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Bulls focused on their present, not past

By ANTONYA ENGLISH

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 17, 2001

TAMPA -- When the South Florida men's basketball team plays at Marquette tonight, don't expect it to seek retribution or try to redeem itself.

That's not going to happen, the Bulls say.

Every returning player has a reminder of last season's late second-half collapse against Marquette, when a 16-point lead turned into a one-point loss.

But they refuse to let it affect their psyches.

The mantra at Monday's practice: That was then; this is now.

"I'm not the type of person to dwell about the past," junior forward Altron Jackson said. "I think about the future. It's all about what we're doing now to get ready for those guys."

Marquette's 61-60 victory Feb. 24 gave South Florida its first home loss after 11 wins. A national TV audience saw Marquette's Brian Wardle score 19 second-half points to help erase the 16-point deficit.

None of that will be a factor tonight, USF players and coaches said.

"I would think they all know what it's about," coach Seth Greenberg said. "But last year's game doesn't affect where we are this year. We can't get last year's game back."

TAKING IT IN STRIDE: There was no post-game party at Cedric Smith's place after last week's game at Charlotte. Smith became the 14th player in South Florida history to reach 1,000 points and the third this season. Smith was more excited about becoming C-USA's all-time steals leader earlier this season.

"I really don't think of (1,000 points) as a milestone because B.B. (Waldon) did it in three years as a junior," Smith said. "I like to do that with steals and assists. The defensive end is more important to me. You can always find guys that can put it in the hole, but it's hard to find guys that are willing to do the dirty work. I think every team needs one, and I try to be the one on this team. I take great pride in that."

JOIN THE CLUB: South Florida women's basketball fans, take heart. The Bulls' six-point outing in the first half of the Jan. 12 Tulane game was not the worst performance of the season nationwide. Monday night, Peace College beat Bennett College 98-3, and Bennett scored one point in the first half. Bennett set the Division III record for fewest points in a game.The NCAA does not keep statistics on points scored in one half. FAMU BOUND: Wide receiver ReShod Durant has transferred to Florida A&M. Durant, a sophomore from Gainesville, was dismissed from the team in September for violating team and university rules. CHANGE OF HEART: South Florida's pickup of tight end Tim Jones was the University of Miami's loss. For now. Before he orally committed to South Florida last week, Jones had committed to Miami. He still is listed as commited to Miami on several Web sites. But Lakeland Kathleen coach Richard Tate said Jones is going to USF.

"He's committed to USF, at least for this week," Tate said, half joking.

- Antonya English covers South Florida. She can be reached at (813) 226-3389 or by e-mail at english@sptimes.

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