New Year's Resolution, Bull Rush style

The 2011 year is coming to an end and what a year it has been. I started this site back in February and it has grown larger than I had ever dreamed possible. With Mike and Jon at the beginning, the site has gained steam, seeing some of the biggest months in readership (over 30k in one month, not too shabby). Now with Marc on board, we are looking for an even bigger 2012 season. Here are a few of my New Year's resolutions that I hope on keeping in 2012.

A Year in Review

2011 was an interesting year for USF athletics. There were some great moments during the season, there were also some bad and strange ones as well. Here is a run down of some of the top moments from the 2011 season as take a look at them.

USF WBB Notches Needed Win Over St. Peter's

The USF ladies, 8-6, got a much needed win over St. Peter's this afternoon, 68 to 52, salvaging a game before the start of conference play on Tuesday.

Jasmine Wynne led the way with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 6 steals (10 straight games scoring in double digits). Tiffany Conner had 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on the afternoon. Caitlin Rowe had 6 points and 5 rebounds. Shalethia Stringfield had 2 points. Kaneisha Saunders had 18 points, 2 assists, and 3 steals. USF forced 28 turnovers on the afternoon, getting plenty of pressure on the Peahens (yes, it's their mascot, look it up). Sasha Bernard had 6 points and 4 rebounds, Andrell Smith added 3 points as well.

This was a solid win for the Bulls as they prepare for the Big East portion of the schedule. The Bulls won just 12 games last season, so they have a lot of work ahead of them, they will get started on Tuesday at 7PM as they take on Cincinnati on the road.

USF WBB Takes on Saint Peter's

After an ugly loss to Dayton yesterday (dropped game 63 to 73) the USF ladies, 7-6, will try to salvage a win in New Jersey as they take on Saint Peter's in the second round of the Saint Peter's at 5PM. This is a key game for the ladies as they try to correct their mistakes and get more consistency from everyone before the start of conference play.

Saint Peters (0-10) lost yesterday to Binghamton and would like to get their first win of the season as the Bulls expense. Here are the key players for Saint Peter's.

Biggest Big East Fan Challenge 4: Pimp My Ride Addition

The Biggest Fan of the Big East Contest rolls on as we begin Challenge 4! Last week, we were challenged to create the ultimate road trip, selecting three college cities to visit all while riding in style in the new Volvo S60. This time, we get to customize our car into the ultimate USF machine!

It's time to do a little pimping for this challenge!

For Challenge 4, Volvo has challenged us to "Create the Ultimate USF Volvo S60--How would you customize a Volvo S60 to show your school spirit? (EXAMPLE: Car magnets, window flags, new paint job, tailgate kit? You can use photos or video of examples of school spirit vehicles.)" So Volvo wants us to create the ultimate USF spirit car, sounds like an episode of Pimp My Ride is about to begin!

USF WBB Struggling on Offense

The USF ladies, after dropping their game yesterday to Dayton, find themselves at 7-6 with one more game today before they face the Big East portion of the schedule. The offense has struggled so far this season, especially with field goal percentage. The Bulls are going forward without their top scorer from last year, Andrea Smith (knee), but the production from the other players has to get better.

USF WBB Drops Rough Game to Dayton

The USF ladies got back to work tonight as they headed up to New Jersey to take part in the Saint Peter's Holiday Classic, but had a rough going in the first game, dropping the contest to Dayton 63 to 73 and falling to 7-6 on the year with just one more non-conference game before starting Big East play.

USF Basketball Promotional Video

Here is a new promotional video that USF basketball has rolled out to encourage fans to head to the Forum in downtown Tampa this season. With the Sun Dome under construction, the Forum is home for the Big East portion of the schedule. If you haven't been to the Forum, you're missing out. It's a great atmosphere and there will be plenty of excitement this season. Enjoy the video!

WBB Takes on Dayton

The USF ladies, 7-5, are back in action as they take on Dayton in the first game of the Saint Peter's Holiday Classic. Dayton enters the contest with a record of 6-4 on the season, dropping their last game 76 to 82 to 24th ranked Gonzaga, so expect a tough game as the Bulls try to win a key non-conference road game before the start of Big East play (game starts at 5PM).

What I Observed at the USF MBB Game Last Night

My view of the game last night.

