USF Signing Day Approaching: What to Expect

It's all anyone has been talking about for the past week. National Letter of Intent Signing Day is coming tomorrow, and USF has put together one of the best classes in its short history, assuming everyone stays on board. If you've been keeping track of recruiting like I have, you know we've pretty much got most of our recruits locked down and ready to sign, so there won't be many surprises. But if you don't worry about recruiting until they step on the field (and even if you do follow it), here's a bit of what to be prepared for after the jump.

Anthony Collins Rising

Not even insane coaches have been able to rattle Collins this season.

The Bulls are a surprising 6-3 in league play this season, breaking their win total from last season (glad to put that year behind us) and have a chance to equal the 2009-2010 season total of 9 wins (long shot, but there is a chance). The Bulls have won close games at the buzzer, have been able to score tons of points, and have been able to lock opponents down on defense as well. So what has been the reason for the big turnover?  While many players have contributed, one continues to shine in his first year, Anthony Collins.

We have spoken at great length about the progression of the freshman guard, but after watching his performance against Providence on Sunday, the progression is even further ahead than many expected.

USF 2012 Baseball: Derrick Stultz

Derrick Stultz - 6-3 190-pounds - Senior - RHP

Stultz returns for his senior season after missing the 2011 season due to shoulder surgery, making him a wild card this year.  Prado is expecting him to return to his former glory, but he needs to be at full health if he wants to make an impact.  Stultz has been throwing already this off season, so he should be ready to play, but will be worked into the season slowly as the staff monitors his health. 

His last action was in 2009 when he went 5-4, finishing with an ERA of 4.48, showing his talent when he is on the mound. He made 13 appearances, working 76.1 innings, allowing 70 hits while striking out 27 batters and striking out 63 hitters.  He allowed batters to hit .244 against him.  Now that he is healthy, he will be a big part of the rotation if he is healthy and ready to go.  The Bulls will be relying on him to come back strong to help bolster the rotation.

USF 2012 Baseball: Janick Serrallonga

Janick Serrallonga - 5-9 160-pounds - LHP - Sophomore 

Serrallonga enters his sophomore season after a solid freshman campaign coming out of the bullpen.  He made 7 appearances, pitching 8.2 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 walks, and struck out 3 batters, ending the season with a 3.12 ERA but allowed .361 batting average against opponents due to the limited number of innings worked. 

With Quackenbush gone from the bullpen, Prado will need more pitchers to step up late in games and Serrallonga has a chance to help lock down the late innings for the Bulls and will need to come up big this year.  Whether he helps take over as the closer or simply works in late inning situations, he needs to have an even bigger season this year.

Alma Mater Weekend: USF Wins, Journey Complete

The weekend comes to an end, but what an end it was.

The alma mater weekend is over and what better way to finish it than a big victory by the Bulls over Providence. The day began with leaving the hotel and a trip down to the Channelside area, the heart of the South Tampa and right next to the port.

USF Lands 2012 RB Commit

From Greg Auman - While the basketball team was winning at the Forum, the football team was landing another commit for the 2012 class. Running back Michael Pierre out of Golden West Community College in California (originally from Orlando) has verbally committed to Holtz and crew.

The 5'11 200-pound running back becomes the only running back to join the 2012 recruiting class and helps add depth to a needed position for the Bulls. Pierre will help add depth to the offensive void left behind after Darrell Scott left early for the NFL.

USF MBB Beats Providence

It was my Volvo Alma Mater weekend and what better wait to cap it off was a big win for USF over Providence as they won 81 to 78. The Bulls made it interesting in the closing minute as they fouled the Friar shooters several times from 3-point range, but the Bulls were strong and dominated and improve their record to 13-9 (6-3) on the season.

Ron Anderson Jr. had 14 points and 5 rebounds in a strong performance. Toarlyn Fitzpatrick had 13 points (3 of 4 from 3-point range), 7 rebounds, and had 2 assists. Victor Rudd Jr. had 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists during the game, making some key free throws down the stretch to keep USF ahead.

USF Takes on Providence

The USF Bulls, after their rough 47 to 67 loss to Marquette on Tuesday, hit the floor as they try to improve on their 12-9 (5-3) record, but it won't be an easy task as the Providence Friars come to town.  Providence enters the game with a 12-9 record, but just 1-7 in league play (coming off of a loss to Pitt). 

