Colleges

Heath seeks fifth weapon

Stan Heath has gotten four points from his bench in USF's past two losses, but a big part of his depth problems stem from a lack of confidence in his options after his top four scorers.

By GREG AUMAN
Published January 23, 2008

TAMPA -Stan Heath has gotten four points from his bench in USF's past two losses, but a big part of his depth problems stem from a lack of confidence in his options after his top four scorers.

"I have to admit right now, I haven't seen it in practice where I feel confident enough that these guys are ready for what's in front of them in the Big East," he said. "There have been opportunities where guys have gotten out there to play, but it hasn't been convincing."

After Heath's big four - center Kentrell Gransberry and guards Chris Howard, Dominique Jones and Jesus Verdejo - there isn't a player averaging more than four points. Heath held two practices Monday, trying to find an answer at power forward.

"At this level, it's all about performance," Heath said. "I've talked to the whole team about this, and if you're performing at a 20 or 30 percent clip, that's not good enough. That doesn't mean I've given up on you ... it means some late nights or early mornings in the gym to shoot."

Who could step up? Junior Amu Saaka, who scored 30 in two games to stake claim to the starting power forward job entering Big East play, has not been the same since breaking his nose in the Rutgers win. He has scored 14 in six games on 22 percent shooting, and he played only six minutes in a close second half against West Virginia.

Orane Chin? Heath sat the 6-7 freshman Sunday, though he has talent if he can show more commitment in practice. Aris Williams has logged three minutes in six Big East games with a turnover to show for it. B.J. Ajayi went 7-for-11 in his first two games but is 3-for-17 since.

The rest of the bench isn't much: Sophomore guard Solomon Bozeman, who played at least 19 minutes in every Big East game last season, played four against West Virginia. He has hit four of his past 39 3-pointers since opening by hitting 13 of 19.

Redshirt freshman Aaron Holmes, who showed promise with a combined 33 points in wins against St. Francis N.Y. and Winston-Salem State, has yet to establish a role. He has totaled seven points in the past four games.

PARITY CENTRAL: How wide-open is the middle of the Big East in women's basketball? Connecticut, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame and West Virginia are a combined 21-2 in league play, and that group is undefeated against the league's other 11 teams, who are a combined 15-34.

So though USF (11-7) is 1-4 in conference, it is two games out of sixth place with 11 games to play. Saturday's game against Marquette (10-7, 2-2) is the kind USF must win, at home with a week off against a team playing its second road game in four days. Beat the lower-tier teams, and USF can be 5-5 when Rutgers comes to Tampa on Feb.16.

[Last modified January 22, 2008, 23:51:32]