
• USF assistant coach Tom Herrion is celebrating his birthday on Wednesday.
• USF ranks ninth in the NCAA with 24.5 turnovers forced per game.
• USF ranks first in The American and eighth in the NCAA with 13.5 steals per game.
About USF Men’s Basketball
The USF men’s basketball team is led by head coach Brian Gregory. On March 22, 2017, Gregory was introduced as the 10th head coach in program history. He previously led programs at Georgia Tech (2011-16) and Dayton (2003-11). Gregory spent nearly a decade as an assistant coach under Michigan State’s Hall of Fame head coach Tom Izzo and helped the Spartans win the 2000 NCAA National Championship. Gregory owns nearly 250 career head coaching wins and six postseason appearances, including the 2010 NIT Championship. In his second season at the helm of the Bulls, Gregory led the team to the best win turnaround in the NCAA, the most single-season wins in school history and the 2019 College Basketball Invitational championship.
USF has retired three numbers in its 47-year 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.
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For tickets, contact the USF Ticket Office at 1-800-Go-Bulls or by going online to USFBullsTix.com.
