South Florida Bulls
Last Year:
10-23 overall, 3-15 Big East (15th)
Coach:
Stan Heath (5th season, 41-54)
Projected starting five:
G: Blake Nash, So.
G: Shaun Noriega, Jr.
F: Victor Rudd, So.
F: Ron Anderson, Jr., Sr.
C: Augustus Gilchrist, Sr.
Important departures:
Jarrid Famous 8.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg
Shaun Noriega 6.4 ppg
Inside the numbers:
77 percent scoring returning
77 percent rebounding returning
Additions:
C: Jordan Omogbehin, 7’2”, 285 – ESPNU Pos. #30
G: Anthony Collins, 6’1”, 175 – ESPNU Pos. #70
Schedule:
Toughest nonconference game: 12/3 at (13) Kansas
Toughest in-conference stretch: 2/19 – 2/29 at (11) Pittsburgh, at (5) Syracuse, vs. (22) Cincinnati, at (8) Louisville
Prediction:
12th in BE; 17+ wins; NIT berth
What to expect:
After a disappointing 2010-11, the Bulls aren’t much better off going into 2011-12. Their stud, Augustus Gilchrist is one of the most talented big men in the BE, but his run-ins with coach Stan Heath cost him some games last year because of “philosophical differences.”
Still, there are some guys to look forward to. Jawanza Poland will return to the team in December after he recovers from back surgery, and Shaun Noriega can hit from anywhere in the gym if he’s feeling it. The additions of transfers Ron Anderson, Jr. (Kansas State) and Victor Rudd (Arizona State) will give Gilchrist some help of he is up for it.
The chemistry is all off with South Florida, however. They seemed to have the pieces to repeat their bubble-bursting 2010 campaign, but they never got on track. That will be the theme this year as well as Stan Heath tries to put his guys together to reach their potential.