The Friars are averaging 69.7 points per game, but also allow 67 points per game.  This means the Bulls, who couldn't find their range at Marquette, should be able to get some offense going as they try for league win number 6 on the  year (game starts at 2PM). (Also note this is my alma mater weekend trip sponsored by Volvo.  I will be tweeting before, during, and after the game and handing out some awesome gear!  Make sure to follow the Bull Rush twitter feed (@thebullrush) to get details on where I am at during the game!)

Alma Mater Weekend: Day 2

It is day two of the alma mater weekend as I make my glorious return to the USF area and prepare for the big game tomorrow against Providence.

Cruising in this car is a dream.

The day began with a trip to campus and a chance to walk around and take some great images of the campus and key highlight areas that make USF the best.

USF WBB Drops Road Game to UCONN

The USF ladies, facing the 3rd ranked team in the country, the UCONN Huskies, held their own for most of the game, battling several runs by the Huskies, but came up short in the loss, dropping 62 to 77. They are now 12-10 (4-4) on the season.

Jasmine Wynne had 13 points (4 of 14) with 4 rebounds and 4 assists on the day. Inga Orekhova had 16 points (5 of 11 from 3-point range) with 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Tiffany Conner had 2 points and 5 rebounds. Caitlin Rowe had 20 points and 2 rebounds in one of her best games of the season.

Kaneisha Saunders had 3 points and 3 assists on the day. Sasha Bernard had 5 points and 2 rebounds as well.

The ladies came within 3 points at the end of the first half, but UCONN had just too much firepower for the Bulls as they fell short with their upset bid. The Bulls will now return home to take on WVU on Wednesday night for their next game (game starts at 7PM)

USF vs. Providence Hype Video

This Sunday, the USF Bulls, 12-9 (5-3) return home to the forum to take on the Providence Friars in another huge Big East game. The Bulls, playing great basketball, are looking to improve on their 10-1 home record. The Bull Rush will be at the game, handing out Big East/Volvo gear for those who follow our tweets prior to the game. Follow the official twitter of our site, @thebullrush, prior to the game to find out where we will be before the game, most likely in the Channelside area enjoying the restaurants before a big USF win.

USF WBB Hits the Road to Take UCONN

The USF ladies, coming off of a big win at home over Seton Hall in which they needed a 20 to 6 rally in the second half to run away with the win, now have to hit the road to take on the powerhouse UCONN. USF is 12-9 (4-3) on the season, matching the win total from last season and now with more conference wins in the season, but facing UCONN is going be to a tough test.

UCONN is 18-2 (7-1) on the season, ranking them 3rd in the country. UCONN is coming off of a big win over Syracuse 95 to 54 on the season and have a 13-0 record at home. The Huskies defense is strong, allowing just 44.2 points per game while their offense scores 81.6 points per game, so the Bulls are facing a big uphill battle in this game (game starts at 1PM).

Alma Mater Weekend: Day 1

Hello USF fans, as you know by now, I am part of the Volvo Biggest Big East Fan Challenge. This weekend, I have been sponsored by Volvo to return to North Tampa and the USF campus. While I stay just a block away from campus, I will be hitting some of the local hot spots and enjoying my alma mater. I will be attending the USF vs. Providence game on Sunday afternoon and will be handing out some awesome stuff compliments of Volvo, so make sure to stay tuned to the twitter of the Bull Rush (@thebullrush) for updates on the game day and during the weekend on where I will be.

Day one so far has been awesome. I met with the Volvo dealer in South Tampa to pick up my 2012 S60 for the weekend and had to pick my jaw up off the ground when I saw this incredible machine.

Yes, this is my car for the weekend, if you see it on the roads near campus, you are to drool near it.

With 300 horse power, this S60 is a sweet ride and is full of all the great safety features of Volvo that one would expect. The car cruises comfortably and with all of the safety features and comforts inside the cabin, I almost didn't want to leave the car when I finally got to my hotel.

This car is simply incredible, Volvo really outdid themselves this time.

I spent some time this afternoon driving around the campus, looking at some of the new features that USF has added since I graduated, such as the brand new water features in the front interest, but soon got hungry and decided to finish the day with a great dinner at a restaurant that got started in Tampa, Hooter's.