The Bulls dropped the first game of the Big East schedule last night, falling to 7-7 on the year, 0-1 to start conference play. USF came out strong in the first half, leading by 8 points with under 12 minutes to go, but UCONN battled back to take the lead into the half (if Anderson had not dunked the ball at the buzzer, we could have been tied!) The Huskies came out strong in the second half, but USF battled and made it a game, coming up just short in the end of it as the Huskies escaped.

USF MBB Drops Big East Opener in Close Battle with UCONN

If Heath had any hair, he would be pulling it out in this picture.

So close, yet so far. The USF Bulls, 7-7 (0-1), dropped their Big East opener 57 to 60 as the 9th ranked Huskies avoided the upset bid by the Bulls in the conference opener. USF was down by 2 entering the break and were down as many as 8 in the second (led by 8 in the first half) but battled back, coming up just short at the end as they struggled once again to find the basket.

USF MBB Opens Big East Play with UCONN

Big East basketball is back! The Bulls, 7-6, are back home as they take on defending national champions, #9 UCONN, in the conference opener (game is at 9PM in the Forum). The Bulls are coming off of a tough 51 to 53 loss to Southern Miss last Thursday night and will need a strong performance out of everyone if they want to contend in this game.

UCONN enters the night at 10-1, but will be without Head Coach Jim Calhoun for three games, starting tonight, as he serves a suspension for recruiting violations. No matter who is on the sidelines, the Huskies are a powerhouse. They are averaging 75.2 points a game and allowing just 62.4 on the other end, so the Bulls who struggle to find a way to score buckets (Auburn anyone?) it could be a long night if they do not execute at the highest level.

Bulls in the Pros: Nate Allen

The Bulls have sent several secondary players to the NFL and one of the players that continues to make a huge impact in the secondary is the Eagles' Nate Allen. Allen, the 3rd year player, continues to make an impact for the Eagles in the tough NFC East despite battling injuries.

When healthy, Nate Allen is one of the many talented players in the Eagles secondary.

Allen has battled injuries during his playing career, from a knee injury to a concussion, Allen has struggled to stay on the field for an entire season. But the 6-1 210-pound safety continues to make big plays when he gets onto the field.

This season, he has played a solid role at safety despite the big names in the Eagles secondary. He has 54 tackles including 1 interceptions and has defended 5 passes so far, showing his skill level to handle any wide receiver and his ability to help the corners of the Eagles (all are talented in case you didn't know who they were).

Nate Allen continues a growing legacy of USF Bulls from the defensive side of the ball in the pros. As long as he stays healthy, he can help anchor the secondary for the Eagles and hopefully help the team make it to the playoffs and on to a Super Bowl in the near future (we won't call them the Dream Team anymore)

USF MBB needs an offensive spark

Blake Nash and others have to do more on offense if the Bulls are going to make some noise in conference play.

With the Big East portion schedule beginning tomorrow, the 7-6 Bulls are still looking for the spark on offense. The Bulls are averaging just 61.2 points per game, ranking them 303rd in the country (yes, there are that many teams playing in the college ranks). While the team has only played 13 games so far, they have yet to find the one player that can take over a game and carry the load on offense when needed.

Bulls in the Pros: Carlton Mitchell

The Bulls continue to make impacts in the profs and this time, it's a player on the offensive side of the ball (seems that there are quite a few defensive players making strides out there). 3rd year pro Carlton Mitchell (6-3 215-pounds) finally made his debut for the Browns, catching two passes for 15 yards, his first two catches of his young career, in a losing effort against the Ravens.

Mitchell finished his career with 105 receptions for 1648 yards and 9 touchdowns during his time in Tampa, making him one of the best deep threats in program history. Standing at 6-3, Mitchell was always a huge, imposing presence on the field, making him a nightmare for defensive backs to cover on the edges. Since being drafted in the 6th round by the Browns, Mitchell has dealt with injuries since he has been drafted by the Browns, he has dealt with several injuries that have kept him off the field. But now that he is healthy and showing his skill level at practices, he is getting onto the field. Those two catches against the Ravens could just be the beginning of a bright young career for Mitchell.

Bulls in the Pros: Terrell McClain

Another Bull that has made an impact this season in the NFL is defensive tackle Terrell McClain. The 6-2 291-pound 3rd round pick of the Carolina Panthers had his season cut short with a knee sprained that landed him on the disabled list, but this did not stop him from winning the starting role this season.

