As both seasons for the men’s and women’s teams start soon, all eyes will be on USF’s basketball programs – but for different reasons.

Last season, the women’s team ended with an overall 27-7 record and a 15-1 conference record. Their record-breaking season has sparked high hopes for the future.

Men’s basketball completed their season 14-8 and 7-11 for the AAC. The team is looking ahead to a mostly-revised roster and a new coach for this season. 

Here are some key takeaways from both team’s schedules:

Men’s basketball

 USF plays FAU only one time

FAU could potentially be USF’s new in-state rival with the departure of UCF from the American conference. However, it doesn’t help that they only play once for the entire season on Feb. 18. 

The Owls had an impressive run last year, accumulating 35 wins and making their first-ever appearance in the Final Four. 

South Florida will face five schools during conference play, one of which it has never competed against before. This will be the Bulls’ first time playing UTSA, but they play them twice. 

The Bulls have a 14-2 overall history with the Owls, last competing against them in the 2019-20 season. South Florida won that game 60-58.

USF’s only two losses to FAU occurred during the 2016-17 and 2010-11 seasons.  

Bulls to have six nationally televised games

Though men’s basketball has a new head coach and a revised roster, they’ll be getting less televised attention than last season.

The Bulls will have six nationally televised games against AAC opponents this season. Last year, the team had eight national live television appearances against conference teams.

In the 2021-22 season, they had six televised games against AAC opponents and three during the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.

The first televised game this season will be on Jan. 12 when the Bulls take on Rice in Tampa at the Yuengling Center. It will be streamed on ESPNU with a 7 p.m. tipoff. 

The five other games broadcasted nationally will occur throughout January and February.

Women’s basketball 

A tough non-conference schedule

USF women’s basketball had a record-breaking season last year, keeping expectations high for this campaign. 

Their non-conference schedule is a tough one again this year. February will be a difficult stretch as the Bulls go back and forth to Texas three separate times. 

The Bulls play North Texas on Feb. 3 and then head back to Texas later in the month to play Rice on Feb. 10. They end their back-and-forth to Texas on Feb. 21 to face UTSA. 

The first game on the schedule is on Nov. 6 against UT Arlington. The Bulls played the Mavericks once before in 2021-22, which resulted in a loss for South Florida.

Last season, UT Arlington was 14-17 overall and 8-10 in the conference.

More AAC games this year

Coach Jose Fernandez said his team showed they were the best team over 16 conference games last season. This year, they will have to prove it over 18 games.

South Florida played 15 during the 2021-22 season and 16 in the 2019-20 season. 

Every conference participant countrywide will play five teams twice throughout league play. 

USF completed its ninth year participating in the NCAA tournament this past season, as well as its eighth time in the Big Dance. 

The women’s team will kick off their season on Nov. 6 against UT Arlington in the Yuengling Center. The men’s team will begin on Nov. 9. They will be facing South Carolina State at home as well.