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USF Victory Could Secure Spot

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By BRETT McMURPHY

bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

Published: March 7, 2009

Updated: 03/07/2009 12:37 am

TAMPA - Officially, today's University of South Florida game with Cincinnati is a Big East Tournament second-round contest.

Unofficially, it could be viewed as an NCAA Tournament play-in game for USF.

If the Bulls defeat the Bearcats today in Hartford, Conn., the Bulls likely would secure an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. A loss to Cincinnati would put USF squarely on the NCAA bubble.

"You don't want to put too much pressure on one game," USF coach Jose Fernandez said. "But I think they know what's at stake. I don't have to remind them."
USF is projected as a No. 10 seed by CollegeRPI.com, meaning the Bulls are considered fairly safe to make the field, projecting ahead of six to eight teams for the final at-large spot. ESPN.com, however, isn't as optimistic, projecting the Bulls as the last at-large team to get a bid as a No. 12 seed.
USF already has equaled the school record for wins in a season (21) and Fernandez said last week he thought 22 victories was the magic number for an at-large bid.

"I like where our team is at right now," Fernandez said. "I'm very proud of these guys.

"I truly hope we come out and play well. Whatever happens, happens, but I think we're NCAA Tournament worthy."
USF (21-9) has rebounded from a 3-6 stretch to win five of its past seven games and finish eighth in the Big East. That should bode well for the Bulls, considering the Big East has received eight NCAA bids in each of the past two seasons.

It also could bode well for Fernandez's future at USF. Despite leading the Bulls to five (soon to be six) consecutive postseasons, his contract expires after the 2009-10 season. Fernandez said, though, his main concerns are his players graduating and getting the Bulls in the NCAA Tournament.

"I don't think it's my position to walk in there and ask for a contract," Fernandez said. "I've been here nine years and this year will have been in six postseasons.

"I'm from Florida, I want to be here. I guess at the end of the season, they'll look at our body of work, my entire body of work and what we've done and hopefully we can put something together."

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928.

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