What to Watch For: USF At Houston
South Florida will try for consecutive conference wins when it plays at Houston this afternoon. A win over the Cougars would give the Bulls their first back-to-back conference wins since the 2015-16 season. USF last accomplished the feat on Feb. 16 and Feb. 20, 2016 with wins at ECU and versus Memphis.
The Bulls are coming off of their first conference win of the season, 80-75 at Tulane on Thursday. The Cougars have not played since last Saturday when they defeated, then-No. 7 ranked, Wichita State 73-59.
USF’s win at Tulane was the first American Athletic Conference victory for Brian Gregory as head coach of the Bulls. It also gave USF eight wins on the season, one more than their total from the entire 2016-17 season.
RunningTheBulls.com has your quick facts and what to watch for against Houston.
Quick Facts
Matchup: USF (8-13, 1-7 The American) at Houston (15-4, 5-2 The American)
Date: Sunday Jan. 28
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Houston, TX | H&PE Arena (on the campus of Texas Southern University)
Watch: ESPN3 (David Saltzman, Reid Gettys)
Radio: AM 820 | USF Bulls Unlimited (Jim Lighthall, Neil Solondz)
History: This will be the 28th meeting between the Cougars and the Bulls. Houston leads the series 15-12 and have won three of the last four games between the two programs. In their last meeting the Cougars defeated the Bulls 79-60 at the Sun Dome on December 31.
Opponent: At the American Athletic Conference media day activities Houston was picked to finish sixth in the coaches poll – they are currently in third place.
Senior Rob Gray continues to lead the Cougars and the American Athletic Conference with 19.7 points per game. Gray led all players with 24 points against Wichita State and grabbed three rebounds with a game-high four assists. Junior Corey Davis, Jr. had 17 points against the Shockers and is second on the Cougars at 12.3 points per game. Senior Devin Davis is eighth in the AAC with 6.4 rebounds per game.
Houston likes to push tempo, especially at home. In nine home games the Cougars have had at least 71 possessions seven times. They’ll do this off of opponents missed baskets and live ball turnovers. The Cougars have four players shooting better than 37 percent beyond the arc (two better than 43 percent) and always have at least two “shooters” on the floor. In transition two players will sprint to the corners for three pointers off of long passes or kick outs. Houston is a very good offensive rebounding team with a +39 advantage this season in offensive rebounds. They attack the offensive glass for second and third chance opportunities.
Houston will run a lot of misdirection’s where the play is going one way and a shooter, keep your eye on Armoni Brooks he can be a microwave scorer, will come off a pin down screen on the weak side for an open look. Brooks is probably the Cougars best player at making contested shots because of his length and athleticism.
Defensively Houston plays mostly man and will switch on ball screens. They will switch to a 3-2 matchup zone where they get out and contest shooters and try to get them to put it on the deck. Bulls’ wing Payton Banks needs to be ready for this. When we scouted the Cougars we saw some 1-2-2 three-quarter court pressure defense with traps. Usually they will go into their 3-2 zone out of this press.
Outlook: In December USF did not give themselves a chance, falling behind Houston 16-5 in the first four minutes on their way to a 19 point loss. The Bulls simply cannot do that Sunday or the results will be similar. Houston is a tough physical team. USF will need to embrace the physical nature of the game without fouling because the Cougars are shooting 72 percent from the line as a team. USF will need to be tough on the glass and win, or keep the rebound margin close. Limit turnovers and get good performances from multiple players, like they did at Tulane, to pull an upset. Payton Banks, who missed the first game, should help the Bulls Sunday but it won’t be enough.
Prediction: Houston 79 USF 65