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USF Crashes Back To Earth, Falls To Providence

Tribune photo by JULIE BUSCH

USF freshman Augustus Gilchrist is surrounded by Providence's defense during Tuesday's game at the Sun Dome.

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By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 10, 2009

Updated: 02/11/2009 06:17 am

TAMPA - Well, that certainly was fun while it lasted. Coming off the biggest upset in program history, the University of South Florida followed it up with a big, fat thud Tuesday night against Providence.

The Friars entered with the worst defensive team in the Big East and on a three-game losing streak, but still blistered the Bulls 77-62.

Midway through their fourth season in the Big East, the Bulls still have never won back-to-back league games and have won consecutive games only once in their past 101 conference games dating to the 2003 season in Conference USA. The conferences have changed, but the results haven't for USF (8-15, 3-8 Big East).

Sophomore Dominique Jones, who had 29 of USF's 62 points, said the Bulls didn't play hard and took the game for granted.

"One thing, we get a win and everyone thinks we've got talent," Jones said. "We ain't got talent like that. We still have to execute and play our game. We didn't look like a team offensively or defensively."

Just four days ago, the Bulls registered a so-called program-building upset of No. 8 Marquette. Yet the Bulls couldn't even maintain that momentum through the first half as Providence (15-9, 7-5) led at halftime, 41-32.

In the second half, USF trailed 62-49, but pulled within 62-57 with 4:15 remaining on a Jones dunk. However, Providence answered with an 11-0 run to seal the victory.

"I do think we lost a little bit of the hunger and just toughness we showed in the last game," USF coach Stan Heath said. "That's where I was a little disappointed in our team. We didn't fight harder like we had in the previous game."

Friday's victory against Marquette could have been a turning point for the Bulls. Instead when they turned the corner, they ran into a mirror.

"It's really frustrating," USF senior Aris Williams said. "That was the talk all day before the game, this could be the first time in history to win back-to-back games and win four games in the Big East, all that stuff. This was a very important game we let slip away."

Actually, the Bulls clanged it away.

USF missed 11 of 16 free throws and 16 of 19 3-pointers. Gus Gilchrist missed nine of 10 shots - "He played like a freshman, a big freshman," Heath said - as USF's bench was outscored 35-6.

Jones said he was especially frustrated with the Bulls' "nonchalant" attitude.

"It's frustrating people don't take it more serious," he said. "People don't have it in their heart to come out and play hard. If you make a mistake and play hard, Coach would understand. But, if you're just shooting the ball and not playing defense, that just messes up the whole team chemistry."

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