Losing Gilchrist creates vacuum for Bulls

The USF men's basketball team is off to a 7-1 start, its best under third-year coach Stan Heath.

But Heath's job got more difficult Monday when 6-foot-10 forward Gus Gilchrist suffered a severely sprained ankle when he stepped on teammate Dominque Jones' foot during a scrimmage.

The emergence of Gilchrist, a highly touted recruit from Maryland who leads the Bulls in scoring (18.8) and is second in rebounding (7.4), has been vital to USF's quick start. Heath said Wednesday that Gilchrist will be out "until late January, early February, somewhere around there."

USF's biggest fear is that Gilchrist damaged ligaments, which could hamper him the rest of the season. The loss of Gilchrist isn't the only issue that could slow the Bulls.

Ohio State transfer Anthony Crater, a point guard expected to become eligible Saturday and make his season debut Sunday against Central Michigan, remains ineligible to join the team.

An online report surfaced last week alleging Crater violated the school's substance-abuse policy and must serve a suspension before he can play. Heath acknowledged Crater won't join the team this weekend, but declined to provide details.

"His status will be more defined next week," Heath said Wednesday. "I don't comment on academics. I don't comment on social behaviors. Crater was disciplined back in June. And since that time, he's met the requirements socially and basketball-wise for our team."

Meanwhile, freshman guard Jordan Dumars, son of former NBA great and current Detroit Pistons director of basketball operations Joe Dumars, is transferring after playing six games for USF.

"He loved his experience here," Heath said. "He liked being on the team, but he just felt like he wanted to get closer back to home."

Crater's suspension and Dumars' transfer are the latest off-the-court distractions for Heath's program. USF opened an internal investigation last month after Fanhouse.com reported alleged NCAA secondary violations.

Since the report surfaced, USF is 5-1. For the Bulls to continue playing well heading into their Big East opener Dec. 30 against Louisville, they must find a way to win without Gilchrist. Former King High standout Toarlyn Fitzpatrick is one player Heath will lean on more.

"That's a big void," "We've already been a little thin on the front line, so now we're even thinner. We basically have Jarrid (Famous) and Toarlyn, and after that we'll be playing we four guards a lot. Some guys will have to step up and we'll have to play a little different than how we've been playing. But I still think this team can perform out there on the court and pick up the slack and win games."

NATIONAL EXPOSURE: The USF athletic department's new partnership with Apple Computers is not only providing all Bulls student-athletes with laptops, but also some national exposure.

Sports Illustrated sent a photographer to campus to take a photo of hundreds of student-athletes with their new laptops, and CNN referenced the unique agreement Wednesday.

ALL-BIG EAST BULLS: Senior LB Kion Wilson and junior DE Jason Pierre-Paul were named to the All-Big East first team Wednesday. DE George Selvie, CB Jerome Murphy, S Nate Allen and C Samson Genus were second-team picks.

BULL BITS: Quarterback B.J. Daniels, who maintains he still wants to play basketball, has no plans to practice with the team prior to USF's bowl game. ... Women's basketball coach Jose Fernandez said senior G Janae Stokes is expected to return Sunday following her recent arrest on theft charges at a local Walmart."Kids are going to make mistakes. She's got to learn that she put our program, our athletic department, our staff and her teammates in a bad situation." ... Nominations for the 2010 USF Athletics Hall of Fame class, to be honored next fall, are being accepted until Dec. 18. To nominate someone, visit gousfbulls.com for more information.