South Florida basketball is dancing again for the first time in over a decade.
For the first time in 14 years, the South Florida Bulls men’s basketball team is headed to the NCAA Tournament after a remarkable turnaround. This tournament appearance means more than simply ending a long postseason drought. The program endured tragedy in Oct. 2024 when head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim passed away due to complications during surgery. Abdur-Rahim had just reignited excitement around the program after a promising 2023-24 season that ended with a berth in the National Invitation Tournament.
Instead of collapsing under that loss, South Florida rallied. With the program suddenly searching for leadership, USF turned to Bryan Hodgson. After two successful seasons at Arkansas State, Hodgson, who had previously worked with Abdur-Rahim, accepted the challenge of continuing the program’s upward trajectory.
Coach Hodgson immediately got to work and reshaped the roster. Through recruiting and the transfer portal, he brought a couple of players with him from Arkansas State, including the 2025-26 American Conference Player of the Year, Izaiyah Nelson. The result was a roster that blended experienced guards, scoring depth, and a dominant interior presence. This marks only the fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
How they got here:
South Florida’s conference tournament championship was historic. It marked the program’s first tournament title in 36 years, coincidentally coming on the same court where the Bulls last won one. That 1989-1990 championship, when USF defeated Charlotte as part of the ASUN. This win earned the Bulls a 15-seed in the NCAA tournament against the No. 2 Arizona Wildcats. South Florida fell short in that matchup, and postseason success would remain elusive for decades.
Until now. The Bulls opened the season with an 8-5 nonconference record, facing a challenging slate that included programs from major conferences such as Oklahoma State, Colorado State, and Alabama. While South Florida finished with a losing record against power-conference opponents, those early matchups helped prepare the Bulls for the physical style of play they would later see in conference competition.
That early adversity helped prepare USF for Conference play. The Bulls caught fire late in the season, finishing with a nine-game winning streak in conference play and extending it to 11 consecutive victories entering the NCAA Tournament.
During the American Tournament, USF displayed its versatility. Against Charlotte, the Bulls showcased their offensive firepower, shooting 46% from the field and 41% from three-point range while scoring 86 points. Three players led the scoring effort.
- Wes Enis – 24 points
- Joseph Pinion – 24 points
- Izaiyah Nelson – 16 points and 8 rebounds
The championship game was a very different script. Facing Wichita State, South Florida turned up its defense. The Bulls held the Shockers to just 55 points, including limiting star guard Kenyon Giles to only five points, far below his season average of 19.2. This year’s American Tournament was very different. If you want to read more, just click here.
General Information:
Team: South Florida
Location: Tampa, FL
Record: 25-8 (15-3)
Head Coach: Bryan Hodgson (1st season with South Florida, 3rd overall)
What to know about South Florida basketball:
The Bulls play in one of the more dynamic and flexible conferences. Statistically, South Florida has been one of the conference’s most efficient teams. The Bulls rank among the top teams in the league in offensive efficiency and offensive rebounding rate while playing at one of the fastest tempos in the conference. This and their nine-man rotation allow them to maintain a fast tempo that gradually wears down opponents. That pace leads to frequent drives to the basket and a steady stream of free throws. Offensively, balance is a key strength for South Florida.
Their starting four guards average double-digit scoring, and Nelson’s presence inside gives USF five players averaging double figures. While Nelson often draws the defensive focus, both Enis and Pinion stretch the floor effectively, each shooting better than 36% from three-point range.
The Bulls are also elite on the glass. South Florida ranks top-30 nationally in offensive rebounding rate, creating numerous second-chance opportunities on nearly 36% of missed shots. However, their biggest vulnerability appears on the defensive glass. While they dominate offensive boards, the Bulls sometimes allow opponents second chances due to the inconsistency of focus.
South Florida can be almost hypnotized by the ball and forget to put a body on a man. Turnovers are another byproduct of USF’s aggressive tempo. This shows up as every starter averages at least one turnover per game. South Florida considers this tradeoff for the speed and pressure they apply offensively.
Still, when South Florida locks in defensively, as they did against Wichita State, the Bulls have proven they can win games in multiple ways. Few teams in the country enter the tournament on a streak this hot. The Bulls have won 11 straight games, including their two American Tournament games. That momentum has turned what once looked like a rebuilding year into one of the most remarkable seasons in program history.
NCAA Tournament prediction for South Florida basketball: Round of 32
Seed: 11
A difficult draw for South Florida as they get Louisville. Louisville enters with more traditional high-major talent, led by scoring guard Ryan Conwell and forward J’Vonne Hadley. A unique connection, the Cardinals also feature two former South Florida players, Conwell and Kasean Pryor. Conwell is currently leading Louisville with 18.7 points per game. Despite its history as a college powerhouse, Louisville has struggled recently in the NCAA Tournament, not winning a game since 2017.
The matchup could hinge on shooting or rebounding. USF averages +6.2 rebounds per game, while Louisville ranks near the bottom of the ACC in defensive rebounding percentage. Oddsmakers list Louisville as a 5.5-point favorite, with a high projected total of 165.5 points, suggesting a fast-paced, offensive-heavy contest.
South Florida’s defensive strategy will likely focus on containing Conwell in a similar way they limited Wichita State’s Kenyon Giles. If the Bulls can control the glass and maintain their offensive balance, an upset is possible. However, the depth and talent still favor Louisville. Even if South Florida advances, a potential matchup with Michigan State, the 3-seed in this region, would present an almost insurmountable change.
Regardless of how far the Bulls advance, the 2025-2026 season will be remembered as a defining moment for South Florida basketball. What began with uncertainty and loss has turned into a season of resilience, remembrance, and belief. Now the Bulls have an opportunity to carry that story into college basketball’s biggest stage.
With everything this program has endured over the past two years, simply reaching March Madness is an incredible achievement. The question now: Who will win out, blue collar or blue blood?