Muma Center Nearing Completion

When complete, the Pam and Les Muma Center will give the USF basketball program a new home (Picture:www.mybullsclub.com)

The Bulls didn't make it into the NCAA tournament again (anyone surprised) but as the team sits at home and watches from afar, the team has plenty of hope for next season. The Bulls have had some of the worst training facilities in the country, but all of that is quickly changing as USF Athletics begins to put the finishing touches on the Muma Center.[keep reading]

The Muma Center, which sits right beside the Sun Dome, is just one of the new buildings as USF continues to upgrade its out-of-date facilities. The Muma Center should be completed by the end of June (according to USF) and will make an immediate impact.

The Muma Center will give the basketball programs exactly what they need. Inside the 50,000 square foot facility will be two brand new practice courts, giving both teams the room they need during practice. There will be player locker rooms and new lounges as well. The Center will have new film theaters as well so the players and coaches can watch game tape and scout ahead. Each team will have a separate training room. There will be a joint weight room for both teams and new offices for all of the coaches (moving them out of the Athletics building). On top of all that, there will even be conference rooms for the players and coaches.

This is a huge step for the program. The Bulls have been practicing in the Sun Dome (also getting a facelift), which has made it hard for both teams to practice on a day to day basis. The teams walk to the Rec center to lift weights and get in their training (kind of hard to share with the other 40000 students on campus).

For a program that finds itself in one of the biggest and toughest conferences in the nation, the Bulls needed to step up if they want to get out of the cellar in the Big East.

For USF basketball to become competitive, they program needs the Muma Center. Not only will the players have a place to train and get better and the coaches a place to work harder, it is also key for recruiting. Recruiting today is super competitive and recruits are not only sold on the campus and the coach, but the facilities as well. With this new center, the new Sun Dome, and sunny Tampa, the Bulls have all of the ingredients they need to be a legit team in the Big East.

Will this instantly make the team better next year? Most likely not. It is up to the players on the current roster and the incoming two recruits to turn the ship around, but for the future players that put on the USF jersey, this is the start of a turnaround for USF basketball. The Muma Center gives the Bulls a competitive edge in recruiting, a place where coaches and players can get better, and something the fans will get excited about.