College basketball

Rutgers keeps USF winless in Big East

"The intensity, it just isn't there." That's how Solomon Jones describes the Bulls' 65-51 loss.

By GREG AUMAN
Published February 19, 2006

TAMPA - The Bulls' losing streak is now at 14 games, already the longest in their history and tied for the second-longest in the nation, and Saturday's 65-51 loss to Rutgers ranks as one of the ugliest. USF (6-19, 0-12) eliminated itself from contention for the Big East tournament, losing a lingering source of motivation for a team that looked uninspired in matching the second-largest margin of defeat in its losing streak.

"The intensity, it just isn't there," said center Solomon Jones, who had 19 points and 11 rebounds. "Beginning of the season, everybody figured us not to win a game (in the Big East), and right now, that's the way it's going. Me, personally, I want to prove somebody wrong."

The Bulls could do little to slow guard Quincy Douby, who came in as the Big East's leading scorer at 24.3 points per game. Douby had 18 at the half and finished with 33 on 11-of-18 shooting, including five 3-pointers. Thanks to 10 early points from Jones, the Bulls trailed 18-17 with six minutes left in the first half. But Rutgers (15-11, 5-8) ended the half on a 17-4 run, hitting seven of its last eight shots.

The Knights came out of halftime with a 7-1 run and led 46-27 when USF made its only real run, scoring nine straight to cut the lead to 10 and rousing an announced Sun Dome crowd of 4,142. But Rutgers called a timeout and responded with a 6-0 run. "It was fortunate we were able to get up like that," said Rutgers coach Gary Waters, who called Douby's play "fabulous."

Aside from Jones, USF showed little on offense with the rest of the lineup shooting 25 percent from the field. The Bulls hit six of their first 17 free throws, missing the front ends of one-and-ones as they tried to reduce the deficit. Coach Robert McCullum had stressed the need for his two perimeter threats, James Holmes and Melvin Buckley, to be hot on the same night, and both were far from it. Holmes, who tweaked his ankle in practice Friday, hit one of his first 11 shots, finishing with 11 points on 3-for-17 shooting. Buckley was scoreless until the final five minutes.

"Solomon Jones was the only option we had," said McCullum, who took his 100th career loss in six seasons as coach. "We just didn't have anyone else able to make any shots."

If nothing else, the Bulls need a win to avoid the worst record in school history. USF went 6-22 in 1987-88 and 6-21 in 1979-80. Their next chance is Tuesday at Providence (11-12, 4-8) followed by a trip to Rutgers and home games against No.1 Connecticut and No.17 Georgetown.

[Last modified February 19, 2006, 01:09:21]