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© St. Petersburg Times, published November 9, 2001
TAMPA -- A year ago, the South Florida men's soccer team took part in a fruitless scramble to qualify for the Conference USA tournament. Fast forward a year, and the Bulls are comfortably in the tournament, which they host beginning Thursday, but are still scrambling -- for a higher seeding and one of two first-round byes. Heading into Sunday's final regular-season game against Charlotte, USF is the third seed behind No. 1 Saint Louis and No. 2 Alabama-Birmingham. But since the Blazers have one more game, the Bulls aren't locked into any seeding. "There's a chance at us moving up," USF coach John Hackworth said. "But we can't worry about that. We just have to win our games and be ready for the tournament."
Hackworth is hesitant to compare this year's team with the 2000 Bulls who failed to make the postseason tournament. "It was difficult not making it last season," he said. "This season is just a tribute to these players. They've worked hard to get here."
As it stands now, defending champion Saint Louis and UAB are the top seeds and wouldn't play until the second round. After the third-seeded Bulls, two of the final three spots are up for grabs. Cincinnati has secured one position and Charlotte, Marquette and Louisville are fighting for the last two. Charlotte and Marquette have the edge on the Cardinals with better league records, but that could change by Sunday.
Regardless, all teams will find tough competition once the tournament starts.
"I don't think you can discount anyone," Hackworth said. "It will be tough from top to bottom. In Saint Louis and UAB and us, you'll have three of the top teams in the country playing. It is going to be very competitive."
The tournament kicks off with games at 5:30 and 8 p.m. at the USF Soccer Stadium. The winners will face the two bye teams Friday at 5:30 and 8 p.m. The title match will be Nov. 18 at 1 p.m.
Saint Louis, ranked fourth nationally, boasts NCAA scoring leader Dipsy Selolwane, who has 19 goals. UAB is ranked 15th, led by forward Martin Rey and his 1.75 points per game average.
USF, meanwhile, enters the event with solid offensive performers in forwards Jeff Thwaites, Gabriel Salgado and Jason Cudjoe.
The trio has combined for 22 of USF's 31 goals and scored a combined 53 points. In Marquette, Charlotte and Cincinnati, the tournament gets three teams that all finished .500 or better on the road this season.
But despite having an outstanding club that has gone 13-4 overall and 6-2 in C-USA, Hackworth is eyeing another advantage going into the tournament -- the home field. "Obviously it's going to be a huge advantage to be at home," he said. "Hopefully we'll get a nice crowd out there to get us going and give us extra incentive."
The Bulls have won two league titles since C-USA was formed in 1996. Another would not only tie Saint Louis for league championships, but would vault the Bulls into the NCAA Tournament.
"We have lofty goals this season," Hackworth said. "And it's not to just make it back to the conference tournament. We want to win it."