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USF basketball hosts the Bradley Braves for a doubleheader at the Sun Dome on Tuesday evening. The women's teams meet at 5:00pm, with the men's teams facing off in the nightcap at 7:30. The Braves, 3-0 on the year, will prove to be another early challenge for the Bulls as they look to take the momentum they built over the weekend into their next non-conference game.
Bradley is led by junior forward Tyshon Pickett (6'6", 220 lbs.) who leads the team with 14.7 points and eight rebounds per game, and he'll be a key matchup against Victor Rudd and Toarlyn Fitzpatrick in the paint. Junior guard Walt Lemon (6'3", 178 lbs.) is close behind with 14 points per game, while senior point guard Jake Eastmon (6'5", 207 lbs.) averages almost 11 points and five assists. Eastmon has a definite size advantage on Anthony Collins, making this another matchup to pay attention to. Another senior guard, Dyricus Simms-Edwards (6'3", 197 lbs.) also averages double figures in scoring (10.3) and leads the team with nine steals.
The Braves have two more frontcourt players to keep an eye on. Senior forward/center Will Egolf (6'9" 235 lbs.) is averaging 9.7 points and five rebounds, plus he has six blocks. Off the bench is junior center Jordan Prosser (6'9", 240 lbs.), who chips in 9.7 points and six rebounds per game.
Just like it will be every night, rebounding will be the key to the game. Western Michigan outrebounded the Bulls, particularly on the offensive glass, and it led to numerous second chances. If USF has another tough shooting game and then can't get the rebounds, they could again be vulnerable. The Bulls need to get this one and then rest up for tougher competition to come.