Bulls aim to end losing streak against Cougars
Corey Allen Jr., the Bulls’ leading scorer at 15.2 points per game, has only made 35.4 percent of his shots in the past four games. ORACLE FILE PHOTO/ADAM MATHIEU
The USF men’s basketball team will yet again try to break out of its longest losing streak since the 2005-06 season when it hosts fellow cellar-dweller Houston tonight at the Sun Dome.
USF (7-19, 1-12) lost 17-straight games in 2005-06, and it can match that mark only if it loses the remainder of its games this season. The Cougars present one of the best opportunities for the Bulls to avoid repeating history.
Houston (9-15, 1-11) has won only two of its last 13 games and is fresh off a last-second 56-54 loss to UCF on Sunday.
The Cougars’ offense has been led by guard Jherrod Stiggers, who averages 14.7 points per game, but is only shooting 34 percent from the field. Stiggers was held out of the Cougars’ game against UCF due to an undisclosed violation of team rules, but he will suit up against USF.
The Bulls have lost by single digits in only two of their last seven games, but the recent progress of freshman Ruben Guerrero may alleviate some scoring pressure off the guards.
Guerrero scored 17 points in 34 minutes Saturday and is shooting 52 percent from the field so far this month. Before the center’s increased workload, the Bulls did not have a reliable post player.
Because of this, scorers such as Corey Allen Jr., who has taken 84 shots over the past five games, have had to create offense on their own.
The Bulls have struggled to produce on offense during their stretch of losses, scoring over 60 points only twice in the past 13 games.
Scoring could continue to be a problem for USF tonight.
Once again, the Bulls may have to rely upon Guerrero against the Cougars, as their guards are bigger than most — with heights ranging from 6-foot-4 to 6-foot-6.
USF’s guards both stand at 6-foot-1.
Tonight’s game between USF and Houston begins at 7 and will be broadcast on ESPN News.
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