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Waldon, Bulls want to do some dancing

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 12, 2001

TAMPA -- B.B. Waldon, television cameras crowded around him, held up the team photo for a minute as he fielded a few extra questions.

As the photographer finally readied to shoot, coach Seth Greenberg teased freshman point guard Brian Swift: "You have to look at the camera, Brian."

The atmosphere was light and loose Thursday at the Sun Dome for the Bulls' media day.

The veteran players, however, said the team is focused on one goal.

"We want to go to the NCAA Tournament, simple as that," said Waldon, a 6-foot-8 senior forward and Conference USA player of the year candidate. "We're going to leave everything on the court."

Senior forward/guard Altron Jackson (6-6, 185) will be among those contending with Waldon for player of the year. As sophomores, Jackson and Waldon combined to average 35.5 points, and as juniors they averaged 36.

Together they hope to lead USF to an NCAA Tournament bid before they graduate. Last season, the Bulls were 18-13, but a poor finish -- 4-7 over the final 11 games -- spoiled any chance of making the tournament.

"It's always been a goal to make it to the tournament," Waldon said. "I want to make this the best year we've had."

Junior college transfer Greg Brittian, junior point guard Reggie Kohn, shot-blocker deluxe Gerrick Morris, sophomore Jimmy Baxter -- who playfully tossed long-distance alley-oops to 6-foot-11 junior Will McDonald after the photo shoot -- and four freshmen all figure to play key supporting roles for the Bulls.

Practice starts at midnight tonight with Bull Madness at the Sun Dome. Nov. 1 is the first preseason game, against Siauliai of Lithuania, and the season opens Nov. 19 against Fordham.

"We should have an exciting team," Greenberg said. "It should be an exciting season."

MOVING ON: Former USF point guard Brian Taylor is in training camp with the Milwaukee Bucks. Taylor, who transferred to USF from junior college, left school after one season, 1996-97, when he became academically ineligible. ... Cedric Smith, one of four seniors on last season's team, was allocated to North Charleston of the NBA Developmental League.

PRIME TIME: USF will have 19 televised games, including two nationally broadcast by ESPN2 (Dec. 9 vs. Florida and Feb. 20 vs. Memphis) and two by ESPN (Jan. 18 vs. Charlotte and Feb. 1 at Louisville).

BULKING UP THE SCHEDULE: Greenberg said USF's bulked-up schedule is in response to the NCAA Tournament committee's rewarding teams with tough schedules. It includes Florida, California and Syracuse.

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