It’s been a tough season for USF (11-10, 4-4 AAC) men’s basketball.
Aside from the tragic death of its head coach less than two weeks from the start of the regular season, and the offseason departure of USF’s three top scorers, USF has fallen short of lofty preseason expectations following a historic season last year.
It’s hard to holistically evaluate a team playing under such extraordinary circumstances. But there’s one glaring discrepancy from last season plaguing the Bulls.
Shooting.
USF has had a difficult time replacing those three offensive options – guard Chris Youngblood, guard Selton Miguel and forward Kasean Pryor – who all hit the transfer portal last offseason.
They combined for an average of 43 points per game last season, shooting at nearly a 44% clip. That’s over half of USF’s 75.8 points per game in 2024.
This year is a bit different.
The Bulls do have three players in double-digits – but none who pose as significant as a scoring threat.
USF has been pedestrian – and at times awful – beyond the perimeter. The Bulls shot just one for 11 in the first half from 3 in back-to-back games against UAB and Tulsa.
The Bulls followed that up by shooting 18.5% from 3 in a loss against Charlotte on Jan. 22.
USF is 198th in the country in 3-point percentage, shooting 33.5% from deep.
But it hasn’t all been a struggle for the Bulls.
Guard Jayden Reid and forward Kobe Knox have taken a leap forward in their second season with the program. Reid leads the Bulls with 12.4 points and 3.9 assists per game.
Knox is averaging 10.3 points per game while shooting an impressive 49% from the floor.
Forward Jamille Reynolds has stepped in nicely to replace Pryor, giving the Bulls a significant threat in the interior.
The Bulls will face Florida Atlantic on Sunday – a clash of two programs in widely different spots than they were last season.
The Owls (11-10, 4-4 AAC) are dealing with a new coach and transfer portal fallout of their own.
Sunday could be a crucial turning point as both programs continue to find their new identity.