McClain had 19 tackles, 1 sack, and forced one fumble before his season came to an end. Usually, rookies that are taken in later rounds have to wait their turn to become a starter and usually forced to a reserve role, but Dancing Bear earned his way to the top of the depth chart before going out.

As he recovers from the knee sprain, McClain continues a legacy of defensive players from USF that have made huge impacts in the profs. From McClain to JPP to Mistral Raymond, the recent Bulls that have been drafted in the NFL have all been on the field and have made huge impacts this season for each team. USF continues to recruit and develop players that make an impact at the next level. This only helps elevate the Bulls in the eyes of the pros and for potential recruits that want to come to a program that can help develop them for the next level.

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone.

Happy Holidays everyone! It's Christmas so we are taking the day from writing to spend the time with family. We wish you and yours a great Christmas and Happy Holidays. We will be back tomorrow to resume coverage of USF, so enjoy the day and we will be back then!

Wishlist for Santa

It's Christmas eve and Santa will be loading up his sleigh and heading out to deliver gifts to all the good USF fans around the world (just coal for any other fan out there).  For the fans that have been good, Santa will bring them gifts.  Since we have been good all year (what happens at tailgates, stays at tailgates, so don't bring anything up) here are a few things on our wish-list to Santa.

Five Days of Christmas: Day 1

We have reached the final day of the count down and have gotten some of the greatest gifts from USF so far, but now it's time for the ultimate gift athletics gave us this season. So without any further wait, let's take a look at the number one gift from USF to us, the fans.

Five Days of Christmas: Day 2

We are getting closer to the last day in the countdown (day one is coming). So far, we have gotten the softball season, new facilities, and spiffy new uniforms from athletics, not a bad haul, but now we get another gift from USF. Let's see what it could be.

Where USF MBB Stands as They Enter Big East Play

Freshman guard Anthony Collins has helped lead the Bulls to a 7-6 as they enter conference play (Picture: www.foxsportsohio.com)

The Bulls are 7-6 on the season as they wrap up the non-conference section of their schedule and prepare for the brutal Big East portion with defending national champions UCONN coming to town next Wednesday (aren't we lucky?) The Bulls dropped a tough game last night where they had a chance in the closing seconds to get the win but came up short. Bad shooting and bad defense hurt the Bulls in the end of the game, but the team still has a winning record despite the off night for most of the offense.

USF Drops Tough Game to Southern Miss 51 to 53

Collins struggled to get the offense going early as the Bulls dropped a game at the buzzer.

The USF Bulls battled from as many as 11 down in the first half, coming up short as the buzzer sounded (maybe a foul should have been called against the Eagles on the Gilchrist shot) as they fall 51 to 53, dropping to 7-6 on the season. The last second shot was questionable if there was a foul, but USF shot 10 of 16 from the free throw line (62%), shot 20 of 52 from the floor (38.5%), and just 1 of 15 from 3-point range. That is no way to beat any team and now the Bulls will have a week before UCONN comes to town.

Hugh Robertson had 10 points on the night, with 5 rebounds and 2 assists (needs to take more shots). Shaun Noriega hardly played and got called on a charge late in the game that could have tied the game for USF (it was a close call again). Blake Nash had a rough night going 0 for 3 and getting just one steal. Anthony Collins had just 2 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, and turned it over 3 times. He took a nasty fall at the end of the game, but was able to return to action.

Toarlyn Fitzpatrick had 5 points and 3 rebounds. Victor Rudd had 4 points and 4 rebounds off the bench (where has he gone?) Augustus Gilchrist had 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks. He is the 18th Bull to score over 1000 points in their career, so congratulations to Gus on the personal achievement. Ron Anderson Jr. had 12 points and 4 rebounds. Jawanza Poland had 7 points and 2 rebounds as he got the start on the night.

The Bulls will return to action on Wednesday as they open Big East play with UCONN in town (game starts at 7PM).

