Heath trying to build USF’s depth
USF knows what it’s going to get out of its starting five this year.
Between forwards Augustus Gilchrist and Jarrid Famous and guards Mike Mercer, Dominique Jones and Chris Howard, the points will come. But coach Stan Heath has said it’s the depth that will be the key, and that’s what it will take for USF to elevate its game.
But on Friday, all USF (1-0) needed was its starters, as they combined for the team’s point total and did enough to get a 67-61 victory at SMU’s Moody Coliseum.
“That is the one area we have to develop some guys to get some good minutes so we don’t have a drop off when we bring guys into the game,” Heath said.
USF’s bench didn’t score a single point, but the Bulls’ starters showed balance, with three players having double-digit games.
Some of the newcomers, however, didn’t have much of an opportunity, as freshman Toarlyn Fitzpatrick had the most bench minutes, scoring zero points in 20 minutes. Jones, who scored 13 points and had six assists, said he hopes some of the young talent can develop.
“The biggest thing with (the newcomers) is mentally getting up to speed with the college game,” Jones said.
Gilchrist scored a career-high 23 points and added two blocks and nine rebounds. Jones and Mercer combined for 13 assists.
USF, which has better post depth than last year with Famous’ arrival, is still without center Alex Rivas, who had surgery in September to replace the metal rods in his lower legs.
Rivas, who was expected to be a part of USF’s regular post rotation, is expected to miss the first month of the season. The Bulls will also gain depth when transfer Anthony Crater is eligible at the end of the fall semester after sitting out a year because of NCAA transfer rules.
“If Alex Rivas is healthy and the addition of Anthony Crater, I feel we have eight healthy bodies,” Heath said. “I’d like to get to the point where we’d have nine or 10 so we have more flexibility.”
USF’s depth will be tested again tonight, hosting ACC foe Virginia in the Sun Dome at 7:30.
More Stories
USF admin’s response to suicides unclear. What we know so far.
USF’s administration will not say who or how it will prevent future suicides on campus a month after a student leapt from an upper floor balcony of the Interdisciplinary Science Building – the third suicide since fall 2022. The Oracle has asked repeatedly about which USF administrators are overseeing suicide prevention initiatives and how the […]
USF SG leaders look back on campaign accomplishments while on non-speaking terms
Student body president Cesar Esmeraldi and vice president Elizabeth Volmy reached nearly every campaign goal during their term. The one thing that didn’t persevere was their unity. The pair ended their tenure reflecting on it from separate rooms. “We’ve had a great year,” Esmeraldi said. “I’m very happy with everything we’ve built. But because of […]
USF’s ‘Take Back the Night’ allows sexual survivors to share pain, resilience: ‘Recovery isn’t easy.’
A sexual assault survivor, who was the first speaker at Wednesday evening’s “Take Back the Night,” said the hardest day of their life was not when they were assaulted – it was the day after. “When I had to call my mom and tell her how her [child lost their] virginity and tell my therapist […]
USF campus ministers offer perspective on stadium development: ‘Exciting benefit of exposure.’
Take a tranquil stroll down Sycamore Drive. It’s a quieter part of campus, hidden away from the usual hustle and bustle of USF. It’s home to an area colloquially known as “Religious Row,” a collection of on-campus religious organizations. In just a few years – with the construction of an on-campus football stadium – the […]
McKinley Drive closed down for death investigation, Tampa police say
The intersection between Fowler Avenue and McKinley Drive was closed due to a death investigation late Wednesday afternoon, according to the Tampa Police Department (TPD). A man shot himself after making a bomb threat in the parking lot of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), located at 11201 McKinley Drive, according to TPD. Police said […]
USF 2024-25 A&S budget to increase student organization funding in Tampa and St. Pete
The Student Government (SG) Senate approved the 2024-25 Student Activities & Services (A&S) budget for all three campuses this Tuesday, seeing an overall increase in allocated money to student organizations. The vote was 26-0, approving the budget. Related: 2023-24 A&S budget down $5 million from last fiscal year Students pay fees in their tuition – […]