USF Invitational Tournament Preview - Bulls Host Maryland-Eastern Shore, Loyola of Chicago, and Western Michigan

After losing their season opener against UCF last Saturday, the men's basketball team returns to action as the hosts of the USF Invitational tournament. USF struggled on the boards and couldn't find any consistency on offense against the Knights, but with three games in three days this weekend, the Bulls have an opportunity to get some good work in and get themselves untracked.

The USF Invitational is a three-day, four-team round robin event. Each team will play each of the other teams in the tournament this weekend.

------------

First up is Maryland-Eastern Shore on Friday night at 7:00pm. The Hawks are 0-3 on the season after going 7-23 last season and 4-12 in the MEAC Conference. UMES was only 2-14 away from home last season, and their struggling offense should lead to USF's first win of the season.

The Hawks are led by sophomore guard Kyree Jones (6'2", 205 lbs.) who is averaging 17 points, three rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game. Junior guard Louis Bell (6'4", 180 lbs.) scored 7.9 points per game last season, but has only made two baskets in three games. Sophomore guard Ishaq Pitt (6'3", 210 lbs.) chipped in seven points and 3.7 rebounds per game last year and is right around those numbers again this year. In the frontcourt, junior center Ronald Spencer (6'9", 210 lbs.) is leading the team with eight rebounds per game, and leads the team with three blocks. Senior center/forward Olatunjui Kosile (6'11", 240 lbs.) was the leading shot-blocker for the Hawks last year, and is averaging seven points and three rebounds per game this year. The Bulls should get some good work in for their post players, and they'll also need to keep Jones from getting into a rhythm.