By Ken Cross
TAMPA, Fla. – The theme of “Group Moxie” is relative to this season’s South Florida Bulls, and that fearless mentality allowed them to pass the Temple Owls, 100-91, in double overtime.
Coach Ben Fletcher called his team’s attack, “Musical Chairs,” as every Bull who came onto the floor had a particular say in how USF evened its America Athletic Conference record at 5-5 with eight games remaining.
“You try to keep it in guys’ hands that you trust; that will get you the right shot,” said Fletcher.
In addition to a quality win for South Florida, the American Athletic Conference honored the late Amir Abdur-Rahim with the Honorary Coach of the Year for 2024-25. Abdur-Rahim devastatingly lost his life in late October with complications from a medical procedure.
“He’s the first coach in my life to emphasize building great relationships with each other and spending quality time with each other, and that’s, ‘Love Wins,’” said guard Kobe Knox.
Center Jamille Reynolds led the Bulls with 25 points and 12 rebounds while making 10-of-14 shots from the field.
Knox added 17 points, and Brandon Stroud netted 15 as South Florida shot 51 percent from the floor, and guard CJ Brown handed out 10 assists.
Reynolds was the focal point of the second half as his aggressive play allowed him to score a quick seven points which pushed USF into a 56-49 lead with 15:10 remaining.
“We said at halftime, ‘If we see them in zone, we want to pile it inside, and that what we did,” said Fletcher. “The first few plays, we went straight to him. He was quick, decisive, and that gave us a chance to get out and in that lead.”
The Owls came into the game without leading scorer Jamal Mashburn, who had a foot injury.
After Temple’s Steve Settle and Zion Stanford combined for 16 points in a 21-14 run, which cut the Bulls lead to 72-71 with 4:48 left in regulation, Reynolds scored on a tap-in to keep USF ahead.
“I thought, tonight, he got his rhythm back,” Fletcher said. “He did a really good job of having an attack mentality. He did a really good job of rebounding out of his area. He did a really good job in the overtimes of protecting the rim for us.”
Stroud stepped up in the first overtime as he followed Kobe Knox’s three with a layup to give the Bulls an 86-81 lead with 2:52 remaining. Temple held South Florida to 0-of-6 from the field over the duration as Settle forced the second five minutes when he scored on a driving layup to tie the game at 87-87.
Kobe Knox started the second overtime with his attack method as he followed a Jayden Reid three with his drive on the right baseline that resulted in a dunk at the end of the shot clock. On the next possession, he slid down the lane for a layup after CJ Brown recovered a loose ball and tossed it to him for the score.
“As the game was going on, I started seeing how the guys were guarding me,” analyzed Knox. “They just played me close, shooting-wise wise, and I read the closeouts. Coach ‘Fletch’ tells me all the time – just drive the closeout and get to the rim and finish it with explosiveness.”
Knox emphasized the importance of Reid hitting the three that opened the second overtime.
“We know how electric JR can get when he gets hot,” Knox described. “Just staying confident. He was really confident when he stepped in and made that three.”
The Bulls’ defense came up huge in the second overtime as it held Temple to 1-of-10 from the floor.
South Florida made 37 field goals and the Bulls assisted 26 of those.
“I thought the stat of the night was we had 26 assists,” Fletcher said. When that ball moves and we don’t care who shoots it and when we make sure we get the right shot for South Florida, we’re pretty good.”
Stanford led the Owls with 23 points while Settle scored 21 and Elijah Gray tossed in 17. USF held Temple to 31-of-84 from the floor and outrounded the Owls, 52-49.
Amir’s Presence: AAC commissioner Tim Pernetti was at Yuengling Center to present Abdur-Rahim’s family with the 2024-25 AAC Honorary Coach of the Year Award.
The presentation and the remembrance of Coach Amir brought about many important thoughts to Coach Fletcher and the players.
“I don’t know if you guys saw the video when he actually said, ‘Love Wins,’” explained Fletcher. “I felt like that video described our relationship to a tee. Even during the ceremonies, when they always show a video, you would see me in the background. I thought that video told our relationship. I was always in the background, and I always wanted to have his back.”
Fletcher discussed how most of the players on the roster came to Tampa to play for Coach Abdur-Rahim and how that affected all of them on an even deeper personal level.
“All they have done is work, work, work, and work,” he said. “I don’t think people know what these dudes have been going through. Believe me, I love these dudes with all my heart.”
Fans were presented with t-shirts that said, “Love Wins” on the front.