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Huggins' Move Stifles Bulls

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 21, 2008

TAMPA - To open the second half, University of South Florida senior Kentrell Gransberry was unstoppable.

Gransberry had scored 13 consecutive points against West Virginia, giving the Bulls a five-point cushion. So West Virginia coach Bob Huggins decided to take a big - no, make that a small - gamble by putting 6-foot-2 guard Joe Mazzulla, the smallest Mountaineer, on the 6-9, 270-pound Gransberry.

Huggins' move paid off as Gransberry only got two field-goal attempts in the final 13 minutes and the Mountaineers pulled away for a 69-52 victory Sunday at the Forum.

"That was a last resort," Huggins said.

USF (10-9, 1-5 Big East) lost its fifth consecutive game, further damaging the Bulls' hopes to finish among the Big East's top 12 and qualify for the league tournament.

"My strategy was, 'Don't let him get the ball,'" Mazzulla said. "If he can't get the ball he can't score. That's an easy job, right? Don't let him catch it."

Gransberry's second-half surge gave USF a 38-33 lead with 14:15 remaining. But after WVU's defensive switch, Gransberry had only three points and the Mountaineers (14-4, 4-2) ended the game on a 36-14 run.

"It wasn't annoying at all," Gransberry said. "I had to fight through it and find a way to execute."

Gransberry finished with 22 points, but hit only two of 11 free throws. USF coach Stan Heath called the missed free throws "momentum busters."

USF played in front of an announced crowd of 12,056, but the actual attendance was about half that amount as the announced figure included a few thousand free tickets given away. Forum and USF officials said the actual attendance was not available.

Heath was pleased with USF's defense, which held WVU to 38 percent shooting, including 30 percent from 3-point range.

However, Heath said USF's offensive numbers - 21 percent from 3-point range and 26.7 percent from the free-throw line - "is a recipe that will hurt you in the long run."

With 8:39 remaining, the Bulls only trailed 42-41 when USF's bench was assessed a technical foul reacting to Gransberry picking up his third foul - all on the offensive end.

"The officials said they heard something," Heath said.

WVU, which was playing without second-leading scorer Joe Alexander (groin), went on a 17-4 run to ice the game.

For the second consecutive game, USF's bench only scored two points.

"Our bench is a problem," Heath said. "Trying to find a fifth starter is a problem. We have to have someone step up."

With the court sitting on the ice rink used by the Lightning, several players said they had problems staying warm. Still the Mountaineers hope to return to the Forum, which will be the site of NCAA Tournament first- and second-round games in March.

"If they turn up the heat, we'd love to come back when we make the NCAA Tournament," WVU forward Wellington Smith said. "I felt like the Giants at Lambeau Field."

INSIDE THE GAME

PLAYER OF THE GAME: USF senior C Kentrell Gransberry had 22 points, including 16 of USF's 27 second-half points.

STAT OF THE GAME: USF hit only four of 15 free throws and in its past two games is 11 of 32 (34 percent) from the free-throw line.

TURNING POINT: With WVU leading 42-41 with 8:39 remaining, USF's bench was assessed a technical foul. The Bulls were outscored 27-11 the rest of the way.

UP NEXT: USF hosts Louisville on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

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

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