When USF men’s basketball takes on FAU in a nationally-televised matchup Sunday afternoon, major implications will be on the line.
Two of the hottest teams in the AAC will clash in Tampa in a game that will arguably decide the top team in the conference.
The Bulls are red hot
The Bulls are in sole possession of first place in the AAC, currently 18-5, and 11-1 in conference play. The No. 24 Owls sit only one game behind USF.
In their first season under coach Amir-Abdur Rahim, USF has witnessed a dramatic turnaround. The Bulls are in the midst of a program record ten-game win streak, having not lost in over a month.
Time and time again, the Bulls have also proven their ability to hang with the top teams in the conference. They’ve rallied from double-digit deficits to take down Memphis and Charlotte, and used a strong second half to defeat North Texas on the road.
The Bulls pack a one-two punch at scoring with senior guards Chris Youngblood and Selton Miguel. Youngblood averages 14.7 points per game shooting 44% from the field, with Miguel following at 14.3 points per game.
The Owls looks to claim the top spot in the AAC
USF hasn’t quite seen an opponent quite like FAU.
Coach Dusty May has proven his team’s Cinderella run in last year’s NCAA tournament was anything but a fluke. The Owls have spent the entire season in as a member of the AP Top 25.
They’re led by junior guard Johnell Davis, who ranks fourth in the American with 18.5 points per game. FAU’s record currently stands at 20-5, winning nine of its last ten games.
The Owls are coming off an 80-68 victory against Temple.
How the game will affect the postseason
Sunday’s matchup is expected to have a huge impact on how the tournament bracket shapes up. An FAU win will likely cement them as the top team in the conference and almost guarantee a second straight trip to the Big Dance.
A USF victory will be a critical addition to the Bulls’ tournament resume.
South Florida arguably rests on the bracket bubble, needing a strong performance in the conference tournament to receive a March Madness bid.
A win will keep the Bulls in sole possession of first place in the conference as they attempt to secure the No. 1 seed in the AAC tournament.
FAU has a 70.4% chance of coming away with the win, according to ESPN Analytics.
In front of what is expected to be one of the biggest crowds in Yuengling Center history, the two top dogs in a completive American Conference should shape up for an incredible matchup.