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When South Florida began their 2011-2012 campaign in November, the Bulls basketball team was an afterthought.

Actually, the men’s basketball team probably wasn’t on anyone’s radar. I wonder how many fans even realized the season started on November 12th?

Most fans were probably more concerned with the football team who continued to unravel during Big East play but were coming off a much-needed win against Syracuse.

At any rate, the basketball team probably went unnoticed until late December when conference play began.

Fans didn’t miss much during non-conference play anyway. USF went 7-6 with bad losses to Old Dominion, Penn State, and Auburn.

Nothing about their play early on suggested this team would even compete for an NIT bid let alone an NCAA one.

But after a close loss to then #9  UConn at home, USF has gone 10-3 in Big East play with their biggest win coming against a Seton Hall team who was ranked 24th at the time.

With their most recent win at Pitt on Sunday, the Bulls (17-10, 10-4) now have wins against 2 teams in the RPI100. And for the first in its history, the Bulls will finish with a winning record in the Big East.

With that said their resume is not too impressive and as of today they wouldn’t get in.

At the very least, the Bulls have USF fans talking college basketball and thinking March Madness.

With four games left before the Big East Tournament starts, the Bulls need to  go 3-1 and win at least one game in the tournament to have a legitimate shot at being considered for the field of 68.

USF’s  next game is February 22 at #2 Syracuse. A win here would certainly propel the Bulls into the tournament discussion but the odds are against USF pulling this one out. If they can play like they did against UConn and not like they did against Georgetown (30 point loss) USF could make it interesting.

Losing to Syracuse doesn’t burst their bubble but a loss in their final three games could. After facing the Orange, the Bulls come home to face Cincinnati (2/26) followed by their final road game at #18 Louisville (2/29) and then finish the regular season at home against West Virginia (3/3).

If they can win those final three games, USF would get the quality wins they so desperately need. All three games will be tough but playing two of three at home helps (13-1 Home Record). Beating the Cardinals in Louisville will be tough but they have a better chance of beating them then they do Syracuse.

Going 3-1 and winning at least one game in the Big East Tournament would put USF at 24-12 overall with a 14-6 Big East record.

It would also put USF fans in front of a television set on Selection Sunday anxiously awaiting their team’s fate.

Tags: USF Bulls