TAMPA, Fla. – For the first time in 614 days, there will be Wildcat basketball, as Bethune-Cookman men's basketball travels to Tampa to take on the Bulls of USF, 5 p.m. Tuesday.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Tuesday, November 9
Opponent: South Florida (0-0, 0-0 AAC)
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Location: Tampa, Fla. / Yuengling Center
Live Stats:  http://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=sfla
Watch Live: ESPN+
 
Fresh Faces
 
The Wildcats face quite the fresh start in 2021. The program returns to play under the leadership of new head coach Reggie Theus. The former NBA superstar takes the helm after coaching experience at the NBA level as well as at the NCAA level with Louisville and New Mexico State, the latter of which he led to the NCAA tournament in only his second year as head coach.
 
Theus will lead a Wildcat team featuring four freshmen and only two returning players from the 2019-20 team. He must also navigate a conference change as the Wildcats adjust to life in the SWAC after over 40 years in the MEAC.
 
The Returners
 
Sophomore guard Joe French and junior guard Matthew Mondesir are all that remains from the last time the Wildcats took the floor.
 
French averaged just under 20 minutes per game as a freshman. He led the MEAC in shooting from behind the arc, hitting on deep balls at a .435 clip, earning him a spot on the All-Rookie team. French returns to the Wildcats after a year on the sidelines at FAU due to some transfer eligibility issues.

Mondesir will look to expand his roll after he did not see the floor in the 2019-20 campaign for B-CU. He averaged 6.1 points in 32 games with Central Arkansas as a sophomore in 2017-18.
 
Scouting the Bulls

USF finished the 2020-21 season 9-13. Fifth-year USF head coach Brian Gregory faces a similar roster overhaul with seven freshmen and only four Bulls returners from a season ago. The Bulls unofficially opened their season last week, taking on NAIA Voorhees College on Nov. 1. The Bulls defeated the Tigers, 92-42, with four double digit scorers led by Jalyn McCreary's 17. USF shot 51% in the contest.
 
All-Time Series
 
The Wildcats are winless against the Bulls in four meetings all-time. Most recently, USF defeated B-CU, 83-63 on Dec. 14, 2017

Preseason Predictions

The Wildcats were picked to finish 10th in their first appearance in the annual SWAC preseason poll.
 
 
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