Bulls focused on avoiding a downer at DePaul

Posted Mar 1, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Mar 1, 2010 at 10:23 PM

Since taking over a downtrodden USF program in 2007, Stan Heath has rarely been able to utter the following sentence: “Anything less than a victory would have been a downer.’‘

That was Heath following USF’s 99-93 victory against Providence on Saturday.

The same can be said Tuesday when USF plays at DePaul, a program in disarray after the dismissal of Coach Jerry Wainwright earlier this season. DePaul, once one of the nation’s top independent programs, is now the Big East’s doormat.

The Blue Demons enter Tuesday night’s game on a 10-game losing streak and one win in their last 34 conference games. Meanwhile, USF can finish with a .500 record in the conference and perhaps earn a first-round bye in next week’s Big East Tournament if the Bulls can win their final two games and have luck on their side.

Based on the recent past, USF seems in good shape to win back-to-back games for the first time in nearly a month. Not so fast, Heath warns.

“We’ve just learned so many different things about playing in this league, and one of the things is you better throw all of the records out of the window,’’ Heath said. “We’ve got DePaul next. And DePaul is not an easy out. We’ve got to make sure that we have total focus.’‘

While an NCAA berth is unlikely for the Bulls, they want to finish strong and win 20 games in a season for the first time since 1990, and also go to the postseaon for the first time since 2002.

In Saturday’s victory, USF looked like a team capable of both by closing out the Friars with a 26-11 run over the final 7:30. Before rallying, the Bulls trailed 82-73 and appeared headed to their fifth loss in six games.

Instead, Dominique Jones regained his scoring magic — he finished with a team-high 26 points — and four players scored 18 or more points, including 21 from forward Augustus Gilchrist.

Senior Mike Mercer, who scored 18 against the Friars, called the Providence game a must-win after USF’s dismal performance in a 74-49 loss at Villanova six days ago. Following Saturday’s win, Mercer’s attitude was more upbeat about the team’s prospects entering the Big East Tournament.

“We’ve faced so many things, so we all just bonded together and got it done,’’ he said. “We have to keep playing like that.’‘

The Bulls (17-11, 7-9) are currently in a four-way tie for ninth in the Big East standings, fighting Cincinnati, Connecticut and Seton Hall to move up to eighth and earn that first-round bye. Notre Dame (19-10, 8-8) is currently eighth and holds the tiebreaker with USF — the Irish swept the season series.

But first, USF must play DePaul. And like Heath said about Providence, anything but a win would be a downer.

“We’re playing at their place and I’m sure that they’d like to get us,’’ he said. “We’ve got to stay focused game by game and possession by possession.’‘

GameBox: USF at DePaul

TIP-OFF: 7:30 p.m.; AllState Arena, Chicago

RECORDS: USF 17-11 (7-9); DePaul 8-20 (1-15)

RADIO/TV: ESPNU/1250 AM

NEED TO KNOW: USF is 6-15 all-time against DePaul, but Bulls are 2-1 vs. Blue Demons under Stan Heath … DePaul has lost 10 consecutive games and 16 of 17 overall. … USF senior G/F Mike Mercer is shooting 58.1 percent and averaging 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds last four games … Tracy Webster was named interim coach earlier this season when DePaul fired Jerry Wainwright … Blue Demons C/F Mac Koshwal averages a double-double with 15.4 points and 10.1 rebounds.