Hooter's, like I said in challenge 6 for the Volvo Big East Challenge, was founded in the Tampa area and has multiple locations, including right next to the campus. So I cruised over in the amazing S60, met a few great friends, sat outside on this clear night with temperatures in the mid 60s and enjoyed the great food and even better company. That wraps it up for day one of the alma mater weekend. Time to get some rest, a lot of traveling and many great spots to see tomorrow!

USF 2012 Baseball: Daniel Rockhold

Daniel Rockhold - 6-3 195-pounds - Senior - Catcher

Rockhold returns for his senior season after missing part of 2011 due to injuries.  In the 20 games he played, he hit .194 with 2 home runs and drove in 7 RBIs (went just 12 for 65 in his limited plate appearances).  He drew 8 walks and struck out 11 times, showing discipline despite the lack of hits.

Injuries slowed Rockhold after he had a huge 2010 season.  He hit .306 with 7 home runs and drove in 33 RBIs in 2010, showing his power at the plate.  Now that he is healthy, a lot is expected of him coming into his 2012 season.  With questions on offense, Rockhold needs to become a power threat in the middle of Prado's batting order to give the Bulls some firepower.

Biggest Fan of the Big East Challenge 6: All Those Away Games

In the last challenge for the Biggest Fan of the Big East, Volvo challenged us to show our USF pride. We listed some of the greatest traditions at USF, showing the Green and Gold passion. We showed everyone the traditions USF fans show for every game, making Tampa the greatest place in the Big East. But for the road games, not every USF fans can pack up and travel with the team.

Sometimes USF fans are forced to watch a game on TV, might as well watch it in style (Picture: voodoofive.com)

So for challenge 6, Volvo has challenged us to list "What are your favorite places to watch your team when you can't be at the game?" So for those road games, here are some of the greatest places around the Tampa area to watch games and a few traditions I have for away games as well.

Darrell Scott Invited to NFL Combine

Ever since his high school days, Darrell Scott has had pro prospects. As a kid at St. Bonaventure High School in California, he was rated the #1 recruit of his class. Writers referred to him as "The next LaDanian Tomlinson", and he was just 17. Out of high school, Scott comnitted to play for Colorado, where he saw very little playing time for the top player in the country.

USF 2012 Baseball: Matt Reed

Matt Reed - 6-3 210-pounds - LHP - Senior

Reed returns for his senior season and will be a huge part of the rotation for the Bulls this season as Prado looks as the Bulls look for solid arms with several players coming off of surgeries (such as Barbosa from last season)

Reed finished the 2011 season with a 5-4 record in 15 appearances, ending the year with a 4.11 ERA.  He pitched 65.2 innings, allowing 64 hits, while walking 28 and striking out 21, allowing opponents to hit .263 against him.  Reed is not an overpowering pitcher, but sets up hitters well with his off speed pitches and is able to neutralize batting orders.. 

In 2010, he finished with a 1-0 record in 7 appearances, including a 6.91 ERA (so the numbers have gotten better for him as the pitch load as increased for him).  He worked 14.1 innings, allowing 13 hits, walking 6 and striking out 4, allowing opponents to hit .245 on the season.

Reed will need to have another big season to help anchor the pitching rotation as the Bulls look to find the arms that will lead them this season.

USF WBB Rallies to Beat Seton Hall

Kaneisha Saunders added a huge spark for the Bulls off the bench as the ladies rally to beat Seton Hall.

Down 12 points at one point, the USF ladies rallied to beat Seton Hall 57 to 45 (taking the season series) to improve to 12-9 (4-3) on the season.

The Bulls overcame a bad shooting night where they shot just 1 of 14 from 3-point range, but forced 21 turnovers as they stormed back in the second half to take the lead for good.

Top 10 USF Softball Players: Number 2

(Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

Gina Kafalas - 5-6 - Senior - Outfield - Bats: Left - Throws: Right

At number two on the countdown is senior Gina Kafalas. Kafalas returns for her final season after a huge junior year for the Bulls. She played in all 53 games, batting .359 during the year, driving in 8 runs, playing lead off for most of the games for Eriksen. She drew 15 walks to 21 strike outs and stole 24 out of 26 bases, giving the Bulls another weapon on the bases.  She is very athletic and has tremendous range in the outfield, giving the Bulls a great defensive edge.

