The University of San Francisco men's basketball team will officially – and finally, begin its season tomorrow afternoon when USF takes on UMass Lowell at 1:00 p.m. PT at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Wednesday's contest will be part of a four-game tournament called "Bubbleville". The Dons are also slated to take on Towson, No. 4 Virginia, and Rhode Island.
Pat Olson will have the call for all four games on the home of USF Dons basketball, KNBR 1050-AM.
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Nov. 25, 2019 – 1:00 p.m. PST
Opponent: UMass Lowell (0-0/0-0 America East)
Site: Mohegan Sun Arena
Stream: FloHoops ($)
Talent: James Westling (play-by-play) and Kevin Lehman (analyst)
Radio: KNBR 1050-AM
Talent:
Pat Olson (play-by-play)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast.com
USF AT A GLANCE
• USF begins its 94th season tomorrow afternoon. The Dons are 1410-1021 (.579) all-time and are coming off a 22-win campaign. The 22 wins by the Dons in year one of the Golden Era is tied for the most since the program was reinstated in the 1985-86 season. USF has won 20 or more games in four consecutive seasons - the longest such stretch since USF did it seven times until 1981-82.
• USF was picked to finish fifth in the annual preseason coaches' poll. Gonzaga took home the top spot in the poll, receiving nine first place votes for 81 points. BYU was picked to finish second, with the remaining first place vote and 69 points. Behind them was Saint Mary's with 63 points, followed by Pepperdine (57) and the Dons (52).
• This year marks year two under head coach
Todd Golden. Golden took over for former head coach Kyle Smith who departed for Washington State following three consecutive 20-win seasons. Golden became the fourth head coach in program history to win 20-games in his first season on the Hilltop, joining Smith (2016-17), Pete Barry (1980-81), and Dan Belluomini (1978-78).
• The Dons return eight letter winners and two starters from last year's team. Gone are graduating seniors
Jimbo Lull,
Jordan Ratinho,
Remu Raitanen and graduate transfer
Charles Minlend. The four departing players made up the winningest class since the program was reinstated in 1985-86 and accounted for 10,709 career minutes played and 3,994 points.
• Back for the Dons include starters
Jamaree Bouyea (WCC Honorable Mention honoree) and sophomore
Josh Kunen as well as returners
Taavi Jurkatamm,
Dzmitry Ryuny,
Khalil Shabazz,
Jonas Visser,
Trevante Anderson, and
Emmanuel Nwabueze.
• Senior guard
Jamaree Bouyea was named to the annual Preseason All-WCC Team. Bouyea finished his junior year averaging 12.2 points per game while grabbing 4.4 rebounds per game and dishing out 3.5 assists per game.
• Newcomers: The Dons welcome seven newcomers to the squad this season - three are redshirts in junior transfer
Damari Milstead (Moreau Catholic/Grand Canyon), and freshman Isaiah Hawthorn (Tracy HS) and
Justin Bieker (Jesuit HS)...new to the squad in 2020-21 will be junior transfer
Samba Kane (Indian Hills CC/Illinois), sophomore
Julian Rishwain (Notre Dame HS/Boston College),
Maj Dusanic (Dream City Christian), and
Anthony Roy (Dublin HS).
Series
Wednesday's contest against UMass Lowell will be the first every matchup between the Dons and River Hawks.
About the River Hawks
Members of the America East conference, the River Hawks went 13-19 last season and 7-9 in conference play. Seventh year head coach Pat Duquette believes this is the best team he has coming back. The last five years the River Hawks have finished with win totals of 11-11-12-15-13 - this year they have three starters back including 6-2 guard Obadiah Noel (18.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg), who is a career 40 percent shooter from beyond the arc. He was a preseason all-conference selection. UMass Lowell plays a fast three guard system that ranked 84th in Division I in scoring last season (74.6 ppg). Defensively, the River Hawks struggled last season, where they ranked 316th in the nation allowing 76.0 ppg. To help that, Duquette brought in transfers from Division I experience, Salif Boudie (Arkansas State), Darion Jordan-Thomas (Wagner), Charlie Russell, Jr. (Tulane), Gregory Hammond (Rhode Island).
Last Time Out Versus UMass Lowell
First every match up against between the Dons and River Hawks. Against the America East Conference the Dons are 6-0 against members of the league, including 2-0 against Vermont and 2-0 against Maine.
UP NEXT
The Dons will be back in action on Thursday when they take on Towson at 12:30 p.m. The game against the Tigers will be streamed on FloHoops which can be accessed on the men's basketball schedule.
Pat Olson will have the call on KNBR 1050-AM.
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