College basketball

Bulls get a planned confidence boost

USF 89, B-CC 64: An effort to build the fan base disappoints, but the game is a shot in the arm before a long road trip.

By GREG AUMAN
Published November 30, 2004

LAKELAND - USF's first four games were scheduled not to test the Bulls so much as to give them a dose of confidence after a 7-20 season. In an easy 89-64 win against Bethune-Cookman at the Lakeland Center, their last home game in three weeks, they got exactly what they were looking for.

"These first four games have built a lot of chemistry for this team going into this road stretch, and I think it built a lot of confidence," said point guard Brian Swift, who scored a game-high 21. "We're trying to get the new guys involved, and I think our confidence is real high right now, and these first four games helped that."

Building confidence is one thing, but building a following remains a challenge. The off-campus home game, intended to expand the Bulls' fan base and as a gesture to students at USF's regional campus at Lakeland, drew a crowd generously announced at 768, the smallest to see the Bulls play anywhere in nearly five years. Second-year coach Robert McCullum said he was surprised by the turnout.

"It did, but the crowds at home surprise me, too. It's something I try not to focus on," said McCullum, whose team has averaged 2,144 in three Sun Dome dates. "I thought it would have been greater, hoped it would have been greater, but I'm appreciative of those fans that did come over."

The Bulls (4-0) continued to show strong shooting all over the court, hitting 7 of 15 3-pointers (46.7 percent) and 18 of 23 free throws (78.3 percent). After a sloppy first half in which USF committed 13 turnovers and still led 45-35, the Bulls buckled down in the second, committing four turnovers.

"We didn't have 14 turnovers (in a game) this whole year, and (McCullum) was really disappointed in that," said senior forward Terrence Leather, who on the stat sheet saw not his 20 points nor his 11 rebounds but his four turnovers. "It was a 10-point lead, but it should have been a 20-point lead. We came out, regrouped and redeemed ourselves."

USF opened the second half with an 11-0 run and closed the game with enthusiasm. Leather, who did not have a turnover after halftime, threw a late alley-oop to center Solomon Jones, who had 13 rebounds and four blocks, and forward Marlyn Bryant (12 points, six steals) had two dunks in the final minute. With Friday's 93-65 win against Stetson, USF's past two games have been their biggest wins under McCullum.

"Obviously, I'm satisfied with our win, but I'm really pleased with our play in the second half," McCullum said. "We did a much better job of taking care of the basketball, executed well in the first five minutes of the half, and that set the tone."

With Jones and Leather dominating inside, the Bulls outrebounded the Wildcats 46-29. Junior guard James Holmes, who had a career-high 24 against Stetson, hit his first seven shots and finished with 17 points.

Bethune-Cookman (1-1) got 12 points each from guard Antonio Webb and swingman Kory Crumbly, who played at Lakewood and St. Petersburg College. The Bulls won't return home for three weeks, and Wednesday they go to Richmond to open a five-game road trip that includes games at Michigan and South Carolina.

"We still have a long road ahead. This first test at Richmond is big," Swift said. "This is where we see who we are."

[Last modified November 30, 2004, 00:26:10]