Five Days of Christmas: Day 3

Day three of the short holiday countdown is here. So far, USF has given us the great softball season and brand new facilities on campus, so let's see the next gift from the 2011 season athletics has given us (can you feel the holiday cheer? Even though it's about 80 degrees out during the day)

From the Couch: The One Play that Kept USF out of a Bowl Game

With no postseason excitement to look forward to, we USF fans are stuck just watching other teams play for a little respect, all the while hoping all the good teams' seasons get ruined out of bitterness. So why exactly are the talented Bulls sitting at home while teams like Marshall and Wyoming are getting an extra game, even though USF's body of work is more difficult? I can boil it down to one play, and I'll share that after the jump.

USF MBB hits the road to take on Southern Miss

The 7-5 Bulls, fresh off their win over Cleveland State on Monday night, hit the road to take on Southern Mississippi (9-2) in the last non-conference game before the start of Big East play next week (face UCONN on the 28th).

Southern Miss enters the night with a 9-2 record after they beat Arizona State on Monday on a 3-point shot as time expired.  The Golden Eagles beat USF last year 53 to 60, in that game, Poland had 12 points and Gilchrist had 8 to lead USF.  The Bulls will need more scoring than that if they want to come away with a strong road win (game starts at 8pm).

USF Signs Five JUCOs and Other Notes

Skip Holtz added 5 new players to the roster yesterday (Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

From Greg Auman - USF signed 5 JUCO players yesterday as the Bulls look to bolster the recruiting class and add depth and experience to a roster that was depleted at the end of the year.

Offensive linemen Lawrence Martin, Chandlor Mathews-York, defensive backs Fidel Montgomery, Josh Brown, and defensive end Tevin Mims all signed for USF and will enroll in the Spring semester.  Enrolling early allows them to get a full semester of classes in and also allows them to participate in spring drills with teammates.  As Holtz stated, the football season begins in January, not in the fall camps. The signing of the JUCOs is a big step for the team that is loaded with young players and not a lot of experience at key positions.  Each one of these JUCOs could battle for a starting job or will play a key role this season. 

Holtz stated he sees both Mathews-York as an interior lineman, playing at either guard or center (two spots wide open for the Bulls) and Martin as either a guard or tackle.  Mathews-York will be one of the three players that the coaching staff looks at for the center spot along with Thor Jozwiak and Austin Reiter who slightly has the lead for the position going into the Spring (look for David Simon as a 4th option as well). 

Holtz added that JaQuez Jenkins will most likely be the 3rd safety, behind Jon Lejiste and Mark Joyce, but could slide over to cornerback if needed.  A lot depends on the health of incoming freshman Chris Bivins who suffered a knee injury during his senior season.  He will not participate in the spring drills, but if healthy, he could compete for playing time during the season (hard to keep a talented young man like him off the field). Depending on the corner position, Montgomery could move to safety to help add depth at that position, but a lot is left to be determined as Holtz sees the depth and talent at the positions. 

An additional note is freshman defensive tackle Marquis White is no longer with the program after academic issues.  Yet despite losing depth at the tackle position with White's departure, Holtz stated that sophomore defensive tackle Todd Chandler had an outstanding fall with his academics.  Chandler was suspended all of last season due to grade issues, but it would appear he is getting it straightened out.  The former 4-star recruit would be a nice addition to the defensive line depth and could be an impact player if he gets on the field. 

Five Days of Christmas: Day 4

It's day two in this five day countdown of the top five gifts USF has given us through the year (can't you feel the holiday cheer already?).  At number five, we had the great softball season the ladies had during the Spring.  For number four, we take a look at the bigger picture of the athletics department, the new facilities on campus.

Bulls in the Pros: Jacquian Williams

Jacquian Williams continues to shine in his rookie season with the Giants. 

The Bulls have had some talented players go to the NFL in the past few seasons, even last year.  One player that continues to rise to the challenge is linebacker Jacquian Williams (6-3 224-pounds).  Williams was selected in the 6th round by the New York Giants and has come on this year, racking up the tackles and helping the team stay in the playoff hunt in the NFC East. 

Five Days of Christmas: Day 5

Christmas is only a few days away and as we grab last minute gifts for our friends and family, it's time to take a minute and look at the gifts USF athletics has given us this year.  There have been a lot of great moments from the year, so let's see what they are as we break down the top five gifts from USF this season. 

