USF Basketball: Augustus Gilchrist Healthy and Ready To Take on the Big East

Augustus Gilchrist had a trying season last year. He missed 15 games with an ankle injury in the middle of the season and never got back into the groove when he returned to action.

Gilchrist dominated the court during the first seven games of the season. He averaged 20.1 points and 8.4 rebounds, both put him in the top 10 nationally. He was a great compliment to Dominique Jones, and even shadowed the Bulls guard at times.

Dominique Jones went on to win the Big East scoring title, but it was Gilchrist who carried the team up to his injury. Gilchrist would have been the odds on favorite for the scoring title had his fate been different.

The ankle injury took its toll on Augustus, his lack of conditioning during his time off was very apparent on his return. He struggled getting back into the fast-paced Big East play, and his production suffered. He finished the season averaging 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, stats he was not very proud of.

The torch has been pasted from Dominique Jones to Gilchrist. Jones declared for the NBA draft and now “Big Gus” is looked at as the team’s leader. This is a responsibility he is more than ready for. The 6’10’’ forward makes his presence known on both sides of the court, and when needed in the locker room.

Gilchrist is an extremely dynamic player for USF. He has an expansive offensive arsenal that includes both a mid-range jump shot and a knack for knocking it down behind the arc. He finished the season shooting 49 percent from beyond the arc.

His offense is not the only thing teams need to be aware of, however, as Gilchrist is a monster on the boards and is a very capable shot blocker. He should easily average a double-double next season and should be a candidate for Big East Player of the Year next season.

The Bulls will need the very best from their star forward as they transition out of the Dominique Jones era. The influx of youth at the guard position will be something the Bulls struggle with early on this season. Augustus Gilchrist has the ability on both sides of the court to ease those growing pains for USF.