Bulls Could Have a Long Season Ahead

The Bulls lost another game against a Big East foe even though they were tied at one point took the lead. The team played hard in the first half, keeping up with the fast paced tempo of Villanova. USF showed it does have heart to compete and does have some skill, but in the second half, the differences between the two programs and the USF program compared to most other Big East schools showed through.

The Bulls have a big front court with Jamous, Gilchrist, and Anderson. This has to be the strength not only on defense, but also on offense as well. There are many games where Famous and Anderson seem to disappear for stretches on the offensive end of the court. Gilchrist is a good player, but he can't do everything inside and is a good perimeter player as well, so they have to get him to the outside and take shots on open looks.

The biggest difference for the Bulls is the guard position. Last season we were all spoiled by the scoring of Dominique Jones. Jones was a good point guard, but could also take over a game on offense. The Bulls simply do not have this explosive type of player at guard position. Gilchrist is not a guard and does not score at will like DJones could. Crater, Burwell, Noriega, Dority, Haynes, and Poland all having shooting range and can emerge at times, but they are all inconsistent at times for the offense and the Bulls struggle to score.

The point guard position is another area where USF lacks behind the other Big East schools. For years Scottie Reynolds ran the show for Nova, and now Fisher and Stokes run it. The Bulls had Jones and also had Christ Howard. Howard was not a big time scorer, but a solid leader on the court, moving the ball well and playing excellent defense. The Bulls now have Anthony Crater who seems to be getting better at the point, but just isn't the same leader on the court. He struggles at times or can be effective, the Bulls need more consistent play. After Crater, they really do not have a solid point guard to plug in for Crater, so it limits Coach Heath and his decisions.

The Bulls are looking at a rough season ahead due to the lack of talent, depth, and the schedule of the Big East. The Bulls are coached well and have tons of determination, but it won't help them score 100 points a night against the toughest teams in the country. The Bulls next face Louisville, who is 26-4 all time against USF, so the long season might get a little bit tougher unless a miracle or the Bulls simply grind out a win.