USF Women’s Basketball Releases Banger of a Non-Conference Schedule for the 2019-20 Season

If you were on the fence about purchasing USF Women’s Basketball season tickets, then last week’s news comes as a thrill. Head coach Jose Fernandez, who has no fear in scheduling, released a banger of a non-conference slate that has us debating if this is the most impressive test of any athletics team to date.

This fall will have no shortage of tough teams as USF will take on six 2018-19 NCAA Tournament teams, including three of the four no. 1 seeds, and the two programs that squared off in the tournament final just down the road at Amalie. The slate includes eight home games, one true road game at Baylor, and five neutral-site games at holiday tournaments.

The action starts with a four-game home stand on November 5 vs. Jacksonville before the Bulls host Texas three days later. (Shout out to one Texas squad not afraid to make the trip to Tampa.) Howard and VCU round out the opening home games, before heading to Waco to take on the #NATIONALCHAMPION Baylor Lady Bears.

The Bulls are also involved in two holiday tournaments; the Cancun Challenge over Thanksgiving and the Duel in the Desert in Las Vegas over Christmas.

The Cancun Challenge includes a game vs. #NATIONALRUNNERUP Notre Dame on November 30, so you have plenty of time to hitch a ride out of Oviedo after the Black Friday game. (But drive back to Tampa because TPA > MCO.) They will also play NCAA qualifiers South Dakota St. and FGCU.

The Duel in the Desert will take place December 19-21 (oh hey, that’s Collin’s birthday) and will feature a game vs. 2018-19 no. 1 seed Mississippi St. The Bulls are 1-1 vs. the Lady Bulldogs which included a thrilling buzzer-beating victory by TDS favorite Courtney Williams in the 2014 WNIT to send the Bulls to the semis.

USF will finish their non-conference slate just ahead of the new year on December 30 vs. Ivy League program Brown.

USF women’s basketball have never shied away from a challenge, and this schedule is no joke. Packed with two awesome tournament road trips, a true away game at the #NATIONALCHAMPS, and a ton of great home games, this is easily the best deal in town.

#MyVPofAthletics is clearly jazzed about it, too.

This news comes ahead of our scheduled Patio Livecast with none other than Coach Jose Fernandez himself! So if you are free on Wednesday, come out to The Patio and congratulate coach on a remarkable job last season, the exciting scheduling this season, and what to expect from another star-studded recruiting class.