USF returns to Tampa to begin a three game homestand starting with a Wednesday afternoon tilt against Florida Gulf Coast.
The Bulls dropped both games in the Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off, falling to Rhode Island and Virginia Tech.
FGCU defeated Florida A&M 65-56 on November 25. It is the Eagles lone game thus far.
BullsInsider.com has your quick facts and what to watch for against Florida Gulf Coast:
Quick Facts
Matchup: USF (1-2) vs. Florida Gulf Coast (1-0)
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 2
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Location: Yuengling Center | Tampa, Fla
Watch: ESPN+
Radio: Bulls Unlimited
History: This is the second meeting between the Bulls and the Eagles. It took USF two overtimes to defeat FGCU 68-66 on Dec. 17, 2013.
The Opponent: FGCU returns 70 percent of its scoring along with seven players who saw significant action in 25-or-more games last season.
Junior Caleb Catto and senior Jalen Warren were both named to the ASUN Preseason All-Conference team. They are the No. 1 and No. 2 returning scorers, respectively, for the Eagles.
Catto is a good perimeter shooter with a quick release. Last season 63.4 percent of his jumpers were off the catch. When he drives left Catto is looking to pull up for the jumper and when he drives right he goes to the basket more than half the time. Catto is also very effective in dribble handoff action.
Warren is effective in ball screen action and looks to get to the tin. He knows that he is not a reliable shooter so when he gets the ball he looks to drive it within seven feet and shoot a floater. Warren knows how to get open without screens. Defenders can’t lose him when they help. Against zones FGCU will set Warren up at the free throw line for entry passes and let him create off the bounce.
The Eagles have three 6-foot-8 bigs. Austin Peay transfer Eli Abeav is a good passer from the high post, runs the floor, can finish above the rim. Justus Rainwater and Dakota Rivers are good finishers in transition and excellent roll men after setting high ball screens. Rivers uses good cuts to get open in the half-court offense.
Most of Sam Gagliardi shots are catch-and-release. USF must make him dribble and go to his left. Last season he turned it over 42 percent of the time he dribbled left.
I really like Freshman Zach Anderson. He’s 6-foot-7, can guard four positions, handle it, rebound, score and facilitate. Dom London lives to shoot. He was one of the top JuCo shooters last season.
Freshman point guard Luis Rolon is a tough, strong lead guard. He’s a crafty distributor, willing defender but average shooter. Freshman shooting guard Victor Rosa DNP against FAMU but I saw him in high school. He is a capable shot maker with a quick release and deep range but isn’t much of a defender.
Offensively FGCU mainly uses a motion offense with lots of movement and bigs switching sides. Defensively they are mostly in man (70.6 percent last season and 100 percent vs. FAMU). Last season they switched to zone out of timeouts and on BLOB situations.
Prediction
USF 73 FGCU 62
To win USF needs to play good transition defense, pound the offensive glass, limit turnovers and dominate the points in the paint category.
