South Florida-Temple

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Last time out: USF lost 75-58 on Saturday at home to Tulsa. Temple lost 83-54 Saturday at Cincinnati.

Last meeting: Temple won 66-65 at USF on March 8, 2014.

USF's top three: Corey Allen Jr. (14.8 ppg., 3.0 apg.), Chris Perry (11.3 ppg., 7.3 rpg.) Anthony Collins (7.9 ppg., 5.7 apg.).

Temple's top three: Quenton DeCosey (13.4 ppg., 3.7 rpg.), Jesse Morgan (12.9 ppg., 3.4 rpg.), Jaylen Bond (8.5 ppg., 8.3 rpg.).

Note: Temple point guard Will Cummings, who missed the last game with a strained muscle in his lower left leg, will be a game-time decision.

 

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Bulls, Owls look to snap skids


Conference play hasn?t fared well for either USF or Temple recently. Both teams come into tonight?s matchup on three-game losing streaks ? all against AAC teams.

USF (7-11, 1-4) dropped games against UConn, Tulane and Tulsa, whereas Temple (12-7, 3-3) fell to Tulsa, SMU and Cincinnati.

Both USF and Temple will look for better second-half performances tonight when the two teams play in Philadelphia at 6:30.

In the teams? most recent matches, they both let the game slip away in the final 20 minutes. The Bulls lost to Tulsa after leading for most of the first half, and Cincinnati outscored the Owls by 30 in the second half.

Despite the losses, coach Orlando Antigua views tonight?s game as a ?good opportunity? against a seasoned team.

?(Temple) has some
experience ? older guys, guys who have transferred and been in some battles,? Antigua said. ?They?ve got three guys that are averaging double figures and almost a fourth one that could average double figures. They?ve got a good mix of veterans and young guys.?

Temple junior Quenton Decosey averages 13.4 points, and seniors Will Cummings and Jesse Morgan each average 12.9 points. Junior Jaylen Bond leads the conference averaging 8.3 rebounds.

The only players averaging double figures for USF ? senior guard Corey Allen Jr. and sophomore forward Chris Perry ? combined for a mere eight points in the Bulls? most recent outing. Allen was nursing a calf muscle strain.

In that 75-58 loss against Tulsa on Saturday, junior guard Nehemias Morillo led the Bulls with 15 points and six rebounds, while freshman Ruben Guerrero scored 11 points.

Although Antigua?s young team is facing more experienced players, he wants his players to focus on themselves.

?We have to concentrate on us ? taking care of the ball, executing, finishing off plays, competing for 40 minutes, rebounding the ball, not giving them many second chance opportunities,? he said.

 

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Bulls head to Philly near full strength

Bulls head to Philly near full strength

USF's men's basketball team still might be reeling, but at least it's no longer hobbling.

Coach Orlando Antigua said Tuesday the Bulls could be at full strength for Thursday night's game at Temple, where they'll try to snap a three-game skid. Everyone participated in individual work Monday, he added.

By contrast, the Bulls (7-11, 1-4 AAC) had seven healthy scholarship bodies by the end of Saturday's 75-58 loss to Tulsa. PF Chris Perry banged up his shoulder after a Golden Hurricane player landed on it, G Corey Allen Jr. (two points) was limited to 23 minutes by a sore calf, and PF Bo Zeigler (right knee) didn't play at all.

On Monday, Perry "went through everything," Antigua said. The other two?

"Bo was good. We expect him to be out there, we need him to be out there," Antigua added. "(Allen) looked really good. He had a lot of pop, a lot of explosiveness in his movement (Monday), so that was good to see."

Temple (12-7, 3-3) has lost three in a row, to three of the league's top five teams (Tulsa, SMU, Cincinnati). Its signature win was a stunning 25-point romp of Kansas in December.

"I know they're 3-3 in conference but they've played some tough games," Antigua said.

"They've got three guys averaging double figures and almost a fourth one that could be averaging double figures, and all at different positions. They've got a good mix of veteran guys and young guys, so it'll be another good opportunity."