USF Looks For Share of Second Place Monday Night In ESPNU Matchup at Santa Clara

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Feb. 4, 2007

The USF men's basketball team (9-14, 5-3 WCC), will look to earn a piece of second place when they visit Santa Clara (16-7, 6-2) in a game that will be telecast at 8:00 p.m. on ESPNU. It will also be broadcast on KQKE 960 and Sirius Radio Channel 125.

Santa Clara is in second place in the WCC, one game behind Gonzaga and one ahead of USF and St. Mary's. SCU swept the Gaels and also holds the tiebreaker over them in league play, while USF's sweep over fifth place San Diego has earned them a tiebreaker over the Toreros should they tie in the standings.

A REMATCH OF A THRILLER: USF will try to avenge a 61-58 Jan. 22nd loss to Santa Clara in a rematch at the Leavey Center. The Dons trailed by one with just over a minute to go and had two chances to take the lead on a three by Surratt and a drive by Alan Wiggins, but both missed. After Bronco free-throws, USF lost the ball late before they could get off a tying three-pointer. Santa Clara is 16-7, 5-2. USF's Antonio Kellogg did not play in the first meeting.

COMING TOGETHER: After the game at San Diego, coach Jessie Evans said, "I could see in the last few practices that this team is coming together," said Dons' head coach Jessie Evans. "In the first half we did things right, we got in the passing lanes and got out on the break. We did a great job on the boards in the first half, giving up just two offensive rebounds. On the other hand, we shared the basketball and we were making our shots."

LONG ROAD OVER UNTIL TOURNAMENT: Saturday's win at San Diego was the final game until the WCC tournament for the Dons outside the Bay Area. USF has played five of eight WCC games and 16 of 23 overall away from home. Perhaps the non-conference schedule, that saw them play 11 road games prepared the Dons well for league road games where they are 4-1 and guaranteed a plus .500 record.

SIX OF EIGHT WCC GAMES DECIDED IN FINAL POSSESSION: USF has played eight WCC games and six of them have come down to the final possession. USF has played three overtime games (Won-2, lost 1), two one-point games (won both) and one three-point game (lost). The only games not decided late were the games at Gonzaga and San Diego. The Dons first five WCC games were all close. After slipping by San Diego in double-overtime in their opening league contest, USF earned a sweep of the Los Angeles schools on the road with a 86-81 ot win at LMU and a 72-71 victory over Pepperdine. The Dons then returned home to drop a 71-64 ot decision to St. Mary's and a 61-58 heartbreaker to Santa Clara. After a decisive loss at Gonzaga, USF held on for a one-point win (66-65) at Portland and then easily beat San Diego (98-88).

DONS BLITZ USD FOR SWEEP: In perhaps USF's best performance of the season, the Dons jumped on San Diego early and led by as many as 32 in topping the Toreros 98-88. The Dons made 16 of their first 20 shots, including their first five three-pointers. USF led by 10 points at 13-3 just 3:05 into the game They also recorded a season high 14 steals and shot 67% in the first half. The Dons made 28 of 31 free-throws and had five players in double figures, paced by Antonio Kellogg. Kellogg, playing his first game since Jan. 20, led the USF back court which totalled 51 points. The sophomore from Oakland scored 58 points in the two wins over San Diego. KELLOGG RETURN BUOYS DONS: USF basketball player Antonio Kellogg, who leads the Dons in scoring (15.4 ppg) returned to the lineup at San Diego and made an immediate contribution with 21 points, three assists and three steals. USF is 4-1 in WCC play with him in the lineup and his 19.1 ppg. average in league play would rank first if he played enough games. He missed the previous three USF contests to allow him to get off to a strong academic start for the Spring semester. The sophomore from Oakland, who was NCAA eligible, worked closely with the University in making the decision. "I really appreciate the opportunity that USF has given to me," said Kellogg. "I wanted to focus on my school work for the first two weeks of the Spring Semester."

FOUR PLAYERS LEADING THE WAY: The Dons have been paced by two seniors, returning all-WCC guard Armondo Surratt (14.1 ppg.) and honorable mention forward Alan Wiggins, Jr. (13.9), and two sophomores, transfers Antonio Kellogg (15.4) and Manny Quezada (11.7).

WCC PRESEASON POLL: The USF Dons were picked by the WCC coaches to finish third in the annual preseason poll. Here is the poll: 1. Gonzaga 62 (6); 2. LMU 51 (1); 3. USF 50; 4. St. Mary's 40 (1); 5. San Diego 33; 6. Santa Clara 27; 7. Pepperdine 16; 8. Portland 9.

WIGGINS IS HOT, NEEDS 20 POINTS FOR 1,000 CAREER: San Diego native Alan Wiggins, Jr. has been hot lately. Over the past 18 games he has made 90 of 146 shots (61.6%) and he has blocked 26 shots. He equalled his career high 25 points against St. Mary's on Dec. 20, making 10-14 shots from the floor. Wiggins is starting his climb up the USF career scoring list. He is currently 29th with 980 points after passing Bob Gaillard (976) Saturday. Ken McAllister (988) is next on the list. Wiggins also leads the WCC with six double-doubles.

