Three Things we learned from the first week of Bulls basketball.
Bryan Hodgson and his team have had an up and down start to the year. Here is three things we learned from the Bulls first two games.
The South Florida Bulls are one week into the tenure of new head coach Bryan Hodgson. USF sits at 1-1 after a comfortable win over Florida A&M to open the season and a close loss to George Washington on a neutral floor.
Hodgson is a hard-nosed coach, and the respect he commands in the Bulls’ locker room is evident. In the season-opening win against Florida A&M, a chorus of “yes, sir” could be heard from USF players when Hodgson and his staff spoke to them.
While the locker room is fully bought in, this is still a team filled with players who are competing in their first regular-season college basketball games together. There will be growing pains, and those were evident in the Bulls’ loss to George Washington.
Through two games, some early trends are beginning to form — ones that could define USF’s season. Here are three things we learned from the Bulls’ opening week.
1. USF might not be an efficient shooting team, but it’s going to keep shooting
Three-point shooting — or the lack of it — has been the early headline for this Bulls squad. USF is shooting 26.2% from beyond the arc, 285th in the country. In Saturday’s loss, the Bulls made just six of their 33 attempts from deep.
In contrast, George Washington shot 9-for-24 — not great, but compared to USF, it looked like the Steph Curry-led Golden State Warriors.
While the Bulls rank 285th in three-point percentage, they continue to take a high volume of shots from outside, averaging 30.5 attempts per game — 56th most in Division I.
Guard Joseph Pinion, a 36% three-point shooter last season, has struggled early, hitting just two of his 21 attempts. Guard Wes Enis made five three-pointers in the opener but went 0-for-5 against George Washington.
USF’s most efficient shooter so far has been Josh Omojafo, who has made four of his seven attempts. Omojafo is known more for his slashing ability than as a perimeter threat.
An improvement from deep is needed for USF to compete with quality opponents, but the good news is it shouldn’t be too hard to improve from a 6-for-33 showing.
2. Bryan Hodgson’s team is already playing his style of basketball
While Saturday’s loss wasn’t the result the Bulls wanted, the tempo reflected Hodgson’s preferred style. USF ranks fourth in the country with a 76.0 adjusted tempo and averages 13.2-second possessions, seventh fastest nationally.
The speed has been to Hodgson’s liking, but shot selection has been an issue. Too often, the Bulls have settled for contested attempts early in the shot clock. They rank 169th nationally with 15.5 assists per game.
USF has thrived in transition, however, scoring 34 fastbreak points through two games. Many of those opportunities have come off turnovers. Opponents have committed 42 turnovers this season, and USF is recording a steal on 15.7% of defensive possessions — 20th best in the country. The Bulls are averaging 28 points per game off turnovers.
Another Hodgson trademark is dominating the offensive glass. USF has 33 offensive rebounds through two games. Pinion leads with six, while forward Izaiyah Nelson has five and a team-high 17 total boards.
USF is clearly playing Hodgson’s brand of basketball, but the execution still needs refinement. The Bulls allowed George Washington to score 99 points on 54.5% shooting despite forcing 21 turnovers. Comparatively the Bulls shot 43.1% from the floor and lost despite having seventeen more field goal attempts than the Revolutionaries.
3. C.J. Brown looks ready to make a sophomore leap
Retaining C.J. Brown was Hodgson’s top priority after taking the job. The former four-star recruit showed flashes of star potential last season but lacked consistency.
This year, Brown looks like a more complete guard — one capable of leading this Bulls squad and potentially earning All-Conference recognition. He’s averaging 16 points, 3.5 rebounds and three assists per game. Brown has done it efficiently shooting 62.5% over the course of two games.
Brown’s strength and improved patience have made him a more reliable driver. He scored 22 points against George Washington, and he and Omojafo, who added 33, nearly willed USF back from a 12-point second-half deficit.
Brown’s biggest challenge has been transitioning to point guard. He’s totaled seven turnovers and six assists this season, an area that needs improvement. Still, with the composure he’s shown early, that growth seems likely as he gains experience as a full-time floor general.