The USF men’s basketball team returns home Sunday for one of its most important games of the season, hosting Tulsa at 12 p.m. in the annual Salute to Service game. The Bulls (15–8, 7–3 AAC) enter the weekend just one game behind the Golden Hurricane (20–3, 8–2 AAC), setting the stage for a true first‑place showdown at the Yuengling Center.
Tulsa currently sits atop the American Conference standings, but USF has surged into contention behind one of the most explosive offenses in the nation. With both teams separated by a single game and the calendar turning to February, this matchup carries major implications for the conference race and postseason positioning.
Program Comparison: Two Elite Offenses Collide
Both programs enter Sunday with strong analytical profiles. USF holds a KenPom rating of 67, BPI of 70, and NET ranking of 65, while Tulsa checks in at KenPom 55, BPI 69, and NET 46. The numbers reflect two teams that have built their success on pace, efficiency, and perimeter firepower.
South Florida leads the American in eight major statistical categories, including:
- Points per game: 90.4
- Rebounds per game: 42.9
- Offensive rebounds: 15.5
- Assists: 17.8
- Free throws attempted: 28.5
- Free throws made: 21.0
The Bulls also lead the league in total three‑pointers made (231), with Tulsa right behind at 230. Both teams average 10 made threes per game, underscoring the potential for a high‑scoring, fast‑paced contest.
Series History and Recent Momentum
Sunday marks the 19th all‑time meeting between the programs and their second matchup this season. USF won the first meeting on Jan. 10, defeating Tulsa 93–78 on the road behind a dominant offensive performance.
The Bulls enter this game fresh off a 109–88 victory over UTSA, their sixth 100‑point outing of the season—the most of any American Conference team.
Up Next
Following Sunday’s showdown, USF hits the road to face Wichita State on Wednesday, Feb. 11, with tipoff set for 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and Bulls Unlimited.