FREE-THROW SLUMP OVER?: The Dons inability to make free-throws has hurt them in league play this season. Saturday night it appeared that the slump was over as they made 28 of 31 (90.3%) The Dons entered WCC play making almost 70% of their attempts. In WCC play they are 123 of 177 (69.5%), but in the five games previous to Saturday they had made just 59-97 (60.8%). The 13-22 (59.1%) vs. St. Mary's and the 12-18 (66.7%) vs. SCU were significant factors in two of USF's losses. They made just 14-24 at Gonzaga. The Dons made just 11-20 vs. Pepperdine, but were able to survive. Free-throws were also costly for USF in a tight losses to UCSB (14-24) and Wyoming (18-27) earlier this year.

50% FG SHOOTING=WINS: USF has shot the ball very well this season hitting 46.2% of its field goals (second WCC) and 37.1% of its three-point attempts (second WCC). Looking at the stats USF is 8-2 when it shoots 50% floor and 1-12 when it does not. On the opposite side, USF is 1-6 when opponents make 50% of their shots.

WCC LEADERS: USF has opened 5-3 in WCC play. USF's leaders (and rank in WCC): Scoring- Wiggins, 13.4 (12); Surratt 12.5 (13) Quezada 11.0 (17) (note- Kellogg averaging 19.0 - would be #1 - but has not played enough games) FG%- Wiggins 54.4% (6). Reb.- Wiggins 6.9 (7).; Assists: Surratt 3.1(9).

GETTING OFFENSIVE: USF is playing more of a high scoring game this season, averaging 73.8 points per contest compared to 69.1 ppg. last year.

THE CITY'S TEAM: USF basketball is "The City's Team," The only major winter sports team playing in the City. But it is also the Bay Area's team as the Dons have four local players on the roster including redshirt Dior Lowhorn. USF has also signed another Bay Area star Richmond's Wendell McKines to a letter of intent for next season. USF won back-to-back national championships in 1955 and 1956 behind Bay Area stars Bill Russell, K.C. Jones, Mike Farmer, etc. and has a tradition of great local players including Phil Smith, Bill Cartwright, Kevin Restani, etc.

DONS GUARDS PACING OFFENSE: The Dons back court is a strength, featuring two former Oakland prep stars Armondo Surratt (Oakland Tech) and Antonio Kellogg (McClymonds HS), and New York native Manny Quezada. All three players are transfers that formerly played in the BIG EAST; Surratt at Miami, Kellogg at UConn and Quezada at Rutgers. Between the three of them they average 41.2 ppg., 9.4 assists and 5.3 steals and in league play 43.4 ppg., 6.9 assists and 6.3 steals. They recorded a total of 51 points, 10 assists and 11 steals in the win at San Diego Saturday.

DEFENSE AND REBOUNDS: In USF's eight wins they have allowed opponents to score 72.3 points per game while in the 14 losses they have allowed 79.1. USF has been outrebounded by 2.8 in their wins and by 6.0 in the losses.

THAT'S TOO MUCH: USF has allowed 80 points or more in nine games and has lost seven.

LOTS OF TELEVISION: The Dons will have at least 12 games telecast this season on ESPN, ESPNU, Comcast Sports Net and FSN. 10 of USF's 14 WCC contests will be televised including Monday's game at Santa Clara. USF will make their ESPN "Big Monday" debut in February. Comcast SportsNet will move to basic cable in the Bay Area (usually Channel 77) during USF games.

UP NEXT: The Dons host Pepperdine on Feb. 10th (homecoming) and Loyola Marymount Feb. 12th.

USF TO HONOR 56-57 TEAM; WILLIE "WOO-WOO" WONG ON FEB. 9: USF will honor former USF basketball player Willie "Woo-Woo" Wong and the 1956-57 USF men's basketball team at the annual Fr. Hub Flynn USF Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, February 9th on the USF campus. The 1956-57 team, coached by Phil Woolpert finished third in the NCAA the year after Bill Russell and K.C. Jones left campus. They lost in the semifinals to Wilt Chamberlain's Kansas squad 50 years ago.

USF TO FACE UC IRVINE OF BIG WEST IN ESPNU BRACKETBUSTERS; GIRON TO BE REMEMBERED: USF will host UC Irvine of the Big West in a ESPNU BracketBusters matchup on Feb. 17th. The Dons hold a 5-0 series mark against the Anteaters who they have not faced since 1997. The 1:00 p.m. game will not be televised. At halftime, USF Athletics will remember longtime equipment manager Bob Giron, who passed away last June. Giron served at USF from 1970 until his passing. His family members will be in attendance.