This Saturday night the Bearcats return home to face the University of South Florida Bulls at 8 pm ET. The game will air on CBS Sports Network.
Season: The Bulls are dead last in the conference (7-16, 1-9 AAC). They even lost to my undergraduate alma mater – Bowling Green State University – at home 79-70. USF is on an 8-game losing streak, and lost at SMU earlier in the year 83-49. This is just not a good team, and the Cats have only lost one game at Fifth Third Arena this year (……..to VCU minutes before learning of Mick Cronin’s health issues).
Coaching Talents: Luckily, this game will involve the players and not coaches. Head coach Orlando Antigua or “Hurricane” played 7 years with the Harlem Globetrotters, and Rod “Hot Rod” Strickland played 17 years in the NBA with 9 different teams. The Bulls’ staff is arguably the most athletically talented staff in the country.
Offense: USF averages 62.5 points per game behind leading scorer and senior guard #4 Corey Allen Jr. At 6’ 1” and 152 lbs. this guy averages 15.4 points, 3.2 boards, and 2.7 assists, and could also literally get squashed like a bug by Deberry or Clark. They are also a poor 3-point shooting team at 29.5%.
Defense: The USF Bulls are 10th in the AAC and 112th in the country giving up 68.9 points per game. Their players also do not have the length or size to play gritty defense in the paint. Instead, the Bulls squad is predicated on speed and quickness in the Sunshine State.
Predictions: We expect Caupain to have another great game at home. Last time around at Fifth Third Arena he lit up the score board for a career-high 20 points, 4 boards, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal. Freshman Gary Clark should also have a bounce-back game. He has played great at home and poorly on the road so far this year.
Cats will win this one easily 75-50.
Side Note: UC is now a ridiculous 36-0 since 2013 when scoring 60 points in a basketball game.
By Andy Smith