Kafalas built off her strong sophomore season. She batted .323 in 2010, driving in 5 runs (played in 45 games) and stole 20 bases out of 23 attempts. Gina will have another huge season as the Bulls try to get to the postseason and improve even more this season.

USF WBB Takes on Seton Hall

The USF ladies, after another close loss to a ranked team, remain at home as they take on Seton Hall again. USF is 11-9 (3-3) on the season, looking to improve their record against a 7-13 (0-6) Seton Hall team that is coming off of a close loss to Syracuse.

The Bulls won 68 to 49 in the first match-up on the road this season. Inga Orekhova had 20 points in the first game and Jasmine Wynne had 14, so look for the Bulls to find their shooting range as they try to notch another big home win (USF is 5-2 at home this season) (game starts at 7PM at the Rec Center).

USF 2012 Baseball: James Ramsay

James Ramsay - 6-0 190-pounds - LH - OF

Ramsay returns after a strong season in his freshman campaign for the Bulls. Ramsay hit .250 including 3 home runs and 22 RBIs last season. He walked 16 times and struck out 43 times, earning an OBP of .308 and a slugging percentage of .372 (needs to cut down on the high strike out total). He was also 5 of 7 in steals. Ramsay played a solid center for Prado, displaying his range and speed to cover a lot of ground in the outfield. Ramsay slowed down towards the end of the year after a hot start, but he has the skills needed to take his game to another level.

Ramsay returns as one of the key bats Prado will be looking to this year to carry the load on offense. He has the power, but has to be more consistent on getting on base and add a solid hitter for the batting order. If Ramsay can cut down on his strike out total and get on base more consistently, he could have a huge season and make a big impact for USF.

USF Drops Rough Game to Marquette

It was a rough night for everyone.

It was a rough night for the USF Bulls as they lost to Marquette 47 to 67. The Bulls are now 12-9 (5-3) on the season as they try to put this game behind them and prepare for the game against Providence on Sunday afternoon.

Alma Mater Weekend!

Oh yes, Volvo is sponsoring an epic weekend!

By now you know that I am participating in the 2012 Volvo Biggest Big East Fan Challenge. Each week we are challenged to put together a post that exemplifies our passion for the Big East and pride for our schools, USF being the best of course.

One Small Step for College Football, Another Giant Leap Backwards for the Big East

Yesterday, it was announced that the United States Naval Academy is going to join the Big East in 2015. Today it became official; they're having a conference call to introduce Navy as I type this. Here are some John Marinatto quotes on the addition:

"When people look back, they will mark this as a truly historic day for the Big East Conference"

"That Navy would give up 100 yrs of football independence speaks to the long-term viability of the BIG EAST"

"We are not done yet. We will continue to be getting stronger"

USF's (Very Slim) Shot at an NCAA Tournament Appearance

By now, you've probably noticed USF's uncharacteristic success on the hardwood. The Bulls have made routine business of winning conference games that they would typically be blown out of. Their first conference game was a three point loss to then-9th ranked Connecticut, showing that the Bulls may have some life in them. Their wins, though, are the more impressive factor. USF grabbed its first-ever regular season win over Villanova in Philadelphia in blowout form, and they came home to scratch out a close win over #24 Seton Hall before obliterating St. John's, another team who has made a habit of beating the Bulls. They went away to beat down DePaul this weekend, and are now sitting on a 5-2 conference record.

Many fans are already looking ahead to watching USF in the postseason. You've probably seen my tracking of USF's season on twitter with #TheQuestFor16. But anyone who has looked at USF's conference schedule can see that the Bulls still haven't seen their real competition. The guys at V5 have made a point to tell Bulls fans to hold up a bit. They're about to travel to Top-20 ranked Marquette, and they've still got games against Syracuse, Louisville, Georgetown, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and West Virginia. And it's not likely that the Bulls stay in third place in the conference for long. But the beauty of playing in a conference like this is the championship tournament, where everybody's in. You'll see a pretty unlikely, but very USF-friendly scenario after the jump.

USF MBB Hits the Road to Take on Marquette

After their road game against DePaul on Sunday afternoon, the Bulls will continue their road trip as they take on Marquette in another big game.

