2 BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2020 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 ● THE ORACLE INDEX FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @usforacle W: Halo46studentliving.com P: (813)358-5957 E. [email protected] @Halo46Tampa 14500 N. 46th St., Tampa, FL 33613 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 ● THE ORACLE BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2020 3 4 BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2020 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 ● THE ORACLE What to expect at the Yuengling Center Nolan Brown SPORTS EDITOR The Yuengling Center, at many points during both basketball seasons, was electric last year, especially when the Bulls were pulling off last-ditch effort wins or piling on points. This year will be much different, at least through the first three men’s home games and the first four women’s games where the attendance will be zero. It was announced late Friday afternoon that both teams will not have fans through the nonconference schedules due to The Yuengling Center holds just over 10,000, but it won’t be anywhere near full for the 2020-21 men’s and women’s basketball concerns over COVID-19. There seasons. There will be no fans in attendance through the nonconference schedules but the university will reassess the attendance are plans in the works to welcome policy once conference play starts. ORACLE PHOTO/BRIAN HATTAB fans by the start of conference play, however, it’s not set in stone based on attendance caps across Enquirer. “We will permit fans capacity limit. she’d go to games if there was a yet. the league, one can speculate in the arena later in the season By that estimate, there could reasonable capacity. If fans are allowed, the soonest how many fans could eventually only if we determine it is safe and be somewhere between 2,000 “I will absolutely be there when they’ll be in the Yuengling Center be allowed at USF home games. appropriate to do so. We are not and 2,500 fans allowed at the they open up as long as there is a is Dec. 19 when the women’s team UCF plans to allow 25% holding to a time frame on such a Yuengling Center. realistic attendee capacity,” she plays Houston. For the men’s capacity — about 2,500 fans — at determination.” Of course, that’s dependent on said. “I have concerns about the team, it’ll be Dec. 22 when the Addition Financial Arena when its FedExForum, home of the case numbers in the area and if closed space and social distancing Bulls take on Wichita State. season tips off against Oklahoma Memphis Grizzlies and Memphis the university approves having while seated.” As for now, capacity is on Saturday. Face masks will be Tigers, released COVID-19 fans in the arena. Both basketball teams are limited to approximately a required at all times unless eating protocols ahead of the start of the Regardless, some USF fans set to embark on seasons full couple hundred seats for family and drinking. Knights Athletics basketball seasons. Face masks are planning on attending if and of unknowns while also being members of players and coaches. said more information on student will be required at all times and when allowed but have mixed tabbed for greatness. Families of opponents are also attendance and further arena fans will only be allowed to eat feelings about the capacity The women’s team is set to welcomed via a pass list. protocols will be released this and drink while seated or in indoors. take the conference by storm In an email to The Oracle, week. designated areas and not walking “I personally love the basketball after being selected to win it all USF Athletics said it will provide Cincinnati Athletics is hopeful around the arena. games so I would absolutely go,” in the preseason, and the men’s details on fan attendance limits for a “limited” fan presence at Ticketed seats have been Brianna Leigh, a senior studying team is tabbed to be a formidable as the time gets closer. Social Fifth Third Arena but will start placed 6 feet apart, and fans will behavioral healthcare, told The contender after being selected distancing requirements and its season without spectators. be required to stand at least 6 feet Oracle on Facebook. “If we had to fifth in the AAC preseason poll. COVID-19 protocols will also be “We will start the season apart when walking or in lines. wear masks and/or social distance If things go according to plan, revealed as conference play nears. without fans in Fifth Third Refills on sodas and popcorn will seating, I would do just that.” fans will get to witness what The Yuengling Center holds Arena,” Director of Athletics not be allowed. Arena officials Senior industrial engineering could be pivotal seasons for both just over 10,000 spectators and John Cunningham told The estimate there will be a 20% student Veronica Diaz said USF teams. