The Bulls open the three-day event with Georgia Tech on Nov. 25; Michigan and Baylor also highlight the tournament field.
TAMPA (August 4, 2022) – The University of South Florida women’s basketball team has been invited to take part in the prestigious Gulf Coast Showcase at Hertz Arena in Fort Myers, Fla. The Thanksgiving week tournament will be held Nov. 25-27, 2022, and marks the second time that the Bulls have taken part in the event.
In addition to South Florida, teams also playing in the Showcase are Air Force, Baylor, Belmont, Georgia Tech, Michigan, Saint Louis and Villanova.
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“This event gives our fans a great opportunity to come to support us at the Gulf Coast Showcase,” said South Florida Head Coach Jose Fernandez. “BD Global does an excellent job with their events and we are excited to participate in this tournament in the Sunshine State. It’s our second trip to this venue (Hertz Arena) besides participating in BD Global’s first event in Las Vegas opening up T-Mobile Arena and just recently at Baha Mar (Pink Flamingo Championship) this past season where we defeated Stanford.”
Following the men’s tournament, which runs from Nov. 21-23, the women’s tournament tips a day after Thanksgiving on Friday, Nov. 25, and is headlined by six 2022 NCAA Tournament participants, including the 2016 Gulf Coast Showcase champion Baylor and the Bulls, who will make the short drive down Interstate-75 from Tampa.
South Florida opens the tournament against Georgia Tech at 7:30 p.m. on Fri., Nov. 25 and will face either Michigan or Air Force on Sat., Nov. 26 in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. or in the consolation round at a time to be determined. The Gulf Coast Showcase championship game is slated for 7:30 p.m. on Sun., Nov. 27.
Georgia Tech finished the 2021-22 campaign with a 21-11 record and an 11-7 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Yellow Jackets fell to Kansas in the NCAA Tournament First Round, 77-58.
Michigan went 25-7 in 2021-22 and 13-4 in the Big Ten. The Wolverines, slotted as the No. 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament, advanced to the Elite Eight, falling to No. 1-seeded Louisville, 62-50.
Air Force finished last season 19-14 overall and 11-7 in the Mountain West Conference. The Falcons made the second round of the WNIT, defeating San Francisco, 64-60, in the first round before falling to UCLA, 61-45, in the second round.
Below is the complete Gulf Coast Showcase first-round schedule:
- Baylor vs. Saint Louis (11 a.m.)
- Belmont vs. Villanova (1:30 p.m.)
- Michigan vs. Air Force (5 p.m.)
- Georgia Tech vs. USF (7:30 p.m.)
The Gulf Coast Showcase women’s tournament is still considered by many the premier women’s, in-season event in college basketball. Past champions include UConn (2014), Stanford (2015), Baylor (2016), Notre Dame (2017), Texas (2018), Gonzaga (2019) and Iowa State (2021).
“This year’s Gulf Coast Showcase field is deep with six teams from last year’s March Madness field and some of the top coaches in the game,” said Women’s Tournament Director and CBS/ESPN analyst Debbie Antonelli. “Nicki Collen is a rising star in coaching at Baylor and one that local fans may recognize from her days on staff at FGCU. The Bears may enter as the favorite, but there are some great teams led by some outstanding coaches in this year’s field, so any of these eight could go home with the hardware on Sunday night.”
The Bulls last played in the Gulf Coast Showcase during the 2017-18 season, going 2-1 in three games. South Florida defeated Washington State, 82-45, in the first round and fell to No. 6-ranked Notre Dame, 76-66, in the second game. The Green and Gold closed out the tournament with a 68-59 victory over St. John’s.
Last season, South Florida posted a 24-9 overall record and a 12-3 mark in the American Athletic Conference, capping off the season with its eighth NCAA Tournament appearance overall and seventh trip to the Big Dance in the last 10 years. The Green and Gold have advanced to the postseason 17 times in program history.
During the season, South Florida defeated No. 9 Oregon, 71-62, in Paradise Island, Bahamas in the third-place game of the inaugural Battle 4 Atlantis Women’s Tournament, along with a thrilling 57-54 win over 2021 national champion and No. 7-ranked Stanford in the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship in Nassau, Bahamas.
For questions or to purchase season tickets, please visit USFBullsTix.com or call 1-800-GoBulls.
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South Florida recorded its 10th 20-win season during the 2021-22 campaign while playing in its sixth American Athletic Conference championship game in its nine years in the conference. The Bulls achieved their highest national ranking of the season when it checked in at No. 13 in the Nov. 30 Associated Press Top 25 Poll, and advanced to their seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in the last nine years.
USF has made 17 postseason tournament appearances and had eight NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 22 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to 10 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship, and has won over 400 career games. Fernandez was named a finalist for the WBCA and semifinalist for the Naismith National Coach of the Year Awards. He was also tabbed the 2021 American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year at the conclusion of the 2020-21 campaign.
The Bulls had three players, during the 2021-22 campaign, recognized by The American for impressive seasons, including Elena Tsineke (All-Conference First Team), Bethy Mununga (All-Conference Second Team) and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (All-Conference Second Team).
In addition, Tsineke and Mununga were named to the American Athletic Conference All-Tournament Team.
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