The Golden Eagles of Marquette (ranked 21st in the AP poll) enter the game with a record of 16-4 (5-2) and are an impressive 10-1 at home this season. They are averaging 76.8 points per game and 8.8 steals per game. They like to get up and down the floor, pushing the tempo while USF likes to slow it down and run their offense out of the half court set. These are two contrasting styles that will make for a great game.

Know Thy Enemy: Marquette Edition

As the Bulls prepare for a big game against Marquette on the road, I decided to ask Brian Moran from the Biggest Big East Fan Challenge to get a better insight on the Golden Eagles and what the Bulls can expect when they go into this game.  Make sure to check out Brian's website HERE. 

Big East to Add Navy in 2015

The Big East is adding Navy in 2015 (Picture: CBS Sports)

From CBS Sports - Thought the conference expansion talk was over? Think again. According to CBS Sports, Navy is set to join the Big East starting in 2015 as a football-only member.

Navy would join the conference starting in 2015 with Boise State, San Diego State (both as football-only), SMU, Houston, and UCF joining in 2013 for all sports. This would raise the number of teams in the conference up to 11 with the departures of Pitt, Syracuse, and WVU. John Marinatto still wants a conference championship but would need one more team in order to make that happen.

Top 10 USF Softball Players: Number 3

(Picture: www.tbo.com)

Ashli Goff - 5-3 - Sophomore - Outfield - Bats: Left - Throws: Right

Goff, twin sister of Courtney Goff, had a huge season in her freshman campaign Bulls, entering the countdown at number 3.

Last year she hit .349 during the season, driving in 11 runs. She walked 12 times and struck out 14 times, putting the ball in play and getting on base to make things happen. She is a great hitter that is able to work counts and get on base at easy. Goff is not a power threat, but is a big weapon on the bases. She was also 21 out of 26 in steal attempts, showing her speed and athletic ability. If she can get on base and put up the numbers like she did last season, the USF offense will be even better than last year.

USF Lands 2012 Commit

From Greg Auman - News came yesterday that DE/TE Guito Ervilus (6-4 230-pounds) has committed to USF.

The Oak Ridge High School star (from Orlando, Florida) made the commitment to USF after receiving offers from several top programs including Florida State, Miami, and UNC.  Ervilus is a very raw athlete that could play on either side of the ball, but he will get his first chance at defensive end.  Ervilus is rated as a 3-star recruit (according to Rivals.com).

This is the 15th commitment for the Bulls 2012 recruiting class and helps fill a need on the defensive line.  The Bulls did get some bad news however as 3-star athlete Chris Moody, the top quarterback prospect on the Bulls recruit list, made a verbal commitment to Vanderbilt.  The Bulls are still trying to find a quarterback in this recruiting class (lost out on Tyler Cameron as well).

Check out some of Ervilus's high school footage below.  He is a raw athlete that could be a great defensive end or even a tight end, depending on how the coaches want to use him.

USF 2012 Baseball: Adrian Puig

Adrian Puig - 6-0 205-pounds - Junior - RHP

Puig is another member of the USF pitching staff that will have to carry more of the workload this season as the Bulls enter 2012. In 2010, Puig pitched 10.1 innings (6 appearnaces) allowing 11 hits, 3 walks, and struck out 5. He had a 6.97 ERA and opponents hit .326 against him, not the most impressive numbers in relief for USF.

In 2011, Puig had 6 appearances again, but worked just 7.1 innings of relief. He allowed 9 hits in his limited chances, but issued no walks and struck out 5 batters, showing his changed approach of attacking the strike zone. Batters hit .310 against him, putting the ball in play, but he cut his ERA down to 3.68, nearly half of what it was a year before.

Puig improved his numbers after last season and will have to continue that trend in 2012. With Quackenbush gone (MLB), the bullpen needs veteran arms to step up and fill the void left, Puig has the potential to do that.

USF MBB Beats DePaul 75 to 59

The USF Bulls won another big game in conference play with their 75 to 59 effort over DePaul. USF is now 12-8 (5-2) on the season, moving them into a tie for third place in the conference (yes, I can't believe it either). USF shot 56% from the floor and pulled down 38 rebounds in the big win for Heath and company.

