Dons Face Santa Clara in Second Round of WCC Play Saturday

March 3, 2004

USF EARNS FOURTH SEED IN WCC TOURNEY

FACE HOST SANTA CLARA SATURDAY AT 8:30 PM

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*    Dons earn first round bye topping LMU in regular season finale behind Broussard and Bayless
*	Riley named honorable mention as USF fails to place a member on the all-WCC first team for the first time since 1986

USF HEADS TO TOURNEY AFTER WINNING 3 OF LAST 4 GAMES

Mar. 6	WCC Tournament	vs. Santa Clara  at Santa Clara   	8:00 PM

Mar. 7	WCC Semifinals		vs. Gonzaga (ESPN)	at Santa Clara	9:00 PM

Mar. 8    WCC Finals		vs. TBA (ESPN)		at Santa Clara	9:00 PM

Santa Clara raced out to a 28-2 lead in topping San Diego Friday night.

The Dons earned fourth place by defeating Loyola Marymount 66-61in USF's regular season finale paced by Alvin Broussard's 19 points and James Bayless' 18 points.

ANOTHER GAME VS. TOURNAMENT HOST: If the seed holds up in the first round game between Santa Clara and San Diego (the teams split their two regular season games), and Santa Clara wins, USF will be facing the host team in the WCC postseason tournament for the fifth straight season. The Dons failed to win any of the previous four contests. In those four games, USF was ranked lower in the seedings three times, and the one time they were the higher seed held a late lead in the final minute before being doomed by missed free-throws and a desperation shot at San Diego.

DONS TIED FOR FOURTH PLACE: USF finished fourth at 7-7 in the league standings. The Dons were streaky in league play, dropping their first three games, winning four straight, dropping three in a row and then winning three of their last four.

HEAD COACH Philip Mathews a 1972 graduate of the University of California at Irvine is in his ninth season at USF (139-122) and 19th year of collegiate coaching after recording a 298-56 record in 10 seasons at Ventura JC. He led the Dons to the NCAA tournament in 1998. Phil has 64 career WCC wins, third among active coaches, trailing just Dick Davey (SCU) and Brad Holland (USD).

WE PLAY HARD: Coach Mathews has been pleased by the team's commitment to defense since dropping their first three road games. At that point, Mathews took away all the warm-ups and signs that say "We Play Hard!!" from the team and asked them to earn them back. USF went on a four-game winning streak and wound up 7-4 after the the 0-3 start. Mathews has offered back the jerseys for the West Coast Conference tournament.

SHOOTING DROPPED OFF THIS SEASON: Without the loss of John Cox, USF has struggled with its perimeter game. The Dons led the WCC in all three shooting categories last season when they hit 49.2% of its field goals, 43.9% of its three point shots and 74.4% of its free-throws. Cox was ranked in the league in all three categories. This season in league play USF hit just 44.5% of its FG attempts, 31.9% of its three-pointers and 64.8% of its free-throws. They ranked fifth, sixth and eighth respectively. The problem is mostly in the backcourt, where Cox shot 50.3% from the floor last year. This year the guards (Hazel, Ingerson, Harris and Gaines have hit 119-327 attempts in WCC play (36.3%), while the forwards (Riley, Bayless, Broussard, Gumbs, & Wiggins)have been excellent knocking down 51.0% of their attempts (51.0%).

On the positive side, Alvin Broussard (54.5%) ranked fifth in field goal percentage (WCC play) in the league, while James Bayless ranked 7th (52.7%) and Tyrone Riley 15th (47.5%). Jerome Gumbs also made 52.1% and Alan Wiggins (50%).

TURN-OVERS TURNED AROUND: After losing the battle of turnovers earlier in the season, USF ended up third in the WCC in turnover margin (+0.6) making 14.9 to's per game but having opponents make 15.4.

DONS AT HOME VERSUS AWAY: In earning a 17-13 record, USF played 13 home games and 17 away from home. Here is how they did.

