USF basketball program awaits next shining NCAA moment

The anniversary is today, though few likely noticed.

Twenty years ago, the 1989-90 University of South Florida men's basketball team made school history by winning the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and earning the program's first NCAA Tournament bid.

Two seasons later, many of those same players were on USF's inaugural Metro Conference squad that was selected as an NCAA Tournament at-large team.

"We were the first - and we'll always be the first,'' said Fred Lewis, a forward on those USF teams. "I've been waiting to see which USF team would be next in the Big Dance.''

He's still waiting.

Some of the players from USF's two NCAA Tournament teams are planning an informal gathering Saturday at the Sun Dome when the Bulls (18-11, 8-9 Big East Conference) meet the Connecticut Huskies (17-13, 7-10) in the regular-season finale.

Coach Stan Heath's Bulls need a victory - and probably two more wins in next week's Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden - to entertain realistic hopes of an NCAA at-large bid.
If that happens, it could create USF's first suspense-filled Selection Sunday since 1990 and '92.

"I wouldn't even want to speculate why it has been (18 years) since the last NCAA Tournament team,'' said former USF coach Bobby Paschal, who retired from his administrative position at the school six years ago and now enjoys spending time with his nine grandchildren. "I know when we last got there (in 1992), we didn't think it would be our last time.

"The program has grown, obviously, and changed conferences all the way to the best conference, the Big East. It's a challenge. But it's also an opportunity. We had a smaller window of opportunity (to reach the NCAA Tournament). USF could conceivably finish sixth or seventh in its league now, but still get in. There are definitely positives.''

In 1989-90, the Bulls were coming off losing records in each of Paschal's first three seasons. At USF's preseason tip-off tournament, Lewis delivered the prayer.

"Dear Lord,'' Lewis said in closing, "please help us turn this thing around.''

"It was almost like we were a bunch of misfits, a bunch of guys who didn't belong,'' said Lewis, an assistant coach at Saint Leo University, whose son, Fred Jr., had a 41-point game this season at Bayshore Christian. "But I felt like we were on the verge. I felt like we all ended up at USF for a reason.''

On March 5, 1990, that reason became clear. USF defeated UNC Charlotte 81-74 to win the Sun Belt Tournament - and clinch an automatic NCAA Tournament bid - at Birmingham, Ala.

In the corner of the arena, then-USF athletic director Paul Griffin, who had shown faith in Paschal with two contract extensions during the three losing seasons, wept openly.

"I remember talking to the players on the bench in the final seconds - looking them right in the eye - and seeing their happiness, how much it meant to them,'' Paschal said. "We told them then they had set a tone and raised a bar for all future USF teams to live up to.''

"There's nothing more thrilling in basketball than making the NCAA Tournament,'' said former USF forward Bobby Russell, who is now a sergeant with the Polk County Sheriff's Office. "We took a lot of people by surprise. They all associated us with losing records. It's actually a lot like this year's USF team. Nobody was expecting them to contend for anything, either.''

Former USF point guard Radenko Dobras, now a Tampa investment advisor, enjoys attending Bulls' games with his 10-year-old son, Stefan, an aspiring basketball player. Stefan predicts that one day his number will hang alongside the retired No. 31 of his father. Before that possibility, Dobras hopes he can celebrate another USF team in the NCAA Tournament.

"There's no reason for it to have gone this long,'' Dobras said. "I guess it makes our teams seem even more special with every year, but it's time for another one. I'm a believer. The program needs to take advantage of being in the Big East and make it work to their advantage. I think we're going to see it happen.''

The other day, Lewis' NCAA Tournament watch was discovered by his son. The battery died long ago. Lewis never wears it.

His son had a question: Why don't you give it to me?

"Not yet,'' Lewis said. "I'm waiting for us to get back in the NCAA Tournament. Then I'm going to break it out. I'm going to wear that thing with a lot of pride. I just need a reason to bring it out again.''

USF basketball is on the clock.

The players who enjoyed the program's greatest glory are watching, waiting and hoping.