Bulls Back At Garden

Though this is the first time the University of South Florida has competed in the Big East Tournament, it will be the Bulls' fourth time playing in Madison Square Garden.

Ironically, Tommy Tonelli, USF's director of basketball operations, was a starting guard on the only South Florida team that has won in the World's Most Famous Arena.

On Dec. 4, 1985, USF defeated St. Peter's 66-61. Charlie Bradley had 21 points that night to become the Sun Belt Conference's all-time leading scorer. Cuda Patterson added a career-high 21, including 10 in the final six minutes.

USF's game was played as part of a doubleheader before No. 11 Syracuse faced No. 3 St. John's.

"We were the JV game," Tonelli said. "But, hey, we got the win."

USF's other two Garden games resulted in losses: 81-72 to Fordham on Dec. 2, 2000; and 80-66 to Long Island on Feb. 17, 1982.

CONFERENCE NEWBIES

The last time USF played in a conference tournament, the Bulls were in Conference USA, Robert McCullum was coaching South Florida, Bob Huggins was coaching Cincinnati and Boston College tied for the Big East regular-season title.

The year was 2005.

With USF in its first Big East Tournament, only two Bulls have any conference tournament experience. In 2005, Jesus Verdejo, then at Arizona, played in the Pac-10 Tournament and Aris Williams, at Valparaiso, played in the Mid-Continent Tournament.

USF coach Stan Heath, who is 6-5 all-time in the Mid-American and SEC tournaments when he was at Kent State and Arkansas, said there is a huge difference in a tournament setting.

"It's win or go home," Heath said. "You don't have a tomorrow and you have to play that way. The team that really goes out there aggressively and has that mentality has a good chance of winning.

"We want to make sure the team is prepared to win. Winning would be a huge step for us. They'll have some nervousness ... but they don't need to feel a whole lot of pressure. If we go out, play hard and have fun, that's the right approach for our team."

Brett McMurphy