Games Home		USF		Games Away
10-3			Record			7-10
70.0			Points			60.6
64.0			Opp. Points		69.9
44.8% / 45.5%		FG%/Opponent		42.0% / 45.7%
31.8% / 34.1%		3pt Pct.			31.1% / 40.1%
34.2 / 32.8 		Rebounds/Opp		33.2 / 32.6
+4.4			Turnover margin		-3.2

DEFENSE RULES FOR USF: With the loss of certainly one of the league brightest offensive stars in John Cox, USF has turned to defense for victories. USF is fourth in the conference in fewest points allowed 67.6. USF leads the WCC in steals (7.6 per game). In the Dons' 16 wins, opponents have averaged just 63.0 points per game to USF's 73.2 and shot just 40.9% from the floor. . 17 WINS WITHOUT THE LEADER: All-West Coast Conference guard John Cox, sprained his left knee late in the Dons' season opening basketball game vs. Tennessee-Martin on November 17th and was lost for the season. Cox will apply for a second medical red shirt season after the Dons complete the 2003-04 campaign. The senior from Philadelphia was granted a red shirt season after he missed 2000-01 due to foot surgery. John was named first team all-WCC after last season, an honor that his father, "Chubby" Cox also achieved in 1977 and 1978. He was second in the league in scoring last year in WCC games with 18.9 per contest, trailing only Blake Stepp of Gonzaga. He also was in the top 10 in the league in field goal percentage (50.3%), free-throw percentage (83.3%) and three-point percentage (47.8%) in league play. In mid-December, John Cox recently participated in USF's fall graduation ceremonies at St. Ignatius Church with his father in attendance.

BIG SCHEDULE AWAITS NEXT SEASON: The USF Dons will have a tough schedule next season that features home games against the two top-ranked undefeated teams #1 Stanford and #2 St. Joseph's and of course a home and home with #4 Gonzaga. In addition, the Dons will host Fresno State and at the end of the season, the West Coast Conference Championships. On the road, USF is scheduled to play among others, Texas Tech, Ohio State and Ohio.

BALANCED SCORING: The Dons expected John Cox to carry a lot of the scoring load this year. Without him, the Dons have been quite a balanced team. James Bayless and Tyrone Riley are the only players averaging in double figures. Following them there are five players averaging between 8.0 ppg. (Ingerson, Broussard) and 6.1 points per contest.

OFFENSE STRUGGLING: With the loss of John Cox (the WCC's second leading scorer in league play last year), USF's offense has struggled, especially away from Memorial Gym where USF played 17 of the 30 games this season. The Dons are averaging a WCC-low 64.7 points per game and have only scored 60.6 points per game in the 17 games played away from Memorial Gym. USF has failed to score 70 points in a game 19 times this year (but has held opponents under 70 16 times). The Dons are 5-12 when failing to score 70, and are 12-1 when scoring 70 or more, the lone loss coming at home vs. Pepperdine. As a further note, unless there is a dramatic change, USF's leading scorer (right now James Bayless has 11.9 ppg) will have the lowest scoring average since 1985-86 when Anthony Mann led the Dons in scoring with 10.4 points per game.

LOOK FOR 64: When USF scores 64 points or more in a game this year they have a 15-1 mark (the home loss to Pepperdine the exception), when they score 63 or less they are 2-12.

USF ENTERED WCC PLAY WITH 10 WINS: USF entered WCC play with 10 wins, tied for the most in the WCC with league favorite Gonzaga. The ten wins (10-6) are the most for USF since the 1999-00 season when they entered league play 12-1. Here are the records for the Dons entering WCC play under Phil Mathews: 1996: 8-4; 1997: 5-7; 1998: 9-3; 1999: 8-7; 2000: 12-1; 2001: 7-8; 2002: 5-8; 2003: 5-8.