Fitzpatrick Stepping Up So Far for USF

The Bulls are off to a solid start this season with a 7-5 record as they prepare for Big East play.  While the record is solid, the way the Bulls have gotten to this record has been a challenge.  With injuries, suspensions, and a young roster, Coach Heath has been forced to juggle his starting lineup multiple times.  One player that continues to be a constant for Heath is junior forward Toarlyn Fitzpatrick (6-8 243-pounds).

USF Takes Down Cleveland State 70 to 55

He's back!

The USF Bulls, 7-5, led the Cleveland State Vikings (10-2) at half time by just a few points, but turned on the jets in the second half as they cruised to a big win for the team.  The Bulls shot 46% from the floor on the night and were 19 out of 22 (86%) from the free throw line, improving their shooting stroke and taking care of the ball during the game.

The defense came out to play in this game for the Bulls, forcing 14 turnovers, getting 5 steals, and blocking 7 shots on the night as the Bulls played as aggressive as I have seen all year.  

Toarlyn Fitzpatrick had 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots as he continues to play well.  Ron Anderson Jr. had 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.  Augustus Gilchrist had 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks.  Gilchrist was quiet in the first half, but played his heart out on defense, coming away with blocks and altering shots all night. Victor Rudd had 2 points off the bench, Blake Nash had 2 points and 2 assists, and Hugh Robertson had 6 points and 2 rebounds.  Shaun Noriega had 2 points and a steal and Anthony Collins had another huge night, scoring 11 points, making 6 assists, 3 steals, and pulling down 3 rebounds.

The real story of the night was the return of JAWANZA Poland who missed the first part of the season due to injury and a 2-game suspension.  He was rusty in the first half, but showed up big in the second period, scoring 13 points (3 of 4 from 3-point range) and had 5 rebounds.  His biggest play of the night was this monster slam (JAWANZA!).  Thanks to V5 and @bubbaprog for putting this classic together.

This was a much needed win for the Bulls after their offense thud game against Auburn. They are 7-5 and face one more non-conference foe, Southern Miss, on Thursday night on the road.  The Bulls really need to win the next game as they prepare to host UCONN after the Christmas break.

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. 

USF MBB Takes on Cleveland State

Anthony Collins and crew are looking to bounce back after a rough game last time out against Auburn (Picture: ESPN.com)

The Bulls, 6-5, are coming home after a rough loss to Auburn last Wednesday, 40 to 52 (yes, 20 points in each half).  USF went cold from the field and struggled to get any easy baskets.  They will have to figure it out quickly as they host 10-1 Cleveland State.  The Vikings are coming off of a 69 to 66 win over Akron in their last outing and looking for another strong win.

Cleveland State beat USF last season 69 to 62 on their home court.  Hugh Robertson had 10 points in that game while Augustus Gilchrist had 12.  The Bulls will need them along with everyone else to pick it up on the offensive side of the floor.  The Vikings are a solid team, shooting 43% from the floor, so the defense will have to be sound as well, closing out on shooters and dominating the paint.

USF Lands Two JUCO DBs

Coach Rick Smith got commitments from two new cornerbacks. 

The USF Bulls have been hitting the JUCO ranks hard in recruiting recently, landing Chandlor Mathews-York, Lawrence Martin, and Tevin Mims in the last few days.  This weekend, the Bulls added two more JUCO commits, this time, both at the defensive back position (news was broken by Bulls 247, they have been on top of everything in the recruiting world, we recommend you check them out).

2012 USF Baseball Schedule Released

USF baseball has returned.

The 2012 baseball schedule has been released as the Bulls prepare for another season (full schedule can be found here). The Bulls finished the 2011 season with a disappointing record of 25-29 (13-14) finishing 9th in the Big East and missing the Big East tournament which is held right across the bridge. This is two straight losing seasons for the Bulls and with expectations high for Prado and team, they have to rebound this season. But that won't be easy with the schedule they have.

USF WBB Pounds UMES 71 to 50

Jasmine Wynne continues to lead the way for USF as they notch win number 7 on the season (Picture: Yahoo Sports)

After a rough loss to Auburn, the USF ladies, 7-5, got back to their winning ways as they took care of business against Maryland Eastern Shore 71 to 50. USF forced 29 turnovers in the game as the defense settled down after a fast start for both teams and the Bulls were able to pull away after that.

