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Bulls Open Big East Play Tonight Against Syracuse

Tribune photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Dominique Jones leads the Bulls in scoring at 17.1 points per game, but the team knows it can't rely on one player.

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By GREGG BECNEL

Tribune correspondent

Published: January 2, 2009

TAMPA - The University of South Florida men's basketball team wrapped up the softer nonconference portion of its schedule with an alarming 5-7 record.

Now for the bad news: USF begins play in the brutal Big East tonight, when it hosts No. 13-ranked Syracuse (13-1) at the Sun Dome in front of a national television audience (ESPN).

Regardless of how the Bulls fare in the Big East this season, they are assured of playing in the Big East Tournament after the league decided to include all 16 members instead of limiting it to the top 12 as in years past.

USF comes in on somewhat of a high note after sophomore guard Dominique Jones scored a career-high 36 points in a win against Iona in the Bulls' last outing.

USF coach Stan Heath knows the Bulls can't rely on one player if they hope to reverse their early season misfortune.

"We've got a challenge in front of us with the Big East schedule, and we're going to need some more guys to step up," Heath said. "We're not going to be able to count on Jones to do that by himself every night. We need some more guys to help out."

Jones leads the team in scoring with 17.1 points per game. The only other reliable threat for the Bulls is senior guard Jesus Verdejo, who averages 16.3.

USF took a major blow when it lost Georgia transfer Mike Mercer for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee. Heath said he was counting on Mercer to be a third scoring option.

That job now falls to heralded 6-foot-10 freshman Gus Gilchrist (8.2 ppg, 5.3 rebounds per game).

"We're going to need a guy like Gus Gilchrist to give us more on the defensive end," Heath said, "and be more efficient on the offensive end."

In a season already dotted with disappointment, USF hopes the Iona win will provide it with much-needed confidence.

"I think the whole team was down, but I think that game kind of brought the team together a little bit more," Jones said. "And I just think that going into the Big East, that win means a lot, because we know we can win. It seems like it's going to be a real big challenge, but I just think if we stick together and play hard that we could surprise a lot of people."

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