CLOSE WINS, BIG LOSSES: The Dons have been really good in the close games this season. USF has won three games (at Delaware, Pacific and UT San Antonio) with last second shots, and won another (Ohio) that was tied entering the final minute. Two other games were close (losses to Richmond and at Fresno State). USF has outscored its opponents 72.8-62.9 in its 17 wins, but been outscored 71.6-51.9 in its 12 losses.

WHO IS HOT, AND NOT: Tyrone Riley is definitely the hottest Don right now. Over the last seven games he is averaging 15.6 points per game and 6.7 rebounds, made 473% of his shots, 34.6 from three-point range. He has also nailed 14-16 free-throws (88%) over that span. James Bayless is second in scoring over the last seven games averaging 11.9 ppg. and hitting 53% of his shots. Andre Hazel is third on the team in scoring over the last seven with a 9.1 ppg. average.. Guards Jovan Harris and Dommanic Ingerson have struggled the most among USF regulars hitting lately. Harris has hit just 8 of his last 41 shots and Ingerson 16 of his last 57.

TICK, TICK, TICK: USF has been very comfortable in the final minute of games. USF has won four games that entered the final minute tied. Andre Hazel hit game-winning shots at Delaware (buzzer,74-72), vs. Pacific (:04, 73-72) and his three-pointer vs. Ohio (1:00, 53-46) broke a tie. With Hazel having fouled out against UTSA it was Tyrone Riley's turn to win it (:0.4, 70-69) in Logan, Utah.

RILEY GETS HONORABLE MENTION: Tyrone Riley was named all-WCC honorable mention Monday. He has been the most consistent member of the team averaging 11.9 points per game and is second in the WCC in rebounding at 7.0 per contest. In league play, he increased his scoring average to 13.3 ppg. He has scored in double figures in a team-best 20 games (of 28) including the last seven and 11 of the last 12. He is tied for the most double-doubles in the league with six. Riley has led the team in rebounding 17 times this season and in scoring nine times. He led the team in scoring in the win February 21st in San Diego with 16 points and pulled eight rebounds and also scored 16 points in the Pepperdine loss. Prior to that he scored a career high 22 points vs. Portland, a game in which he equaled his career high of 11 rebounds. On February 12th vs. Gonzaga he was the only USF player in double figures with 15 points on 7-13 shooting. He had a strong game at St. Mary's with a team-high 15 points, nailing 7-12 shots from the floor and scored 11 points in the rematch at Memorial Gym. Riley He had 11 points and 11 rebounds at LMU and recorded a 15 point, 7 rebound performance vs. Santa Clara (7-13 floor) after a 15 point, 9 rebound performance vs. USD. 19-points, 6 rebounds at Portland, in which he hit 7 of 13 from the floor. Riley missed two games this year (Pacific/Sacramento State) due to two deaths in his family. The 2003 California JC Player of the Year enjoyed his first Division I game (vs. Ohio State) in the state. He scored a career high 19 points, pulled six rebounds and added 3 steals and was named winner of the Sam Skinner MVP Award of the Northwestern Mutual Shootout. Riley also won WCC Player of the Week. He also was the key cog in helping USF win at Delaware hitting consecutive three's to take a four point deficit to a two-point lead and then hit a three to put USF ahead after Delaware tied the score. All three three's came within the last three minutes of the game. He also pulled 10 rebounds in the contest. At St. Joe's he scored seven points and pulled seven rebounds and recorded 10 points and 10 assists at Montana. He is second to GU's Cory Violette in the WCC in rebounding with 7.0 per game and has six double-doubles this season. He was the key player in the win over UTSA. He hit a key three to put USF to within one, blocked a late shot and hit the game-winner with :0.4 left. He also led USF with 16 points.

