Bulls open Big East play with big win

USF opened Big East play with an impressive 68-45 win against Rutgers in the Sun Dome on Wednesday night, getting 24 points from freshman Dominique Jones and 20 points and 17 rebounds from center Kentrell Gransberry.

The win -- by one more point than last year's win against Rutgers -- is USF's most lopsided conference victory since joining the Big East in 2005-06. The Bulls have gone 4-28 in the conference over the past two seasons, but Wednesday's game was a resounding win to give USF confidence going into a game at Syracuse on Saturday.

I had a family emergency come up where I'm not at the Sun Dome tonight, so that's why I haven't had the usual live blog. Here's the story from the Times' Izzy Gould -- you can talk about the Bulls' win here ...

Oh, and so much for USF's women trying to get a quality win at Vanderbilt -- the Bulls had it rough in Nashville, taking a 75-48 loss to the Commodores. Two starters -- center Jessica Lawson and point guard Jazmine Sepulveda -- went scoreless for the Bulls and a combined 0-for-12 from the field. Guard Daiane Packer led the Bulls with 11 off the bench; USF has to regroup quickly for its Big East opener Saturday against a ranked West Virginia team.

Comments

[Bullchip]

If we only had 1 more good big man, we would be a middle of the pack Big East team this year.

If we get Flowers and Braumbaugh next year watch out we will be a top 5 team in the BEAST

[Bill]

Bullchip, you just said it! hope we get both those beasts

[AGW]

That sure would be huge if we landed two JUCO studs, but where are the scholarships going to come from with Mike Mercer, the former UGA guard coming in next season?

[AGW]

My hopes are that UCONN lands Majok, Piek, Simpkins or Trent and that Seton Hall lands Dan Jennings. Clearing the way for Brumbaugh and Flowers to come to USF and be a Bull in 2008.

[Ken]

I couldn't be there tonight, but sounds like great win--Ari, how did you see it?

[AGW]

A note on the game tonight. I am very surprised that Aaron Holmes is not getting more time by now. With the way that Bozeman is playing (Bad I might add), Holmes should steal some minutes from Bozeman and Verdejo.

Also, I liked the way Jones lets the game come to him, not rushing anything. He also looked good at the point when Howard got in fould trouble. Orane Chin provided a spark and looked to get his confidence back. Hopefully, this is just a sign of things to come for USF basketball.

[Bull Hooper]

what about Saaka? broke his nose, got a protective mask a la Richard Hamilton, got back in the game, then threw the mask off when it hindered him, and kept playing. Inspirational!

While Bozeman didnt shoot well, he was on the court quite a bit when we broke the game open.

Jones is a legitimate Big East guard. there doesnt seem to be much he can't do.

I think Holmes will see more playing time as the team develops. He is one of our best players, but he didnt get into the flow tonight.

All in all, we have a team with real good depth and a few guys with excellent potential. Whatever you want to say about McCullum, i think he left USF some good players who seem to be great character guys. And Heath seems to like them, and he's doing very well with them.

[RTB]

Hope everything is OK with your family, Greg.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

The game was a solid win. I guess my perspective would be that it wasn't a very good Rutgers team. I am not talking down on the win, because it was a good win, but I am really excited to see how we do against these next two opponents. At first, I was concerned we might blow this game, but we played fairly well.

The two players I thought were outstanding were Jones and Gransberry. Grans was awesome tonight. He had 10 points in the first 9 minutes and just dominated inside.

Jones didn't really heat up until the second half, but he as still awesome. I haven't really seen him stroke the outside shot like that this year. I think he made 3 or 4 from behind the line.

Boozeman is really really struggling shooting the ball. I haven't seen him make a three in a few games.

I thought howard was pretty average tonight. He is really slow and lacks the ability to create his shot.

I think that guard from GA was sitting on the end of the bench tonight. I thought that was pretty cool

All and all -- a good win...but part of me thinks the BIG East really starts these next three games. How awesome would it be to go 2-1 ove this 3 game stretch.

I can't wait. I have my fingers crossed...but it will be really really really really tough.

[702JV]

hope all is well GA, nothing more important than family!

[Bull Hooper]

why did Rutgers shoot (and miss) two free throws at the beginning of the game, before the clock started? (they were REAL bad free throw shooters: 1 of 8!) i would guess USF got a technical during warmups.

i seem to remember USF getting a technical during warmups once before: for dunking during warmups. but since that time, i have seen the visiting team do it with no penalty. anybody else remember that?

[Bull Hooper]

ok, just read Izzy's story, it was for dunking during warmups. but i've seen the visiting team do that and not get in trouble. what's up with that?

[Windbane]

Ironic, because the technical was again for dunking during pre-game warmups. Go figure.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

You aren't allow to dunk in pregame warmups.

Its only a tech when the refs are on the floor. Grans said the refs usually aren't on the floor that early -- but either way -- you aren't allowed to do it.

Some refs let it slide -- but they didn't.

Its a tech - he said he was sorry for it and Heath didn't seem very concerned.

Ironic that the kid who shot the free throws missed them both. The stats sheet said he shoots 93% from the FT line.

[DELdaBULL]

Couldn't be there live, but watched from the couch. Gransberry was a beast inside, but the kid has no elevation/explosion. He has about 1000 post moves though.
Jones seems like he could score whenever he wants, but rarely forces it. It was a good W!

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Watched the highlights from the St. Johns v Syracuse game.

Both of those teams look pretty darn good.

Looking forward to this game on Saturday. Glad its on TV.

[DELdaBULL]

Ari,

Syracuse is not on TV (as far as I can tell).

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Nah -- its on TV.

Its a big east regional game.

Its on ABC at 12 noon.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

I got a good feeling about this syracuse game. Something is in the air...

Maybe I just farted though - who knows.

[DELdaBULL]

LOL

[DELdaBULL]

LOL