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South Florida

Conference USA report

SportsLine.com Report
June 5, 2000

A glance at 2001

There was an outside chance that everyone on the roster was going to be back next season. The Bulls have one senior and Scott Johnson had applied for a sixth year of eligibility since he missed all of last season with a torn right ACL. His appeal, however, was denied and his career is over. The Bulls were also stung by the transfer of Marlon Dawson. He did, however, transfer in order to find more playing time, so his loss is not a crippling one, though it will hurt the team's depth.

Shot blocker Gerrick Morris (6-9, 210) redshirted this season and likely will play a major role in 2001. The same should be said for co-freshman Will McDonald. At 6-11, McDonald's raw talent should be more polished by the start of next season.

The coach

Next year will be the fifth and final year of Greenberg's contract. So, if there were mid-season rumors this year that his tenure at USF could be coming to an end, then they certainly will heat up again next year. Many say Greenberg is a West Coast coach building a resume and his constant appearances on Jim Rome's nationally syndicated talk show only feeds his appeal on the left coast. Still, Greenberg got Long Beach State to the NCAA and wants to get the Bulls there as well.

Who'll be back

The usual suspects are all back. B.B. Waldon, Chonsey Asbury, haven Jackson, Cedric Smith and Reggie Kohn will likely make up the nucleus of USF's hopes and all have played significantly this year. If the Bulls get the type of development they want from either McDonald or Morris, they likely will start one at center, play Waldon and Asbury at the forwards and bring Jackson off the bench.

Who's gone

Aside from Johnson, the Bulls lose no one to graduation or eligibility. Dawson leaves the program, but his is not a costly loss. Reserves Artha Reeves and Sam Sanders are expected to be back.

Newcomers

Although he practiced with the team the entire season, Morris will be considered a newcomer and could have an immediate impact. USF also is hoping for inside help from Mike Bernard, a 6-10, 270-pound center from Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. Bernard, a native of Oldham, England, averaged eight points and five rebounds for the Red Barons. Wing help should come from local high school standout Jimmy Baxter. Baxter, a 6-5, 185 pound wing player from Boca Ciega High School in St. Petersburg averaged 19.5 points and nine rebounds as a junior.

Others: Sanders could have an interesting role next season. Purely a defensive presence, Sanders rarely looks for his shot and could see increase playing time if he spends the summer developing a jumper.