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USF Sees Pittsburgh As A Start

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 9, 2008

TAMPA - University of South Florida senior center Kentrell Gransberry said it with a straight face. This wasn't a joke. He was serious.

When asked about the opportunity for USF when it hosts No. 20 Pittsburgh tonight, Gransberry uttered a four-letter word that's been nothing but an illusion for USF fans for the past 16 years.

"When you beat a ranked team at home, it goes on your resume for the NCAA Tournament committee," Gransberry said. "It's possible to get there with nine nonconference wins and I think 18 wins is possible to get a bid to the NIT or NCAA."

With 16 Big East games remaining, any NCAA talk by the Bulls (10-5, 1-1 Big East) may be a bit premature - especially for a school that hasn't had a winning season since 2003 and hasn't even been to the NIT since 2002.

But after a topsy-turvy opening week in Big East play, anything seems possible.

"There are a few teams in the league that really stick out, they really are at a very high level," USF coach Stan Heath said. "But there are a lot of teams that have been see-sawing, teams that have been up and down.

"I think you can include our team in there a little bit. This year, reputation only is not going to get it done. You're going to have to come to play."

Although four Big East teams are nationally ranked - No. 7 Georgetown, No. 15 Marquette, No. 19 Villanova and No. 20 Pittsburgh - only Georgetown is among the four unbeaten teams in the conference.

The Panthers (12-2, 0-1) have dropped only two games, but they've already suffered the league's biggest losses - starting point guard Levance Fields (broken left foot), starting forward Mike Cook (torn ACL) and reserve center Austin Wallace (broken knee cap) have been lost to injury.

Only Fields, who was averaging 11.9 points and 5.4 assists, has a slight chance to return by the end of the season. "Fields is a huge loss," Heath said.

The trio had accounted for 28 percent of Pitt's scoring, 16 percent of its rebounds and 47 percent of its assists.

The Bulls hope to take advantage, playing in only their second national TV appearance of the season.

"We don't talk about, 'Hey, we're on TV tonight,' or 'Hey, this is Pittsburgh, they're ranked nationally,'" Heath said. "We talk about what Pittsburgh does and what we need to do. Don't get caught up in the hype of everything surrounding the game."

Gransberry said opening Big East play last week with a win against Rutgers was a relief considering the Bulls only won one Big East game two years ago. However, Gransberry and point guard Chris Howard said the Bulls expect more.

"It's going to take a win against a nationally ranked team to gain the respect from the analysts," Howard said.

And Gransberry said the push for the postseason begins tonight.

"This is the starting point for the rest of the season," Gransberry said. "Playing a ranked opponent and protecting the home court."

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

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