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Latest Loss Is A Slap In Face

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By BRETT McMURPHY

bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

Published: December 15, 2008

TAMPA - Even with highly touted transfers Mike Mercer and Gus Gilchrist in the starting lineup for their University of South Florida debuts, USF's result remained the same.

The Bulls fell to Niagara 70-55 Sunday, their third consecutive loss before an announced Sun Dome crowd of 2,577.

A 6-foot-4 junior guard transfer from Georgia, Mercer had 12 points, three steals and three turnovers in 39 minutes. A 6-10 freshman forward transfer from Maryland, Gilchrist had eight points, six rebounds and five turnovers in 26 minutes.

"What we saw tonight was a team that was a little bit discombobulated, that didn't have a clear understanding of their roles," USF coach Stan Heath said. "We'll be a better team down the road. This was a huge message that slapped us right in the face."

Heath said "to some degree" the struggles were expected. Still that wasn't an excuse to lose to a team picked to finish fourth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, USF senior Jesus Verdejo said.

"That was embarrassing, I feel embarrassed," said Verdejo, who had 20 points. "I'm speaking for the whole team - there was no heart, no passion to win the game. That's nothing to what we're going to see in the Big East."

Sophomore Dominique Jones, USF's leading scorer at 18.5 a game, had only eight points, the third-lowest scoring game of his career.

"Mike had some shots, I know he can make," Heath said. "He just didn't finish. Gus struggled early. He's hunting for his shots pretty aggressively on the outside. He has to learn the intensity level and how hard he needs to play from that end."

Apparently USF's teammates aren't the only ones adjusting to the newcomers. USF's video scoreboard and official box score listed Gilchrist as Glichrist.

"The first half I played, I didn't have a real feel for the game," Gilchrist said. "I had to settle down and get in there."

Gilchrist, 3-for-9 from the field, was repeatedly beaten down the court by Niagara's big men. Mercer took eight of USF's first 17 shots and finished 6-for-16.

"In the first half, I caught myself trying to do too much and not letting the game come to me," Mercer said. "I got out there and kind of lost my head a little bit. In the second half I slowed down a little bit and got more into my defense."

Niagara (7-2) led 57-49 with 7:31 left and then held USF (3-4) scoreless in the next five minutes to pull away.

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928.

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