SMU 74 USF 54
TAMPA, FL January 26, 2022- The question of the night is can the Bulls give the Mustangs the horns? The first half started slow for both teams, as they went back and forth for the first three minutes. The SMU Mustangs were led by Emmanuel Bandoumel who had 12pts on ten shots shooting 40% from the field; forward Marcus Weathers and his 17 points on just 6 shots and was three for three from the free throw line and perfect from beyond the arch (1-1).
The Mustangs shot 92 percent from the charity line, while only shooting 48 percent for the game. Head Coach Tim Jankovich had his team ready, and the plan was simple to get to the line and put the Bulls in foul trouble as USF committed 16 FOULS in the contest. Smu shot 54 percent from the field in the second half. The Mustangs went on an 18-2 run with the ball going to Marcus Weathers in the paint for easy lay ups.
It is tough to be missing players during the week in practice. Neither Gregory or the player, would use the excuse of the players being on Covid protocol or injury, it’s next man up mentality. The Bulls have been without some key players the last couple of games in key games and the conditioning of those players showed. Head Coach Brian Gregory said,
“Javon hit a wall in the first half it seemed and then again in the second half, it seemed,”
on players conditioning after missing five to six days of practice and then playing in the game. He went on to say when you must play a high offensive caliber team such as the SMU Mustangs and the number 10 team in the country in the Houston Cougars. However, “We just need to play better.”
The USF Bulls fall to the SMU Mustangs by twenty points (74-54). Then next game for the Bulls (6-12) is away against the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes (6-11). The Bulls are currently on a two-game losing streak and ten game losing streak against Tulsa. The next home is against the Bearcats of Cincinnati on February 9, Yuengling Center, 7 pm.
For more information on USF Men’s Basketball and USF Sports follow Cliff McAfee on Twitter @Cmac412Cliff and Urbanmediatoday.com
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GoBulls !!