USF WBB Takes on Maryland Eastern Shore

With Andrea Smith redshirting this season (ACL) the Bulls will have to find a way to score points as they prepare for conference play.

The USF ladies, 6-5, are hoping to rebound after a rough 45 to 62 loss to Auburn on Wednesday night. The Bulls battled foul trouble and bad shooting to come up from down 23 points at one point as they dropped a rough game (beat Auburn last year by 18 points). The Bulls are hoping to rebound against a 2-6 UMES team that is struggling to find it's offense. They are shooting just 24% from 3-point range and 30% from the field in general, so USF has a chance to get out to a quick start, but let's see who is lining up for the Hawks (1-4 away from home) (game starts at 2PM at the Rec Center).

Big East Blogger Bowl Picks Challenge

Since we USF fans don't have any postseason matchups to look forward to this year, I took it upon myself to keep us Bulls fans and the rest of the Big East's bloggers interested in the postseason anyway with a pool of bowl picks. This is the largest one of these we've done so far, so its turnout should put the Big East picks with just me, Matt, and Jim to shame. Here's a list of the people joining us for this challenge, listed by school affiliation:

USF - Mike, Matt, and Marc (The Bull Rush); Collin (Voodoo Five); Josh (ESPN1040)

Pitt - Bryan (Pitt Script)

West Virginia - Jim and Dwayne (HailWV)

Syracuse - Brian (Orange:44)

Cincinnati - Scott (Bearcats Blog)

As for Rutgers, Louisville, and Connecticut, I either didn't have anyone from those schools in my mailing list or they didn't get back to me.

For those of you scoring at home, here are the picks of me, Matt, and Marc, after the jump. Go ahead and make your own picks to see how you stack up.

Thoughts on JUCO Recruits

The Bulls have been on a hot streak adding recruits to the class of 2012, 3 in just the last few days (Mathews-York, Martin, and now Mims) but they have all been out of the JUCO level, junior college players that only have two years of eligibility to play for the Bulls. What are the pros and cons of adding these types of players to the roster?

Andrea Smith to be Redshirted

The USF ladies got some bad news today as Coach Fernandez announced that senior guard Andrea Smith, who has not played all season due to the recovery process after ACL surgery, will redshirt this season (Voodoo 5).  Smith, who averaged 16.5 points a game last season, tore her ACL in the first round of the Big East tournament.  She has not been cleared by the medical staff and instead of risking further injury, it appears the coaches have decided to sit her for the rest of the year and have fully healthy for next season.

USF Lands JUCO Defensive End

The Bulls are on a role in the last 48 hours. This time, USF has landed a commitment from defensive end Tevin Mims (6-4 250-pounds) out of Navarro College (first reported by Bulls 247).

USF Lands Another JUCO OL Commit

Per Greg Auman - The recruiting is starting to pick up as the Bulls land another commit to the class of 2012 with JUCO offensive lineman Lawrence Martin (6-3 30-pounds) out of Merced College out of California.

USF MBB Drops Awful Game to Auburn 40 to 52

Pretty much sums up the night for the Bulls.

It wasn't a good night for either team as both the men's and women's teams dropped key non-conference road games to Auburn. The men dropped their game 40 to 52, scoring just 20 points in each half. The Bulls shot just 8 of 16 from the free throw line as they continue to struggle to find offense. The Bulls are now 6-5 on the season.

USF WBB Drops Rough Game to Auburn

Jasmine Wynne had a team high 17 points, but it wasn't enough as the Bulls fall to the Tigers.

The ladies had a hard time as they dropped a key road game to Auburn 45 to 62. USF trailed by as many as 23 in the second half, but battled through foul trouble and made a game of it late before the Tigers pulled away. USF had just 8 assists on the night compared to their 20 turnovers. The ladies also shot just 17 of 58 (29%) as they fall to 6-5 on the season.

Jasmine Wynne led the team once again going 5 of 12 shooting for 17 points, adding 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 7 steals on the night (had 15 steals as a team, strange game). Akila McDonald had just 4 points and 2 blocks, fouling out late in the game. USF battled foul trouble early in the game, throwing them off their normal rotation of players and allowing the Tigers to run away with this game.

