Tonight: USF men vs. East Carolina

By GREG AUMAN
Published February 19, 2005

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WHEN/WHERE: 7; Sun Dome, Tampa.

TV/RADIO: 570-AM and 910-AM.

RECORDS: ECU 8-16, 3-9 Conference USA; USF 10-13, 3-9.

COACHES: East Carolina - Bill Herrion (56-81, fifth season; 223-152 overall), USF - Robert McCullum (17-33, second season; 61-78).

NOTABLE: USF opened its conference season with a 72-71 win at East Carolina, but the Bulls have won two of their 11 league games since. ... The Pirates are tied with USF for the 12th and final spot in the C-USA tournament. ECU seems more dangerous after a 67-64 win at Alabama-Birmingham on Wednesday. The Pirates got 16 from freshman guard Tom Hammonds and won despite committing 26 turnovers. ... The Bulls had such a bad practice Thursday that McCullum and his staff left the courts for the last half-hour or so, leaving senior point guard Brian Swift to guide the team as it practiced inbounds plays. ... With a win, the Bulls will hold the tiebreaker against the two teams (ECU and Tulane) closest to them in the standings. But ECU still has games against Tulane (3-8) and Southern Miss (1-11), so the Pirates could finish with five league wins, even with a loss tonight.