BAYLESS IS MORE: Senior James Bayless has been the Dons best shooter and scorer, nailing 53.4% of his shots from the floor and averaging 11.9 points per game. He has scored in double figures 19 times this year (second to Riley), with double doubles vs. Montana, Sacramento State and Portland. Has scored in double figures in his last four games including 20 points Feb. 26 vs. Pepperdine his WCC best this year. Recorded a 13 point, 9 rebound game at San Diego. He is second on the team in WCC play with 10.1 per game, hitting 52.7% from the floor. But his numbers have gone down from 13.7 ppg. and 53.9% shooting in preconference play. He started just four of USF's league games. Had a strong game in regular season finale with 18 points, 8 rebounds vs. LMU. In USF's sweep in Los Angeles, he scored 10 points at LMU and two at Pepperdine, coming off the bench in both contests. He scored 8 points vs. San Diego and 11 off the bench vs. Santa Clara in home games.. Prior to a 12 point, 9 rebound performance at Santa Clara he had an impressive 22 point, 10 rebound performance vs. Sacramento State, a game in which he hit 9 of 13 shots from the floor. Bayless has fought off ankle sprains this season that has forced him to miss much practice time. Against Sonoma State, Bayless nailed his first seven shots finishing 8-for-10 on the night. Against UMBC he scored the first 10 points of the game and ended with a career best 23. He scored 13 points and added 8 rebounds in the Pacific win. His best game of the year was a 22 point and a career best 13 rebounds at Montana. He scored 13 points in the loss at Fresno State after playing just over two first half minutes due to foul trouble. Paced USF with nine points and nine rebounds at Gonzaga, but scored just nine points at Portland. Bayless is shooting 56.0% from the floor at home this year and averaging 12.7 points per contest. A HALO ON HAZEL: Andre Hazel this year has been USF's Mr. Clutch. In addition, he leads the team in assists (4.49-3rd WCC) and steals (1.73 - 4th WCC) and is tied for thgird in team scoring at 8.0 per contest. He finished the regular season with a 10-assist performance vs. LMU, his third double-figure assist performance of the year, all in WCC play. The night before against Pepperdine, he did not start for just the second time this year (ankle) but still recorded 12 points and four assists. He had a 10-point, 4 assist game at San Diego which followed a double-double 10 point 10 assist game against Portland . Three times this season he has given USF the lead in the final minutes with a clutch shot. His buzzer beater gave USF a 74-72 win at Delaware, his shot with :59 left gave USF the lead for good in the 53-46 win over Ohio, and his game winning three with five seconds left gave the Dons a 73-72 win over Pacific. In the win over Pacific he scored a career high 25 points (his previous USF high was 14 at Delaware). He has taken the starting point guard slot and has responded with an 8.0 scoring average and 4.5 assists per game. Until the St. Mary's game Feb. 25th, he was the only Don to start every game this year. Despite coming off the bench, he was USF's high scorer with 15 points. He actually scored 11 straight USF points in the contest to keep USF in the game in the last ten minutes. Recorded seven assists in USF win at Pepperdine. He recorded 16 assists in the wins over USD and SCU and had seven steals. Recorded 11 assists and 4 steals in win over San Diego at home. He scored 25 points (including the three-point game-winning shot) against Pacific and added 17 points in a low-scoring game at Fresno State. BROUSSARD THE WARRIOR: Alvin Broussard has been a steady presence for USF in his senior year, averaging 7.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while hitting 51.9% from the floor, 54.5% (best on USF) in league play. Finished strong the last weekend with a career-best tying 19 points (on 8-11 shooting) in win over Loyola Mary mount. The previous contest had a good offensive game with 15 points (7-11 floor) in 28 minutes vs. Feb. 28 loss to Pepperdine. He was the WCC Player of the Week after USF's wins at LMU and Pepperdine. At LMU, he scored 9 points (3-4 floor) added 4 rebounds and three steals in USF's 64-52 win. And at Pepperdine scored 19 points on 7-7 floor shooting, pulled 10 rebounds and had two blocks in the 81-69 win. He shut then WCC leading scorer Glen McGowan down to just five points. He had an outstanding outing, a 13-point, 20-rebound performance against Sacramento State. Totaled 9 points at LMU on 3-4 shooting after scoring eight points in both wins last week hitting 8-15 floor. On January 17th, he came off the bench for second time this year to score eight points at Portland. He scored a career best 18 points and pulled 8 rebounds to lead USF past Ohio on Dec. 13th. Against Ohio State, despite a very bloody cut forehead in the first half, he still played like a warrior with 14 points, five rebounds and 4-5 from outside the arc. He was also a force on defense, keeping the bigger Buckeyes off the boards. In the games against Ohio and Ohio State he shot 11-19 floor and 4-6 from three-point. He has been a much better offensive player at home averaging 10.1 points per game and 6.3 rebounds, while away from Memorial he averages 5.8 ppg. and 4.6 rpg. At Montana he played just eight minutes after having a fever the previous night, playing just 8 minutes. He played effectively against Richmond with 10 points, 5 rebounds and two blocks and pulled a team high 8 rebounds vs. SMS. He tallied seven points and pulled six rebounds vs. Delaware and 14 points in win over Sonoma State. He scored eight points in 18 minutes vs. Utah State. Scored 10 points in 12 minutes at San Diego before fouling out.

