My USF beat column running in Thursday’s edition of The Tampa Tribune:

NEW YORK— Normally, today is the first day of the offseason for the University of South Florida men’s basketball team.

That’s the way it has been for the past seven years. The day after losing in the conference tournament — or after the final regular-season game in the years USF didn’t qualify for the Big East tourney — the Bulls start making plans for next season.

But not this season.

USF (20-12) exited the Big East Tournament on Wednesday by losing in the second round to Georgetown. However, on Sunday the Bulls will find out who they play next.

Barring a major surprise by the NCAA Tournament selection committee, USF likely will face a state opponent in the first round of the NIT next week based on early projections.

If Florida (20-11) doesn’t get an invitation to March Madness, the Bulls likely will travel to Gainesville for a first-round game against the Gators. If Florida receives an NCAA bid, and Miami (18-12) doesn’t pull a shocker by winning the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, a Bulls-Hurricanes matchup could be in store.

The uncertainty of their next opponent is not an issue.

“We know we’re going to have more games to play,’’ senior guard Chris Howard said Wednesday. “Regardless of what happens, I’m proud of my teammates and coaches. This year has been good to me.’‘

After the Bulls beat the Hoyas in early February, junior Dominique Jones said he wouldn’t be satisfied unless USF made the NCAA Tournament. Though that is unlikely, Jones remained steadfast in his position following Wednesday’s loss.

“We gave up some games we should have won,’’ Jones said. “That makes a difference right here. Me setting the bar that high, you know, that’s where it should be set at. If you want to be big-time players and have a big-time program, that’s the way it should be set.’‘

Keeping up with Kawika

Former USF linebacker Kawika Mitchell on Wednesday night arrived in Uganda, where he is teaming with New York Giants defensive end and Uganda native Mathias Kiwanuka in a charity effort to help some of Uganda’s poverty-stricken villages.

Mitchell is writing a blog about his experience on BuffaloBills.com.

“There are a lot of people in Uganda,’’ he wrote Wednesday. “They are all over the streets, basically, trying to make a living selling anything from candy to cell phones.’‘

Bull bits

Jones plans to make a decision about entering the NBA draft after USF’s postseason run is done; USF coach Stan Heath expects Jones to return. … The worst start in school history (1-9) for the USF baseball team took a turn for the better on Tuesday night when Coach Lelo Prado won the 700th game of his career in a 14-7 victory over Jacksonville. … According to a report in the New York Times based on Department of Education figures, USF spent $2.9 million on its men’s basketball program from June 2008 to July 2009; that was the lowest in the Big East, or roughly 25 percent of the $10.3 million league-leader Marquette spent. … USF has 11 more wins than last season’s 9-22 mark, the third-best one-season turnaround in the program’s 39-year history.