Men's Basketball November 15, 2014 USF

USF Hosts Jackson State Sunday at 2 p.m.

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TAMPA, NOV. 15, 2014 – USF will host its second game in three days when it faces Jackson State Sunday at 2 p.m.

The Bulls are 1-0 after a 75-61 season opening win over Flagler College on Friday. Sophomore forward Chris Perry (Bartow, Fla.) led all players with 18 points off the bench. Junior Nehemias Morillo (Dominican Republic) had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in his USF debut. Morillo was one of six Bulls to score their first career points along with Dre Clayton (8), Jaleel Cousins (6), Troy Holston Jr. (6), Dinero Mercurius (2) and Bo Zeigler (4).

The game with Jackson State (0-1) can be seen on ESPN3.com and the WatchESPN app.

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE

- Junior guard Anthony Collins and sophomore forward Chris Perry were selected to the American Athletic Conference Preseason Second Team.

- Collins was named to the preseason second team last year and averaged 6.9 points and 5.9 assists in eight games before ending his season short do to a left knee injury. Perry ended last season on the American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team after averaging 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

EARLY ATTENTION FOR PERRY

Along with being named a member of the American Athletic Conference Preseason Second Team, Chris Perry has received some early recognition from two prominent sports websites.

- In September, Sports Illustrated's Luke Winn named Perry one of five Break Out Sophomores for the upcoming season. Winn writes: “The 266-pounder could grow into one of the AAC's better forwards in a few years' time... The rate at which he produced offense off the bench as a freshman suggests he can handle that role.”

- In early November, CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein named Perry one of 20 under-the-radar players. Rothstein writes: “Orlando Antigua needs a foundation piece to lean on as he builds the Bulls' program and Perry looks to be the guy who fills that void. The 6-8 power forward has a Danny Fortson-like feel to his game. Pencil him in for a double-double as a sophomore.”

YOUNG BULLS

With a coaching change comes roster turnover. Not many teams were effected more with a coaching change than USF. Nine players departed last year's team, two to graduation.

- USF returned only three, Corey Allen Jr., Anthony Collins and Chris Perry, who played in an NCAA game last season. By that measure, USF is the second youngest team in the country. Only Tennessee State has returned fewer players who played last season with two. USF and Troy are the only teams with three.

- Among American Athletic Conference schools, USF will be going against much more veteran teams.

Team Players with NCAA Experience

USF 3

Memphis 7

UCF 7

Cincinnati 8

Tulane 9

UConn 9

Houston 10

Temple 11

Tulsa 11

East Carolina 12

SMU 12

ABOUT THE SCHEDULE

A home game against Seton Hall, road contests at NC State and Alabama and a neutral site game against Florida State highlight the non-conference schedule.

- Six USF opponents are earning points in the AP Top 25, two of which are ranked with No. 17 UConn and No. 22 SMU. Others earning points are Memphis, NC State, Cincinnati and Florida State.

- The American Athletic Conference added East Carolina, Tulane and Tulsa and lost Louisville and Rutgers. With the conference at 11 members, all teams this season will play a home-and-home with eight teams and will play two teams just once. USF's one-plays are at Cincinnati on Feb. 7 and at home against Memphis on Feb. 14.

UP NEXT

USF hosts Jackson State Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Sun Dome. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.

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