USF MBB Hits the Road to Take on DePaul

The Bulls, 11-8 (4-2), hit the road hoping to continue their recent streak of great play. They will face DePaul, 10-8 (1-5), who is 6-4 at home this season. Last year, USF beat DePaul in both games they played, once in DePaul and once in Tampa. In the final game, in DePaul, Augustus Gilchrist went off for 32 points, so expect the Blue Demons to lock him down on defense during this big game for both teams (game scheduled for 2PM).

Know Thy Enemy: DePaul

As the Bulls take their 4-2 mark in the conference on the road, it's time to find about the next opponent, the DePaul Blue Demons. To find out more about DePaul, I asked my friend Marianne from the Biggest Big East Fan to find out about her team and what USF will be facing (make sure to check out her site HERE)

USF WBB Drops Game to Rutgers

Kaneisha Saunders had another big game from the bench, but the Bulls came up just short in another bid for an upset (Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

The USF ladies battled hard, but came up short against the 7th ranked Rutgers team, 66 to 72. USF shot 41% from the floor, but a cold start in the second half doomed the Bulls as they drop another close game to a ranked foe, getting close, but coming up short. The loss sends them to a 11-9 (3-3) record.

USF WBB Takes on Rutgers

The USF ladies, 11-8 (3-2), and fresh off their thrilling overtime win over DePaul are at home once again as they host 7/8 Rutgers, 15-3 (4-1). The Knights are coming off of a loss to St. John's on the road and will be looking to get back to their dominating way.

Rutgers is scoring 65.5 points per game this season while allowing just 53 points per game, getting after people on defense. They hold opponents to 32% shooting from the floor and make offense hard for anyone. The Knights are just 3-2, however, away from home and the Bull faithful should be in full force for this big game (game starts at 7PM).

USF 2012 Baseball: Kyle Parker

Kyle Parker - Junior - 6-2 200-pounds - LHP

Parker is another member of the USF pitching staff that was used sparingly last year, but with all of the departures, he will have to step up his performance when called upon. Last year in 5 appearances, he went 0-1 while working 14.1 innings. He allowed 10 hits, walked 7, and struck out 4 while holding opponents to a .200 batting average against him and finished with a 3.14 ERA. He was effective in spots, but the high number of walks is not a great sign.

Parker did make improvements from his 2010 season where he finished with an 0-2 record after working 15 innings, allowing 18 hits, 11 walks, and struck out 12. He allowed opponents to hit .310 vs. him and finished with an awful 5.40 ERA.

Parker improve his numbers in 2011 and will have to continue to get stronger. With holes in the rotation and staff, veterans like Parker will have to carry the load late in games and help keeping opposing offenses off the bases.

Hope for USF Basketball Renewed?

At 11-8 (4-2), the USF basketball team has a winning record, more importantly, a winning record in league play. Since the Bulls joined the Big East in 2005, it has been a rough life in conference play for this team. Aside from the 2009-2010 season and the play of Dominique Jones (led the team to 20-wins), basketball has tended to be an after thought on campus. Basketball has been painful to watch for the fans and students, but now, it would seem that things are starting to turn around.

While I remain skeptical and am still holding my breath, the thought of hope is starting to creep into my mind and the minds of USF fans. Here are some of the reasons hope is starting to grow for the basketball program.

Top 10 USF Softball Players: Number 4

(Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

Janine Richardson - 5-5 - Senior - Outfielder - Bats: Right - Throws: Right

At number 4 in the countdown is senior outfielder Janine Richardson. Richardson returns for her senior season after a huge 2011 season. She batted .348 with 3 home runs and drove in 44 runs, adding another big bat for Eriksen's lineup. She walked 18 times and struck out 15 times, showing she puts the ball in play most of the time. She stole 18 bases out of 19 attempts as well, showing her speed.

2011 was a break out season after a strong 2010 season. She hit .265 in 2010 with one home run and drove in 15 runs. She was 15 of 17 in steals as well, showing her ability is only getting better and will improve this season as she and Bulls make a run at the NCAA tournament.

USF 2012 Baseball: Alex Mendez

Alex Mendez - Junior - 5-7 175-pounds - LH - Outfield

Mendez returns as one of the most productive Bulls from the 2011 season. Mendez hit .287 last year with 1 home run and drove in 11 runs. He walked 6 times and struck out 13 times, gaining an on-base percentage of .333 (could improve a bit with more plate discipline).