Tahira Johnson had 4 points and 2 rebounds. Sasha Bernard, going scoreless, but added 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Caitlin Rowe had 10 points and 5 rebounds (another solid game for her). Andrell Smith struggled, shooting just 1 of 10 for 4 points, adding 2 rebounds, 2 steals, but turning the ball over 7 times (can't win like that!) Tiffany Conner added 2 points and 4 rebounds.

This is a rough loss, but USF has a chance to get back to work on Saturday as they host UMES at the Rec center at 2PM.

USF MBB Takes on Auburn

The Bulls take on Auburn in a huge road game for the Bulls (Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

The USF Bulls, 6-4, are hitting the road again after a strong showing against FAMU. The Bulls got plenty of players involved as they deal with sickness and Dority transferring. They will now face a 4-1 Auburn team on the road as they try to get a key road win and get ready for conference play (game is at 9PM).

Biggest Big East Fan: Challenge Three, ROAD TRIP!

The Volvo Biggest Big East Fan contest continues to roll on as we start challenge three. After looking at all of the great places to visit in Tampa when I return on my alma mater trip (see challenge two here) challenge three takes us on a different path. For this challenge, Volvo is challenging us to select "What are the top three Big East road trip towns and why? Cool college town, beautiful drive, best bars, etc."

We will hopefully have a better car than this on the long road trip up north.

In other words, we have to pick three places to visit on a long road trip so let's sit back, relax, and buckle up as we begin an epic road trip!

USF WBB Takes on Auburn

The USF ladies, 6-4, will be playing their first game since the 3rd as they hit the road to take on Auburn (5-2) as USF tries to notch a huge road win. The Bulls will need the guards to come up big and Akila McDonald and Kaitlin Rowe will have to use their size advantage inside the paint to get the huge win for the Bulls. Auburn is coming off of a 57 to 73 point loss to Temple, so they will be looking to get back to winning (game starts at 7PM).

Bulls in the Pros: Neven Subotic

To kick off my little miniseries and go over how some of our Bulls alumni are doing in professional sports, I decided to go with something a little bit different. Although soccer by far isn’t the most popular sport in the United States, USF has shown their level of quality reaching the Elite Eight in this year’s NCAA tournament before falling to number two seed Creighton in overtime. To honor arguably USF’s best team, we are going to start by doing a highlight on Borussia Dortmund defenseman, Neven Subotic.

The Bull Rush Family Grows!

Although the Bulls football season is over, college sports never truly stop. Victor Rudd and Co. have only undergone one month of their Basketball season, playing in arguably the best conference in college hoops. Many other sports continue playing their seasons in the Big East, and to ensure that The Bull Rush can keep you as updated and close to USF Athletics as possible, Matt & Mike have given me the opportunity to join their staff and bring content to all of you Bulls fans out there.

What Returns for USF in 2012: Secondary

The USF secondary will have some new faces in 2012.  Seniors Jerrell Young and Quenton Washington have both graduated, leaving the secondary with young talent, but also thin.  Key players return, but the team will have to find new playmakers to step up and take their places.  Let's see what returns for USF in 2012. 

What Returns for USF in 2012: Linebackers

USF was led by the play of the linebackers last season and looking to 2012, the linebacker spot will be the strength of the defense.  With all three 2011 starters returning and the great depth behind them, look for the linebackers to come up big in 2012. 

What Returns for USF in 2012: Defensive Line

The Bulls were one of the best in the country at tackles for loss and sacking the quarterback, thanks in large part to the defensive line. USF found pass rushers from the edge and run stoppers in the middle of the line. Let's take a look at what will be returning for USF in 2012.

What Returns for USF in 2012: Offensive Line

Quinterrius Eatmon will play a key role next season as the Bulls look to sure up the offensive line (Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

The USF line was a strength for the team in 2011. With Chaz Hine at center, USF was one of the best running teams and protect B.J. Daniels throughout the season. In 2012, the Bulls will have to replace two starters on the offensive line and continue to work with the young group of linemen that are on the roster. Here is what USF has returning in 2012.

USF Crushes FAMU 83 to 59

Fitzpatrick had a career day as USF rolls over FAMU, improving to 6-4 on the season.

USF got back to winning after two rough road games, beating in-state foe FAMU 83 to 59. FAMU kept the game close in the first half, but the Bulls went on a late run and ran away with the win to improve to 6-4 on the season (had just 10 wins last season, so we are getting better, I think).

