Matchup: USF (5-2, 1-0) vs. Wichita State (3-2, 1-0)
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 22
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Tampa, Fla. | Yuengling Center
TV: ESPN+ (Jim Louk, Neil Solondz)
Radio: Bulls Unlimited (Jim Lighthall, Joey Johnston)
TAMPA, FLA., DEC. 21, 2020 – The USF men’s basketball team looks for its fifth consecutive win Tuesday at 7 p.m. when the Bulls host Wichita State at the Yuengling Center in a match-up broadcast live on ESPN+.
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USF plans to welcome fans to approximately 1,200 seats in physically-distanced pods ranging in size from two persons to four persons, with seating reserved for up to 300 students mostly in their traditional baseline seating area. There will be no 100-level seating behind the team benches or court-side seating, as a 12-foot perimeter will be implemented surrounding the court.
All games will be ticketed on a single-game basis, with season ticket members and Bulls Club members receiving priority access to tickets and seat locations. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls or visiting USFBullsTix.com.
USF (5-2, 1-0) opened league play last Wednesday with a 74-71 road victory over Cincinnati behind 16 points and 12 rebounds from junior Alexis Yetna (Paris). The victory for the Bulls was their first in Cincinnati since 1988 and snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Bearcats. Yetna enters play Tuesday ranked second on the team with 11.6 points per game and first with 7.1 rebounds per game.
Junior forward Michael Durr (Atlanta) added 14 points and 10 rebounds against Cincinnati for his first career double-double. Overall, Durr averages 9.1 points per game and stands second on the team with 6.4 rebounds per game.
Senior guard David Collins (Youngstown, Ohio) poured in 11 points against Cincinnati and continues to lead USF with 13.0 points per game. Collins also paces USF with 26 assists and 11 steals and is shooting 53.8 percent from three-point range.
THE OPPONENT
Wichita State (3-2, 1-0) has won two straight following its 73-57 victory over Emporia State on Friday. The Shockers opened the season with a win over Oral Roberts before dropping consecutive home games to Missouri and Oklahoma State.
Sophomore forward Tyson Etienne leads the Wichita State offense with 15.4 points per game and has made a team-best 14 three-pointers. UConn transfer Alterique Gilbert adds 12.8 points per game and has dished out a team-high 17 assists.
NOTABLE
• USF is 1-3 in the all-time series against Wichita State that dates back to the 2017-18 season.
• USF is attempting to begin league play 2-0 for the first time since starting the 2001-02 season 3-0 in Conference USA.
• USF has a 91-58 advantage in offensive rebounds and averages 13.0 per game so far this season.
• David Collins ranks eighth all-time at USF in scoring with 1,357 career points.
• Alexis Yetna was selected to the American Athletic Conference Honor Roll on Monday.
• USF is 12-2 over the last three seasons in the month of December.
• David Collins is ranked second in The American in three-point field goal percentage.
• USF is holding opponents to just 28.4 percent from three-point range through five games this season.
• Justin Brown has made the fifth-most career three-pointers in school history with 166.
• David Collins has made 440 career free throws and ranks third all-time in school history and third in AAC history.
• USF is 22-7 since the start of the 2018-19 season when Justin Brown scores in double figures.
• David Collins ranks sixth all-time at USF in career steals with 168.
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF men’s’ basketball news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
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 over 300 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.
For tickets, contact the USF Ticket Office at 1-800-Go-Bulls or by going online to USFBullsTix.com.
– #GoBulls –
