OPINION: USF Athletics’ best and worst of the week
USF athletics has delivered a spring semester full of surprises.
The past week saw transitions in the basketball team with highs in baseball and lacrosse and lows in softball.
Here are the best and worst of the Bulls’ sports from last week.
Best of the week
The baseball team finally secured its first series sweep of the season this past weekend.
The Bulls dismantled Tulane with an offensive surge and some stellar pitching performances, including Corey Braun’s complete-game shutout on Friday
Lacrosse, meanwhile, has been a revelation.
Winners of six straight games, the Bulls put on a clinic against Vanderbilt,
taking an early 7-0 lead and never relenting.
Related: USF women’s lacrosse defeats Vanderbilt to stay atop conference
They ended up routing the Commodores 17-7, during which three players scored hat tricks.
Sophomore Sofia Chepenik, junior Maggie Newton and freshman redshirt Ava Uphues ended up scoring nine goals for USF.
Tennis has been just as dominant.
USF men’s tennis extended its win streak to nine matches, comfortably defeating Charlotte and Liberty.
The Bulls, ranked No. 24, lead the AAC and have been a top-25 team for three consecutive weeks – the first time in over a decade.
Worst of the week
Payton Dixon throws a pitch against UAB on March 7. ORACLE PHOTO/Keaton Duke
Not every team tasted success over the weekend.
On Friday, softball suffered a tough 9-4 loss to Wichita State.
Pitcher Payton Dixon was hit hard, giving up seven earned runs in just over three innings.
The offense was quiet all game, only mustering four hits
Sunday’s game didn’t offer much relief.
A frustrating 7-7 tie left the team still searching for answers.
Men’s basketball — a program in transition — has more questions than answers.
New head coach Bryan Hodgson inherits a roster in flux, with key players entering the transfer portal.
Related: Bryan Hodgson to lead USF men’s basketball five months after tragedy
Hodgson acted fast — being aggressive in bringing in his own recruits and flipping three players from his former Arkansas State team.
While he speaks about culture and continuity, the reality is that USF basketball has been anything but stable.
After back-to-back coaching changes and a 13-19 season, the Bulls’ face a long road ahead.
The foundation is being set, but patience will be key as USF works towards lasting success.
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