Ayrton Oneill
The University of South Florida's official basketball team, the South Florida Bulls, competes in NCAA Division I basketball and is a member of the American Conference. The team first tipped off as the Golden Brahmans on December 1, 1971, with a win against Stetson University. The Brahmans played their first season as a member of the NCAA College Division (now NCAA Division II). In 1973, USF made the jump to NCAA Division I, where they remain today. The Bulls play their home games at the 10,500-seat Yuengling Center on USF's campus in Tampa, Florida.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team Name | South Florida Bulls |
| University | University of South Florida |
| Division | NCAA Division I |
| Year Moved to Division I | 1973-74 season |
| Conference | American Conference |
| Team Colors | Green and Gold |
| Mascot | Rocky D. Bull |
| Number of Varsity Teams | 20 |
| Men's Varsity Teams | 9 |
| Women's Varsity Teams | 11 |
| Home Stadium | Yuengling Center |
| Stadium Capacity | 10,500 |
| Head Coach | Bryan Hodgson |
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What You'll Learn
The University of South Florida's basketball team history
The University of South Florida's basketball team, the South Florida Bulls, has had a long and eventful history since its founding in 1971. The team first tipped off as the Golden Brahmans on December 1, 1971, with a thrilling 74–73 win at Stetson University. The Brahmans played their first season in the NCAA College Division (now NCAA Division II) and quickly gained popularity, leading to the approval of a varsity team.
USF's basketball team has had its fair share of ups and downs over the years. In the 1973–74 season, they made the jump to NCAA Division I, where they remain today. The Golden Brahmans recorded their first 15-win season in 1974–75, but tragedy struck when their coach, Bill Gibson, passed away suddenly during the summer. Despite this setback, the team persevered and continued to build its program.
The 1980s saw the opening of the on-campus Sun Dome, which brought better recruiting opportunities. The arrival of highly touted freshman Charlie Bradley in the 1981–82 season further boosted the team's success. Bradley is regarded as one of the greatest players in USF history and led the team to a 17–11 record that year. The 1982–83 season was the program's most successful at the time, with the Bulls winning the second Florida Four and achieving their first 20-win season.
USF's basketball team has experienced both winning seasons and setbacks over the years. They have won two conference championships and reached the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament three times (1990, 1992, and 2012), with their best finish in 2012 when they made the round of 32. The team has also had several notable coaches, including Lee Rose, Bobby Paschal, and Amir Abdur-Rahim, who sadly passed away unexpectedly.
In recent years, the South Florida Bulls have continued to write their history. After a disappointing 2017–18 season, the team bounced back with a record-breaking 24-win season in 2018–19. The 2019–20 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the team has faced some challenges in recent campaigns. However, with a passionate fan base and a rich basketball history, the University of South Florida's basketball team continues to be a source of pride and excitement for the school and its community.
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USF's NCAA Division I status
The University of South Florida's (USF) basketball team, the South Florida Bulls, has competed in NCAA Division I since the 1973–74 season. Before this, the team played in the NCAA College Division (now NCAA Division II). The USF men's basketball team was founded in 1971, and the women's team started competing in 1972.
USF has won two conference championships and has reached the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament three times in their history (1990, 1992, and 2012). Their best finish was in 2012 when they made it to the round of 32. The team plays its home games at the 10,500-seat Yuengling Center on USF's campus in Tampa, Florida.
USF sponsors 20 varsity sports teams, nine for men and eleven for women, and competes in NCAA Division I for all sports except sailing, a non-NCAA sanctioned varsity sport that competes in the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association within the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association.
In addition to basketball, USF's other Division I sports include baseball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. The university has a rich athletic history and has seen success in various sports over the years, including football, soccer, and swimming.
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USF's American Conference membership
The South Florida Bulls (USF) men's basketball team represents the University of South Florida in NCAA Division I basketball competition. The team is currently a member of the American Conference, having joined in 2013 following the Big East Conference realignment.
