Your USF Bulls (9-8, 2-2) looks to bounce back as they take on the #24 Seton Hall Pirates (15-2, 4-1) tonight at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. Game is scheduled for 7:00 PM, and can only be seen online on ESPN3.com. The game will also be broadcasted on 620 WDAE, where Jim Lighthall and Todd Kalas will have the call. Here are your probable starting lineups for tonight.
Seton Hall | USF | |
6'0" Sr. Jordan Theodore | G | 6'1" Fr. Anthony Collins |
6'3" Fr. Aaron Cosby | G | 6'4" Jr. Shaun Noriega |
6'6" Soph. Fuquan Edwin | G | 6'5" Sr. Hugh Robertson |
6'8" Sr. Herb Pope | F | 6'8" Jr. Toarlyn Fitzpatrick |
6'9" Soph. Patrik Auda | F | 6'10" Sr. Augustus Gilchrist |
Here are your three keys to the game, in no particular order:
1. Protect the perimeter.
Seton Hall is one of the better three point shooting teams we will see all season, with the Pirates shooting almost 38% as a team this year. Theodore, Cosby, and Edwin are all excellent three point shooters, and even Auda and Pope will try their luck every once in a while too. Our guards will have to be aggressive on the perimeter or the Pirates will burn us time and time again.
2. Control tempo.
Seton Hall will want to run a bit faster pace then the Bulls, and USF will need to do a good job using the shot clock to their favor and find a quality shot against the SHU 2-3 zone. If they miss, make sure to get back quickly so Theodore can't push up the court and find a quick basket in transition.
3. Neutralize Pope and Theodore
This will be easier said than done. Pope and Theodore have been almost unstoppable this year, but Pope in particular can be prodded into committing a few cheap fouls. While Edwin is a solid 3rd cog, I think Hugh Robertson can contain him for the most part. It will be up to Anthony Collins and the combination of Ron Anderson Jr. and Toralyn Fitzpatrick to stop the Big 2 of The Hall.
If you can't make it to the Forum tonight, make sure to stop on by and participate in the GameThread.
Go Bulls!