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Jones Has Shot At Bradley's South Florida Records

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By BRETT McMURPHY

bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

Published: January 28, 2009

TAMPA - Sitting courtside inside the Sun Dome at a recent University of South Florida home game, Charlie Bradley admitted he's a goner.

His days are numbered. Bradley's run on top is nearing an end. Bradley owns USF's single-game scoring record of 42 points and the career record of 2,319 points - for now.

"Look at how easy the game comes to him," Bradley said, watching sophomore guard Dominique Jones during warm-ups. "He has the total package. It's time for it the records to be broken. Why not Dominique?"

This season Jones already has scored 36 against Iona and 35 at West Virginia. Sixteen times a USF player has scored at least 35 points - Jones and Bradley are the only Bulls to have done it more than once.

Bradley, who set USF's single-game mark more than 26 years ago when he scored 42 points against Florida State, said he's impressed with Jones' all-around game. "Sometimes he's having so much fun, he makes it look so easy," Bradley said.

Opposing coaches also have noticed Jones' importance to the Bulls (7-12, 2-5 Big East), who visit No. 7 Louisville (15-3, 6-0) tonight.

Villanova's Jay Wright, Syracuse's Jim Boeheim and Louisville's Rick Pitino have said the key to stopping USF starts with containing Jones.

After playing at then-No. 1 Pittsburgh on Jan. 14, the Bulls remained in Pittsburgh the next day before heading to West Virginia. USF coach Stan Heath talked to Pittsburgh guard Levance Fields after USF's practice.

"I asked him what they were trying to do against us," Heath said. "He said anytime Dominique had the ball, not only did they have a guy guarding him, but everyone else was playing gaps and ready to help against him.

"They had the whole team locked in against him."

Jones still scored 22 points.

Even with the emphasis on him from opposing defenses in the Big East, he's averaging 20.4 points in conference play, the league's fourth-highest average. He's averaging 18.4 points per game for the season and 17.6 points per game in his career.

"He's getting all that attention and still doing a great job," Heath said.

Jones said he's noticed a difference since the Bulls began Big East play.

"When I get the ball now, I see six eyes looking at me," Jones said. "That's where I come in and I have to make my team better. Instead of taking a shot with two guys on me, it would be an easier shot to pass to teammates to take a wide-open shot."

Jones said he's not concerned with records, just winning. "Charlie Bradley is basically a legend," he said. "I'm accomplishing something just to be mentioned with him."

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