USF walked into the Yuengling Center on Sunday afternoon with a chance to finish what it started back in November. The Bulls walked out as American Conference regular season champions for the second time in two years after an 83–60 win over Charlotte. They controlled the game from the middle of the first half onward and never let the 49ers regain momentum. The win pushed USF to 23–8 overall and 15–3 in league play, closing the regular season on a nine‑game surge that showed no signs of slowing down.
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A Record‑Setting Offense Finishes The Job
Joseph Pinion and Wes Enis once again set the tone. Pinion scored 22 points and hit four threes. Enis added 20 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Both players reached the 100‑three‑pointer milestone this season, making USF only the 12th Division I team in history to have two players hit that mark in the same year. The Bulls also set a new single‑season program record with 300 made threes. Their pace, spacing, and shot‑making overwhelmed Charlotte from the midpoint of the first half through the final buzzer.
Defense, Tempo, And A Statement To The League
USF flipped the game after an early 8–1 Charlotte lead. The Bulls forced turnovers, ran the floor, and dictated tempo. Charlotte went more than four minutes without a field goal late in the first half, and USF used that stretch to build a double‑digit cushion. By halftime, the Bulls led 44–29 and controlled every major category: bench scoring, fast‑break points, second‑chance points, points in the paint, and points off turnovers. The second half turned into a celebration of everything this team has become—fast, deep, connected, and relentless.
USF Locks Up The No. 1 Seed And Eyes March
The Bulls now head to Birmingham as the top seed in the American Conference Tournament. They will open play in the semifinals on March 14. The bigger picture, though, is already clear: USF is safely in the NCAA Tournament. Every major bracketology outlet—ESPN, CBS Sports, USA Today, NCAA.com, and AP projections—lists the Bulls as an 11‑seed entering Championship Week. Their résumé, metrics, and late‑season surge have removed all doubt.
A Program Built For March
Two regular‑season titles in three years. A record‑breaking offense. A roster with shooters, rim protection, and depth. A fan base that packed the Yuengling Center with a season‑high 6,710 on Senior Day. USF enters March as one of the most dangerous mid‑major programs in the country, and the Bulls carry the look of a team ready to make noise on the national stage.
