Heath: Bulls chemistry ‘phenomenal’

Posted Oct 19, 2011 by Adam Adkins

Updated Oct 19, 2011 at 08:34 PM

Stan Heath admits his team isn’t where it needs to be quite yet, but the University of South Florida men’s basketball coach is optimistic the Bulls can take strides forward this season after a disappointing 2010-11 season ended with a 10-23 mark, a program record for losses.

Heath, entering his fifth season, believes this is the best offensive team he’s had during his tenure and feels the group can be solid defensively as well, so long as they can avoid a “light-switch mentality” and keep the intensity level at a high pace. What Heath raved most about, though, was simply how the group has come together.

“Our chemistry has been phenomenal. I’ve been exceptionally pleased with it,” Heath said. “I think a lot of it goes back to the guys paid some dues in the summer. They were up, 6, 7 in the morning running, doing some things behind the scenes to get themselves ready to go.

“I think they really built a bond. Some of the ups and downs we went through last season, they understand they don’t want to go through that, and it’s going to take the chemistry, the camaraderie to come together.”

Heath was in New York City on Wednesday, along with senior forwards Augustus Gilchrist and Ron Anderson Jr., to represent USF at Big East Media Day. The preseason coaches poll was released at the event, which saw the Bulls picked to finish 14th in the 16-team league. USF finished 15th in the league standings last season with a 3-15 mark.

USF has most of its significant contributors from last season back, and if they play up to their potential and Heath gets the contributions he’s hoping for from a handful of newcomers – forward Victor Rudd, combo guard Blake Nash and point guard Anthony Collins – it could help the Bulls avoid the league cellar.

“We’ve got a long ways to go,” Heath said, “but I really like kind of where we are right now with picking things up pretty quickly.”

BULLS BITS: Senior guard Andrea Smith, still recovering from ACL injury suffered in the final game of last season, hasn’t been able to go through contact drills in practice yet, but women’s basketball coach Jose Fernandez is still hopeful his leading scorer from 2010-11 can be ready by the season opener Nov. 11 against Florida State. Fernandez, along with Smith and guard Kaneisha Saunders, will be in New York on Thursday for Big East Media Day. … The women’s soccer team (6-7-4, 2-5-3 in Big East) has been eliminated from contention for the Big East tournament. The Bulls close out the season Saturday at Marquette. … The men’s golf team closed out its fall season Tuesday with a third-place finish at The Invitational at The Ocean Course in Kiawah Island, S.C. Freshman Branden Collins shot a tournament record 6-under in his second round on his way to tying for third, while fellow freshman Trey Valentine took fifth, the third time in as many events he placed in the top five. … USF has a “Bring a Kid to the Game” promotion for Saturday’s home football game with Cincinnati, where fans can take a child 17-and-under to any local Wal-Mart to receive a pass code for a free ticket that can be redeemed through Ticketmaster. For more information, visit GoUSFBulls.com.