LaVonte Dority Seeking Transfer

Sophomore guard LaVonte Dority seeks transfer, leaving the USF bench slim (Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

According to Greg Auman today, sophomore guard LaVonte Dority is seeking to transfer and will have two years of eligibility after he leaves. The 6-1 196-pounds guard out of Chicago started the season as the Bulls point guard, but since the rise of freshman guard Anthony Collins, his playing time has been severely reduced, leading to his decision.

Dority had averaged 3 points a game, 1.1 rebounds a game, had 2 steals, 16 assists and just 7 turnovers in his playing time, but with Collins taking over the starting role, Dority is gone, leaving Heath with a depleted bench. The return of Jawanza Poland does help, but USF can't afford any injuries at this point. Walk-on freshman Alberto Damour and newcomer Mike McCloskey (thanks to Mike Manganello for pointing out his name) are on the bench and could be key pieces in case anyone gets injured.

We wish LaVonte the best of luck wherever he goes to, hope he has a successful career and thank you for the work and effort you gave as a Bull.

What Returns for USF in 2012: Receiving

The USF receiving corps stepped up this season with newcomers and players that returned from injury. Heading into 2012, USF has a deep and skilled receiving corps, both at wide receiver and at tight end. They will have to progress this season and get down field to help the offense be more productive this season. Let's take a look at what wide receivers and tight ends are returning for USF in 2012.

USF MBB takes on FAMU

Blake Nash and company will have to contend with a FAMU team that likes to shoot the three  (Picture: J. Meric/Getty Images)

It seems like the loss to Kansas was a long time ago, but USF is back at it as they return "home" (at UT) to take on FAMU (game starts at 2PM).  USF, 5-4, is coming off of two straight 20-point loses, leaving the Bulls looking for answers.  Augustus Gilchrist returned against Kansas, but Blake Nash and Toarlyn Fitzpatrick are also dealing with injuries (ankle) but should be ready for this game.  FAMU, 2-7, has won two straight games and will look to fire away from 3-point range and try to force turnovers in their upset bid. 

Six USF Players Make 2nd Team All Big East

After a long season, 6 USF players were honored by being added to the 2nd team All Big East team. No Bull made it on the first team this season, but plenty did for second team. They include guard Jeremiah Warren, running back Darrell Scott, defensive end Ryne Giddins, cornerback Kayvon Webster, safety Jerrell Young, and kicker Maikon Bonani. Congratulations to these players for their efforts and being honored by the conference.

There is just one problem with these honors, where is DeDe Lattimore. Lattimore led the team with 94 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, one interception, 2 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Yet, somehow, someway, he was left off the honor list. While the other members of the 1st and 2nd All Big East are great players, not adding Lattimore is a bit strange after the body of work he put together this season.

Another great honor goes to center Chaz Hine who was named Academic All American, second team. It is quite the honor for Hine as he becomes the 6th player in USF history to be named to the Academic All American team. Congratulations to you as well.

What Returns for USF in 2012: Quarterbacks

The Bulls will be solid at quarterback for the 2012 season. While the coaching staff works on recruiting for the future, the 2012 season is set with everyone coming back and looking to do more on offense and get more productive on each series. Here is what is coming back for USF.

What Returns for USF in 2012: Running Backs

Demetris Murray (Picture: www.tbo.com)

The USF running game saw newcomer Darrell Scott take over in the backfield, leading the team with over 800 yards. While Daniels continued to run around, the running backs had more chances and will continue to get a lot of the work load in 2012. Let's see who is returning for 2012 in the USF backfield.

What Returns for USF in 2012: Special Teams

Maikon Bonani returns for 2012 as the top place kicker for the Bulls (Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

The 2011 season is over and now we start to take a look at what is returning to the team in 2012. Now this does not include the 2012 recruiting class which could shift before National Signing Day (always happens). This also does not include anyone that might be transferring out, leaving the team, or headed to the NFL early. It is hard to guess who might leave before it actually happens. So for now, these are the returning players for the 2012 season and gives everyone an idea of what the team will look like heading into next season.

This time we are starting with special teams. The Bulls were up and down all season in special teams. There was bad punting, lack of returns, but also solid coverage at times as well. Let's see if the unit returning can give the Bulls a solid season in 2012.