2011 was another strong season for Mendez who has been consistent in his first two seasons in Tampa. In 2010, he hit .283, including 1 home run and drove in 14 runs (2011 saw a slight drop off in runs driven in). He was 2 for 2 in steals and had an OBP of .393, so his ability to get on base in 2011 dropped off, partially due to the strike outs.

Mendez is not a big time power hitter or run producer, but is a great situational hitter, getting on base and moving base runners along. As one of the top returners this season, the pressure is on for him to get on base and make more happen. He doesn't have to swing for the fences, but does need to get on base more, improve his OBP, and just help keep innings alive and get runners moving on the base pad.

Let's Give Cosh a Chance, Everyone

Everyone's heard by now about USF's latest addition to the coaching staff. Chris Cosh comes all the way over from Kansas State to accept the defensive coordinator position with the Bulls. Many fans were expecting former USF DC (currently at Iowa State) Wally Burnham to be getting a call, but that didn't happen. Another option was Florida State's Greg Hudson, but he didn't get a call either. In fact, it turns out that Cosh was the only guy who interviewed for the job.

Top 10 USF Softball Players: Number 5

(picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

Lindsey Richardson - 5-10- Junior - RHP

At number 5 is right handed pitcher Lindsey Richardson. Last season, Richardson made up the dynamic duo with Sara Nevins that dominated the pitching mound for the Bulls. She went 10-6 with a 2.85 ERA during the season. She pitched 103 innings, allowing 103 hits, issued 37 walks and struck out 105 batters. She held batters to a .250 batting average and even racked up a save. Richardson missed some time at the end of year due to a concussion, but is back and ready for this season.

Richardson improved upon her freshman campaign where she went 12-8 and finished 2010 with a 1.83 ERA. She pitched 130 innings, allowing 124 hits, walked 24 batters, struck out 138 and held opponents to a .249 batting average.

Richardson joins Nevins as one of the best one-two punches in the Big East. Richardson will have another big season for the Bulls.

Chris Cosh Named New Defensive Coordinator

A week since Mark Snyder packed his bags for College Station, Coach Holtz finally found his new defensive coordinator. Chris Cosh, the defensive coordinator of Kansas State has accepted the job with USF and will take over the reigns as signing day approaches. Kansas State tried hard to keep Gosh in Manhattan, but he decided to take his talents to Tampa instead.

Chris Cosh has been the defensive coordinator/assistant coach as Kansas State for the past 3 seasons (2009 till now) under legendary coach Bill Snyder. Before his time in Manhattan, he was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Maryland (2006 to 2008).

Victor Rudd's Dunk From Last Night

The Bulls notched win number 11 last night over St. John's and improved to 4-2 in conference play for the first time in program history. As the offense got going in the second half, Victor Rudd, after a cold 1st half, heated up in the 2nd half, going off for 24 points. Rudd found his shot from 3-point range, shooting 5 of 7. But the biggest moment from him during the night was this highlight dunk that has found it's way to Sport Center's top 10 plays. Enjoy this highlight dunk and hopefully we will see more of this down the road.

USF Cruises to Big Victory Over St. John's

Victor Rudd went off for 24 points in the second half as the Bulls got the win against St. John's. (Picture: www.gousfbulls.com)

The Bulls put on a strong effort tonight as they took care of business and beat St. John's 64 to 49, improving to 11-8 on the season and 4-2 in conference play. This is the first time in program history the team is 4-2 in league play and the 11 wins is more than all of last season's win total (had just 10 last year).

USF MBB Takes on St. John's

(Picture: www.tbo.com)

The USF Bulls welcome St. John's University into town as the Bulls try to build off of their huge win over then 24th ranked Seton Hall. The Bulls, 10-8 (3-2), are hoping to improve to two games over .500 in conference play. The Red Storm of SJU, 8-9 (2-4) on the season, are looking for a building win during a rough year (still without Coach Lavin).

SJU is 1-4 on the season away from New York, while averaging 66 points per game. SJU has a short bench and a very young team, but it will be a huge battle for the Bulls who need to build off the Seton Hall win (game starts at 7PM).

Know Thy Enemy: St. John's Edition

(Picture: www.nypost.com)

As the Bulls prepare for a big game against St. John's, I decided to ask my friend Mike from the Biggest Big East Fan Contest, a few questions to get a better idea of the Storm and what they will be bringing to the Forum on Wednesday night (make sure to check out Mike's site here!)

