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USF May Have Turned Corner

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 17, 2008

TAMPA - If there was any doubt Coach Stan Heath is changing the perception of the University of South Florida, consider No. 17 Connecticut's reaction after edging the Bulls 74-73 in overtime Saturday.

UC's Jeff Adrien celebrated by tossing the basketball 13 rows deep into the Sun Dome stands. That's typically not the response when a traditional NCAA power defeats a team sitting in the Big East cellar.

But, UConn coach Jim Calhoun said, this isn't your typical USF team.

"In my opinion - I'm not a predictor of the future - but they've turned the corner," Calhoun said. "They're a very good basketball team. They defend, they play hard. Early we were taken back by that. We clearly were."

The Huskies (20-5, 9-3 Big East) only survived because Craig Austrie dribbled nearly the length of the court in the final six seconds and hit a 14-foot jumper over USF's Jesus Verdejo with two-tenths of a second remaining.

"He just gave me a shake and bake," Verdejo said. "I still challenged the shot. He double pump faked. Then when I looked back and saw the ball going in, I was like 'Ahhh, man.' It really, really hurts."

Austrie's shot capped a wild second half and overtime in which there were eight ties and 12 lead changes, including three in the final 38 seconds.

"We didn't necessarily lose that game," Heath said. "They basically won the game with some big plays down the stretch. But the way our guys laid it out there today, they certainly played like a winning team."

Trailing 65-62 in regulation, Verdejo's clutch, fallaway 3-pointer - "A hell of a shot," Heath said - pulled USF even at 65 with 21 seconds remaining. After a UConn turnover, the Bulls had a chance to win, but Dominique Jones' 15-footer bounced off the rim.

In overtime, USF (11-15, 2-11) opened a 71-67 lead and had possession, but a turnover led to A.J. Price's 3-point play, cutting the margin to 71-70 with 1:47 remaining.

Stanley Robinson's follow slam dunk off a Price miss with 37.9 seconds left put UConn up 72-71. After a USF timeout, Jones drove inside and missed, but put back his own rebound with six seconds remaining, making it 73-72 USF.

Calhoun then waved the Huskies upcourt.

"I knew there were six seconds left and I just wanted to get the ball as deep as I can in the paint and then pull up and get a shot off," said Austrie, who also had UConn's final two baskets in regulation.

Going against UConn's 7-foot-3 Hasheem Thabeet, USF's 6-9 senior center Kentrell Gransberry had 26 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots. Despite the height disadvantage, Gransberry frequently went at - and over - Thabeet.

"He was a monster," Heath said. "I came into the game really concerned, I didn't know what would happen against Thabeet."

Verdejo added 17 points and Jones 16 points. Price's 23 points paced UConn.

"We knew all along we could play with them and stick with them," Gransberry said.

Calhoun said the Huskies were fortunate.

"They probably outplayed us," Calhoun said. "That's a pretty good-looking basketball team. We were very fortunate to win. We'll go home with a win. We're not going to turn it back in."

Calhoun won't turn in the win, but Saturday could be the turning point for USF.

INSIDE THE GAME

PLAYER OF THE GAME: USF's Kentrell Gransberry had 26 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots.

STAT OF THE GAME: UConn won its 20th game for the 17th time in Coach Jim Calhoun's 22 seasons.

TURNING POINT: Craig Austrie's game-winner with two-tenths of a second remaining.

UP NEXT: USF visits Cincinnati on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928 or bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com.

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