JOVAN BACK AS A STARTER: Injured in an early season game at St. Joseph's Jovan Harris started for the first time since the injury against San Diego on Jan. 22. He responded with a USF career best 18 points on 7-11 floor (3-6 from three-point) and added 12 points in the win over Santa Clara. He was USF's top scorer with 13 points at LMU (1/29) in a 64-52 win. Harris is currently averaging 7.1 points per contest. Someone had to step up when John Cox went down with his knee injury and Jovan was the person who had assumed his starting slot before his own injury. He has responded with four double-figure games, including an impressive 11-point, 9-rebound, 5-assist, 2-steal performance against Ohio State. He led the Dons in scoring at 11.3 ppg. until leaving the St. Joseph's game scoreless, after an ankle injury.

INGERSON MAKES IMPACT: Dommanic Ingerson became eligible December 19 and played his first game for USF against UMBC. The former Oakland prep star played at Michigan before transferring back to the Bay Area last December. In his first game against UMBC he played 16 minutes, scored 10 points (3-4 from three-point), had five steals (three in successive trips) and four assists. Despite playing just 20 games (out of USF's 30) he is leading USF in three-pointers made (35) and attempted (115). He had an exceptional game at Pepperdine with 17 points off the bench on 7-11 shooting. He has scored in double figures 8 times this season.

GUMBS "THE LEADER": Jerome Gumbs has improved as the season has moved along and increased his scoring to 6.9 ppg. in league play...scored eight points in finale against LMU going 3-4 floor...recorded eight point, five rebound performance in Pepperdine loss that followed a 10-point, three assist game at San Diego. Had a career best 22-point, 11-rebound performance against Portland. Gumbs hit all seven of his field goal attempts in that contest. After the Dons' two emotional home wins over USD and Santa Clara, both coach Mathews and his teammates credited the hustle and leadership of redshirt sophomore Jerome Gumbs as a key factor in the team's turnaround. He has been a great contributor to USF this year after missing last year with a back injury. He has started 17 games this year, with USF winning 10 of his starts. The native of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands has averaged 6.0 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, 6.8 points in WCC play. Gumbs scored a career best 20 points vs. Sonoma State. At Pepperdine, Gumbs scored 19 points on 9-11 shooting. He has been a more effective player at home, averaging 7.8 points per game and hitting 55.6% of his shots.

GAINING NEW GROUND: USF point guard Jason Gaines has started only 11 games this season after starting all of last year. Last night was his first start since January 17th and he recorded three assists in 12 minutes. He has made the most of his minutes averaging 3.5 points and 2.3 assists. Was a big factor in the February 21 win at USD, with nine points in the last five minutes and drew a key charge. In a starting role he set a career high with 11 points vs. Ohio. Played a big part in the win over UTSA with a late three to give USF the lead and made a great pass to Tyrone Riley to set up the game-winner. Gaines led the league in assist-to-turnover ratio last season.

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