USF 2012 Baseball: Andrew Loynaz

Andrew Loynaz - Senior - 6-1 200-pounds - RHP

Loynaz joined the USF team last year after spending the season before at Rollins College, so it was his first season against Big East hitters.

Loynaz appeared in 16 games out of the bullpen, going 0-1 in the process. He pitched 24.2 innings, allowing 26 hits, walking 14, and struck out 17 batters. He had a 4.38 ERA and held opponents to just a .273 batting average against him, a number that is too high for a relief pitcher.

With Fontanez gone from the rotation, the USF pitching situation will be difficult to start with. Barbosa is returning from major surgery, while others were shaky for the Bulls throughout the season. With an offense that could struggle to score runs this year, pitching and especially the bullpen, will be key to keep games close and shut it down at the end of games. Loynaz made a lot of appearances last year and will get the ball again, but he has to do a better job with his control. Allowing that many hits and walks allows teams to get men on base and could be a disaster this season for the Bulls.

I Never Want to Hear Any UCF Fan Say Another Word About USF.

As I'm sure many of you read over the weekend on Voodoo Five, USF had a bit of a scheduling issue for next year, one non-conference game short of a full slate. News broke this morning that the Bulls did in fact work out their trouble, scheduling Nevada for a home-and-home series that will begin in Reno September 8th.

Additional news came out today that Nevada was not the Bulls' first choice. In fact, USF initially looked to stay quite a bit closer to home. Greg Auman reported today that USF first called over to Orlando to try and schedule a game against UCF in the 66,000 seat Citrus Bowl. To the surprise (and delight) of USF fans, Central Florida actually declined to host the Bulls, citing the fact that they were looking for another home game, despite being just sixteen miles away from the proposed site.

You've probably seen in recent months that USF had gotten some heat from UCF fans. I'm sure you all agree that this is a very ironic and hilarious turn of events for USF fans. You can hear my take after the jump.

USF WBB Upsets DePaul

The USF ladies pushed DePaul to overtime and rallied to get the huge upset win over the 21st ranked Demons, 66 to 63! The Bulls shot 42% from the floor, holding DePaul to 34% and forced 23 turnovers during the game.

USF had a chance to win the game in regulation, but could not hit the free throw at the end of regulation, giving the crowd an extra 5 minutes of basketball before the team came away with the big win. This is huge for the team and coach Fernandez as they continue the tough stretch of conference play.

USF WBB Returns Home to Face DePaul

The USF ladies, fresh off their big road win against Seton Hall on Saturday afternoon, return home to take on the DePaul Demons (21st ranked in the AP poll/19th ranked in Coaches poll).  USF is 10-8 (2-2) now but once again will be facing a tough ranked team in DePaul.  The Blue Demons are 15-3 (3-1) on the season, including 5-1 on the road while averaging 72 points per game.  The ladies will have to execute their offense perfectly if they want to try for the upset win (game is scheduled for 7PM at the Rec Center). 

USF Schedules Nevada for 2012

From Greg Auman - News came out last night that USF football has finalized the 2012 schedule with a 5th non-conference game against Nevada (will play them in early September).

After TCU decided to head to the Big 12, the Big East was missing the 8th conference game it had been hoping for, forcing USF to find another game to add. The schedules seem to work out for both sides, which means an early trip out west to start the year for the Bulls.

USF 2012 Baseball: Andrew Longley

(Picture: USF Oracle)

Andrew Longley - Catcher - Senior - 6-3 215-pounds - RH

Longley had a solid season last year, getting more plate attempts with Daniel Rockhold out with injuries. He batted .234 with 4 home runs and drove in 20 runs that season. He walked 18 times and struck out 29 times, something he will have to work on this year to see more pitches.

His 2011 numbers are a vast improvement from his .204, 2 HR, and 7 RBI performance in 2010, although he was still tops on the team in on-base percentage. Longley will have to provide more power and more consistency this season for the Bulls. With the lack of power bats in the lineup, he returns as one of the top HR guys for Prado and will need to put up bigger numbers to help the offense this season.

Longley will probably split time with Daniel Rockhold now that he is healthy and back in the mix (could also move into the DH spot as well for the Bulls), but when he gets his chances, Longley has to step it up at the plate