Colleges

Bulls in search of mammoth effort

USF skids into televised Forum date with ACC's Wake Forest.

By GREG AUMAN
Published December 29, 2006

TAMPA - Robert McCullum's USF basketball team has won seven games, as many as the Bulls totaled last season, but none is a victory to hang your hat on, the kind that will give his team confidence during Big East play.

That makes tonight's game against Wake Forest at the St. Pete Times Forum that much more important for a team that has dropped its past four games.

"Wake offers that last opportunity for a quality win, for a signature nonconference win," McCullum said Thursday, one day after his team lost at Alabama-Birmingham. "We've felt like we've had that opportunity for the last four games."

The Bulls 7-5 have nearly the same record as the Demon Deacons (7-4), but they'll have their hands full tonight as Wake gets a preview of the arena that will host the ACC tournament March 8-11. Florida State gets the same early look when it faces Providence in the second game of the doubleheader at 9:30. With the Bulls making their downtown debut in a game that will be televised on ESPN2, McCullum said his team will have to improve on its recent play to compete.

"Obviously, we're not playing well, and it's difficult to put your finger on specifics," he said, noting that his team has averaged 21 turnovers during its losing streak.

Senior forward McHugh Mattis, who averaged 16.2 points and 9.5 rebounds in the first seven games, has 8.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in the past five. That dropoff coincides with the addition of center Kentrell Gransberry, but McCullum said he needs the old Mattis attacking the basket and rebounding again.

"When we're not getting 12 and seven from him, it's going to be a struggle for us," he said. "He's too good a rebounder to only get four or five rebounds."

Gransberry, meanwhile, has averaged a double double in his first five games at 13.4 points and 11.6 rebounds. He'll be busy tonight matching his 6-foot-9, 265-pound frame against Kyle Visser, Wake's 6-11, 255-pound senior who leads the team with 18.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.

The priority, if the Bulls are to give Wake Forest any trouble, is transition defense. "The top three priorities," McCullum clarified, "should be transition defense."

The reason is Deacons freshman guard Ishmael Smith, who is 5-11 and 155 pounds but leading the ACC with 6.5 assists a game, along with 9.4 points.

"I don't know the last time I've seen a basketball player as fast as he is," McCullum said.

USF closes its nonconference season Sunday against Bethune-Cookman, then opens Big East play next week at No. 12 Connecticut and No. 10 Pittsburgh.

Greg Auman can be reached at (813) 226-3346 or auman@sptimes.com.

[Last modified December 28, 2006, 23:26:31]