USF-Louisville: Bulls Drop Conference Opener with Dismal Performance

The Bulls didn’t get off the start they wanted to in conference play as they fell 52-73 to Louisville on the road. The Bulls will have an uphill climb this season, and that includes when they get their star center Augustus Gilchrist back at the end of the month.

USF played tough in the first half going into halftime down 32-31 but was out-scored 41-21 in the second half. The Bulls shot a season low 11 percent from behind the arc and couldn’t hit much of anything down the stretch as the Cardinals pulled away early in the second half. The Bulls shot only 38 percent from the field.

The Bulls have lost to Louisville 10 times in a row, and they made it easy by turning the ball over 21 times and missing more than half their free throws. Louisville’s largest lead was 21 points in the second half as they opened up with a 15-0 run.

Jarrid Famous had 12 points and Toarlyn Fitzpatrick add 11 as the only two Bulls players in double figures. Dominique Jones had his worst offensive performance of the season and finished with only five points on a 2-6 shooting night after fouling out with almost 13 minutes left in the second half.

Edgar Sosa led the Cardinals with 16 points and got support from both Samardo Samuels and Jared Swopshire who chipped in 12 points apiece. Louisville shot only 20 percent from three-point range but overcame their poor perimeter shooting by going 45 percent from the field.

USF (10-3) will try and break even in conference play when it takes on Notre Dame (11-2) on Tuesday. The Bulls have a tough schedule in the opening month of conference play but need to stay competitive until Gilchrist returns. His defensive presence along with scoring performance will dramatically improve this struggling team.