Colleges

Basketball team finding its range under its new coach

By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published November 21, 2007

TAMPA - The most impressive change in Stan Heath's first five games as men's basketball coach has been USF's newfound success and balance in shooting 3-pointers.

Last season, the Bulls had no games in which more than three players hit 3s; in five games under Heath, the Bulls have had games with four, five and six players connecting beyond the arc. Last year's season high was eight 3-pointers; USF hit 10 and 11 in wins last weekend against Florida Atlantic and Florida State and seven in two of its losses.

FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said he'd never coached against a team with such range - five Bulls hit two or more 3s against the Seminoles, including 6-foot-7 freshman forward Orane Chin, who is 6-for-6 this season.

The Bulls aren't really attempting many more 3s under Heath; 16 per game, up from 14.3 last season. But they're hitting them much more often, going from 32.5 percent last season to 47.5 percent. Of course, the Bulls are unlikely to keep that clip going: Northern Arizona led Division I last season at 42.6 percent.

The outside threat is a huge complement to center Kentrell Gransberry, who is averaging a double double for the second straight season and drew high praise from FSU.

"He's the biggest guy I've ever played against. Big and strong," Seminoles guard Toney Douglas said. "We were trying to swarm and help on him, make sure he didn't get a lot of touches."

Hamilton said Gransberry is as effective a big man as his teams have faced in the ACC.

"I think he's as effective as anyone," Hamilton said. "He shoots his free throws, he's big and strong, he finishes around the basket and has good hands. I didn't realize he was such a presence. He's a handful."

FOUR NEW BULLS: Women's basketball coach Jose Fernandez has added four players during the early signing period: twin guards Andrea and Andrell Smith of Lake Gibson, forward Tawatha Tucker of Fayetteville, N.C., and the latest, point guard Jasmine Wynne of Jacksonville.

Recruiting site Bluestarbb.com gives USF the No. 20 recruiting class nationally, and ranks Wynne as the No. 29 prospect in the country in this year's class.

"I think we addressed our needs," said Fernandez, who has only two seniors and most of his frontcourt returning after this season. "I'm pretty excited. We brought in three kids in this state that have played against great competition."

LONG TIME GONE: When long-snapper Darryl Dudding got in for one play to relieve starter Eric Setser near the end of Saturday's win against Louisville, it marked his first game action since 2000, when he was a freshman at Central Arkansas. USF was a I-AA program then. The Indian Rocks Christian graduate spent four years in the U.S. Coast Guard before joining the Bulls last season.

THIS AND THAT: The men's soccer team plays host to Colgate on Friday night in a first-round game in the NCAA Tournament. Win, and the Bulls have a favorable draw in the second round, visiting 14th-seeded Akron on Nov. 28. ... Defensive end George Selvie, who had led the nation in sacks all season, has slipped to second behind Indiana's Greg Middleton. Selvie can retake the lead with two Saturday against Pittsburgh, and he still leads the nation in tackles for loss with 30.5. ... Two men's basketball opponents sustained significant injuries last weekend, with UAB losing point guard Paul Delaney for the season and Louisville losing center Scott Padgett for at least 10 weeks. The Cardinals come to Tampa on Jan. 23.

Greg Auman can be reached at auman@sptimes.com and at 813 226-3346. Check out his blog at blogs.tampabay.com/usf.

[Last modified November 21, 2007, 11:58:12]