Victor Rudd has to Step Up

Victor Rudd has the talent to take over games, he just hasn't been consistent yet (Picture: www.tambabay.com)

The Bulls are 6-5 on the season, coming off of an ugly loss to Auburn, 40 to 52.  The offense has been inconsistent at times for the Bulls and one of their top players, Victor Rudd, has to step up as they get closer to conference play. 

Now the 6-7 221-pound forward is in his first season with USF, so their is some adjustments he has to make when facing real competition for the first time in a year (sat out all of last season after transferring from Arizona State).  He has also dealt with some illness that has slowed him down recently, but overall, Rudd has been quiet aside from his 30-point performance earlier in the season. 

Rudd is averaging 10.5 points per game right now, including 4.2 rebounds per contest and is shooting just 35% from the floor.  He has 15 assists, but with 29 turnovers, he is hurting his chances of getting the ball and getting to the basket. The Bulls expected a lot of the transfer from Arizona State, but so far, he is average.    Heath raved about this skill and how he could be the big time scoring threat USF has been missing since Dominique Jones left for the NBA. He had dealt with illness and getting back into playing shape after sitting a season, but for all the hype, he is still too quiet.  Rudd has the size and skill to take over a game, but still continues to sit back and disappear at times.  With the Big East schedule looming and the struggles on offense, Rudd has to get it going for USF.

Don't think of this as blasting a young man after just 11 games, but he has to step it up and has all the skill in the world.  Hopefully tonight against Cleveland State, he can start taking over games and adding more on offense.