The American Conference, also known as the American Athletic Conference (AAC) or the American Athletic Conference (AAC), is home to the USF's men's basketball team and all other USF sports teams except for sailing and beach volleyball. Sailing competes in the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association within the Intercollegiate Sailing Association, and beach volleyball will become an affiliate member of Conference USA beginning in 2025 as the American Conference does not sponsor the sport.
USF's membership in the American Conference has seen success in recent years. The women's basketball team won their first conference titles in 2021, claiming both the regular season and tournament American Conference crowns. In the same year, the USF track and field team competed in the NCAA outdoor national championships, and the football team was projected to win the East division of the American Conference and play in the American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game.
Despite offers from other conferences, such as the Pac-12, USF has reaffirmed its commitment to remaining in the American Athletic Conference for the foreseeable future.
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USF's basketball team coaches
The University of South Florida's basketball team, the South Florida Bulls, has had several coaches over the years. The team first tipped off as the Golden Brahmans on December 1, 1971, playing in the NCAA College Division (now NCAA Division II). Don Williams was the first coach, but he was fired after a disappointing season in 1973–74, despite posting a 10–3 combined record at their 3 home courts.
Bill Gibson took over as coach for the 1974–75 season, leading the team to their first 15-win season. Unfortunately, Gibson passed away from a heart attack in the summer of 1975 at the young age of 47. The team then made the jump to NCAA Division I for the 1973–74 season, where they remain today.
In more recent times, the Bulls have had coaches such as Seth Greenberg, who had previous success at Long Beach State. Despite this, his first year at USF was a struggle, with the team finishing 8–19. However, the 1997–98 season saw a turnaround, with the Bulls going 17–13.
After Gregory's disappointing 2017–18 season, the fifth straight 20-loss season, Amir Abdur-Rahim was hired as head coach. Abdur-Rahim had just led Kennesaw State to their first Division I NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately, Amir Abdur-Rahim passed away unexpectedly, and Bryan Hodgson now serves as the head coach of the USF Bulls.
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USF's basketball team players
The University of South Florida's basketball team, the South Florida Bulls, has been a member of the NCAA Division I basketball competition since the 1973-74 season. The team's players compete in the American Conference and play their home games at the 10,500-seat Yuengling Center on USF's campus in Tampa, Florida.
The USF basketball team has a rich history, with the 1970-71 squad finishing with an impressive 19-4 record and helping to establish the team that exists today. The official founding of USF basketball is listed as 1971, when the team first tipped off as the Golden Brahmans. Over the years, the team has achieved notable successes, including winning two conference championships and reaching the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament three times (1990, 1992, and 2012).
The Bulls have had several notable coaches throughout their history. Paschal, for example, accumulated the most wins of any USF men's basketball coach with a record of 127-159 over ten seasons. Another notable coach was Bill Gibson, who led the team to their first 15-win season in 1974-75. Unfortunately, Gibson passed away from a heart attack in the summer of 1975 at just 47 years old.
In recent years, the Bulls have experienced both highs and lows. The 2017-18 season saw the team suffer its fifth straight 20-loss season, but the following year, the Bulls bounced back with a historic 24-win season and a victory in the College Basketball Invitational. The 2019-20 season, however, was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequent campaigns under Gregory fell short of expectations, leading to his firing.
USF's current head coach is Bryan Hodgson, who took over after Amir Abdur-Rahim's unexpected passing. The team's colours are green and gold, and their mascot is the bull, reflecting their strong and resilient spirit.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the USF basketball team, also known as the South Florida Bulls, plays in Division 1 of the NCAA.
The USF basketball team was founded in 1971 and played their first game on December 1, 1971, against Stetson University, winning 74-73.
The USF basketball team started as a member of the NCAA College Division, now known as NCAA Division II.
For the 1973-74 season, USF basketball made the jump to NCAA Division I, where they remain today.
The USF basketball team has won two conference championships and has reached the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament three times (1990, 1992, and 2012), with their best finish coming in 2012 when they made the round of 32.