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 ● THE ORACLE BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2020 5 FOR ALL MOVE INS FROM NOW THRU JANUARY 31,2021 WILL RECEIVE 2 MONTHS FREE WITH A LEASE UNTIL 07/31/2022. 6 BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2020 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 ● THE ORACLE MEN’S TEAM JUSTIN BROWN, #13 LUKE ANDERSON, #44 DAVID COLLINS, #0 MICHAEL DURR, #4 GUARD/FORWARD GUARD/FORWARD GUARD, 6'4", 220 LBS CENTER, 7'0", 250 LBS 6'6", 208 LBS 6'8", 202 LBS SENIOR JUNIOR SENIOR REDSHIRT FRESHMAN XAVIER CASTANEDA, #1 RASHUN WILLIAMS, #5 MADUT AKEC, #22 RUSSEL TCHEWA, #54 GUARD, 6'1", 195 LBS GUARD, 6'6", 225 LBS FORWARD, 6'7", 205 LBS CENTER, 7'0", 260 LBS JUNIOR JUNIOR REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE SOPHOMORE EZACURAS DAWSON III, #2 ALEXIS YETNA, #10 CALEB MURPHY, #23 GUARD, 6'3", 200 LBS FORWARD, 6'8", 234 LBS GUARD, 6'4", 185 LBS REDSHIRT JUNIOR REDSHIRT JUNIOR FRESHMAN PRINCE ODURO, #3 MARK CALLEJA, #11 JAMIR CHAPLIN, #24 FORWARD, 6'8", 255 LBS GUARD, 6'2", 185 LBS GUARD, 6'5", 196 LBS REDSHIRT JUNIOR JUNIOR SOPHOMORE WOMEN’S TEAM TEREZA VITULOVA, #0 ELISA PINZAN, #4 SARA GUERREIRO, #13 ANGELEE RODRIGUEZ, #24 CENTER, 6'2 POINT GUARD, 5'8" GUARD, 5'8" FORWARD/CENTER, 6'2" REDSHIRT JUNIOR JUNIOR FRESHMAN FRESHMAN MARIA ALVAREZ, #1 ELENA TSINEKE, #5 BETHY MUNUNGA, #20 BEATRIZ JORDAO, #31 GUARD, 5'7" GUARD, 5'7" FORWARD, 6'0" CENTER, 6'3" SOPHOMORE SOPHOMORE SENIOR JUNIOR MIHAELA LAZIC, #2 JADE BLAGROVE, #11 SHAE LEVERETT, #21 SILVIA SERRAT, #34 GUARD, 5'6" FORWARD, 6'2" CENTER, 6'2" FORWARD, 6'1" REDSHIRT FRESHMAN FRESHMAN SENIOR SENIOR SYDNI HARVEY, #3 CRISTINA BERMEJO, #12 KRISTYNA BRABENCOVA, #22 POINT GUARD, 5'10" WING, 6'1" WING, 6'0" JUNIOR SOPHOMORE SOPHOMORE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 ● THE ORACLE BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2020 7 Women’s basketball season preview Conference favorites at last Since his arrival at USF in 2000, coach Jose Fernandez has been among the best college Francisco Rosa basketball coaches in the country. Fernandez has turned USF CORRESPONDENT into consistent top team with the Bulls winning at least 19 games The 2020-21 USF women’s going back to the 2011-12 season. basketball season is finally Now entering his 21st season set to begin, and the Bulls with USF, Fernandez has will now embark on the most led his team to 15 postseason unprecedented college basketball appearances. A top-three season ever. conference finish and postseason While there will be a lot of tournament play were once a far- focus on the logistics of playing off dream for the Bulls. Now, it Last year’s AAC Freshman of the Year guard Elena Tsineke is poised to a key player for the Bulls a full schedule while keeping all has become the expectation. once more after being named to the AAC Preseason All-Conference Second Team. USF is tabbed those involved healthy and safe, “I’m excited where we’re at, to win the conference for the first time in program history. ORACLE PHOTO/BRIAN HATTAB the on-court product will still this program continues to be a attract most of the attention and shining star at this university and consistent the last nine years, we some high expectations in my outshine the darling of the AAC, excitement this season. athletic department and I think won at least 19 games. I think opinion.” and of women’s college basketball Here are just a few things that across the country,” Fernandez six of those years 20-win seasons As bright as the Bulls’ star in general, UConn. Bulls’ fans should look forward to said during a press conference and three of them 19-win seasons, has become over the last several Some of Fernandez’s best this season. Oct. 20. “I think we’ve been so we’re definitely going to have years, they’ve never been able to See WBB on PAGE 10 Men’s basketball season Preview Players to watch this season to the team, freshman Caleb Murphy. One of the big names to watch He’s a four-star guard from this season is forward Alexis Georgia, where he was ranked Yetna, who had his 2019-20 as the eighth-best recruit in the season end before it began, as state by 247Sports. When asked Richard Silva he suffered an ACL injury that about the growth he’s seen from sidelined him for the entire year. Murphy, coach Brian Gregory CORRESPONDENT In the season prior, Yetna led gave his praise to the freshman in the AAC with 9.6 rebounds per a mid-October press conference. After a long and stressful game. He also added 12.3 points “He’s got a chance to be a offseason littered with uncertainty per game to go along with his special player,” Gregory said.