Cold-shooting USF loses to Georgetown, 69-49

The Big Apple-based movie "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight" was a comedy. The version performed here Wednesday by the University of South Florida men's basketball team was more of a mystery.

The Bulls searched everywhere at Madison Square Garden for their shooting touch, but never found it in a 69-49 loss to Georgetown in the second round of the Big East Tournament.

The loss likely ended any chance of USF (20-12) making its first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 18 years. Instead, another trip to MSG for the NIT Final Four could be the Bulls' best hope of making a postseason splash.

Coach Stan Heath wasn't ready to accept that as the Bulls' final fate shortly after watching them shoot a season-low 29.1 percent (16 of 55), 1-for-10 from 3-point range.

"We certainly can't rule anything out," Heath said. "But we've got to see how the chips fall. Some teams are playing their way in and some teams are playing their way out. The only frustrating thing is that there were games earlier in the year that we wish we could have back.

"It's still a good year, and we've still got basketball to play."

NIT berths are announced Sunday night after the NCAA selections.

In USF's first-round win over DePaul on Tuesday, the Bulls charged to a big halftime lead and held on despite hitting only one jump shot and missing all eight 3-point shots. On Wednesday, it was the Hoyas who opened a 12-point halftime lead and never looked back thanks to USF's shooting woes.

The closest the Bulls came in the second half was six points on two occasions, but after opening the half on a 12-6 run, Georgetown (21-9) pulled away thanks to 16 points apiece from Greg Monroe and Jason Clark, and 15 from guard Chris Wright.

Oh, and the fact the Bulls shot as if wearing blindfolds.

"I thought we were in great shape," Heath said. "I really felt that was a pivotal time we could make a run. I can't count to you how many layups and free throws were missed. In a game like this against a team like Georgetown, you have to complete those plays."

Not even another strong effort from Dominique Jones - 21 points, five rebounds, four assists - could extend USF's winning streak to five games and deliver the Bulls their second win of the season over the Hoyas, a victory many in the business of bracketology believe the Bulls had to have to earn their third trip in school history to the NCAA Tournament.

No USF player scored in double figures other than Jones, who also had trouble shooting in making only six of 18 shots and missing all five of his 3-point attempts.

"They put a lot of pressure on Dominique to try to create for us by himself," senior guard Chris Howard said of all the missed shots.

That was exactly the way Georgetown coach John Thompson III wanted the game to play out. In a 72-64 loss to USF on Feb. 3, Jones scored a game-high 29 points but six other Bulls scored four or more points.

"Dominique is going to get his," Thompson III said. "You can't stop him. But if you can somehow limit the numbers other people got ... that's what we wanted."

The Bulls, whose victory over DePaul gave them their first 20-win season in 20 years, headed back to Tampa to await word on their postseason fate. Heath pointed out that if USF doesn't make the NCAA Tournament, it will buck a trend of Big East teams with 20 wins prior to the end of the conference tournament making the 64-team field.

Since 1983, out of 123 Big East teams eligible for the NCAA Tournament with at least 20 wins by the end of Big East Tournament, 120 have made the field.

So while Wednesday's loss and the way they lost were disappointing for the Bulls, they know their first postseason berth of any kind in eight years is ahead.

"Postseason is big for us in any sense because last year we were just sitting home after the Big East Tournament," said Gus Gilchrist, who made just three of 18 shots in the last two games. "It's a big step for our program."