ESPN: Bulls closer to NCAA field

Posted Feb 19, 2012 by Joey Johnston

Updated Feb 19, 2012 at 11:59 PM

Apparently, Sunday night’s 56-47 victory at Pittsburgh did wonders for the University of South Florida’s NCAA Tournament bubble hopes.

Previously, USF wasn’t on the radar of ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi. But after beating Pitt, the Bulls were listed as one of Lunardi’s “First Four Teams Out’’ in his projections of the 68 NCAA Tournament teams, which will appear Monday on ESPN.com.

Lunardi’s last four teams in the NCAA field: Texas, Northwestern, Seton Hall, Miami.

Lunardi’s first four teams out: N.C. State, UCF, South Florida, Oregon.

From this point until Selection Sunday on March 11, Lunardi’s projections will be updated almost daily. Lunardi, a Saint Joseph’s University administrator who has helped to make bracketology into a cottage industry, is sometimes deadly accurate in his projections. So for USF, which hasn’t made the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament since 1992, the fun might be just beginning.

The Bulls (17-10, 10-4 Big East Conference) need to do more, although they just set a program record by winning their 10th conference game. But they are trending in the right direction.
 
USF’s remaining schedule

Wednesday, Feb. 22—at Syracuse

Sunday, Feb. 26—Cincinnati

Wednesday, Feb. 29—at Louisville

Saturday, March 3—West Virginia

March 6-10—Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden