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By BRUCE LOWITT, BRIAN LANDMAN and Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 16, 2001
TAMPA -- With an eye on facing tougher competition, South Florida announced a schedule Wednesday that includes nonconference games against Florida, California and Syracuse in addition to Conference USA play.
South Florida, which opens Nov. 19 at home against Fordham, potentially faces 11 teams that appeared in the postseason in 2000-01.
The Bulls also will play in two regular-season tournaments: the University Hoops Classic at Robert Morris, which includes Kent State, Hofstra, Cal Irvine, Illinois State, Oakland and Pittsburgh; and their USF Shootout, which includes Bucknell, Illinois-Chicago and Hofstra.
"I believe that we're at the point in our program where we need to challenge ourselves every night," coach Seth Greenberg said. "And I definitely think that this year's schedule proves that we've moved in that direction.
"This is one of the toughest schedules that USF has played in 31 years of basketball."
Also, Yusef Baker, a 6-foot-8 power forward from Evans High School in Orlando, has orally committed to the Bulls. Baker was ranked the seventh-best player at the Nike Invitational summer camp.
FLORIDA STATE: Coming off a 9-21 season, the Seminoles will look to a less-than-daunting early schedule hoping to build confidence.
Only one of 12 nonconference opponents reached the NCAA Tournament last season: Florida in the season opener Nov. 16 in Gainesville.
The 'Noles follow with home games against Savannah State, Elon, Birmingham Southern, Western Carolina, Cleveland State, American, Virginia Tech and Campbell. FSU also visits Northwestern, opens ACC play on Dec. 16 at Wake Forest and plays at South Florida on Jan. 2 in its final nonconference game.
"We are looking forward to the challenges of our schedule, which will allow us to be competitive throughout the season," coach Steve Robinson said.
The FSU women's team also released its schedule, which includes eight opponents who played in last season's NCAA Tournament.
CENTRAL FLORIDA: The Knights, on a six-game tour of Europe, won for the fourth time in a row, beating Vilvorde 79-74 in Belgium.
PURDUE: Kennitra Johnson, a reserve guard the past two seasons on the Connecticut women's team, transferred to Purdue.