11/1/2026 3:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Barry Tompkins and Dan Belloumini on the call, with Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli on the radio call on KNBR.Â
Tip-Ins
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Newcomer Dylan Bordón made his professional debut at the age of 15 for Club San Martín de Corrientes, a team that competes in the Torneo Nacional de Ascenso (TNA), the second division of the Argentine Liga Nacional de Básquetbol league system.Â
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A native of Israel, Yoav Vitlem competed for Israel in the FIBA U20 Eurobasket 2025, averaging 8.1 points, 3.7 assists, 1.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 21.0 minutes per game.
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USF has only played Radford once before in program history, a 52-41 win on Dec. 19, 2017 at War Memorial Gym.Â
USF Men's Basketball Game Notes
GERLUFSEN STARTS YEAR FIVE:
Chris Gerlufsen begins his fifth season as head coach, sixth season overall, for the San Francisco Men's Basketball team as the Dons open the 2026-27 campaign against Radford on Monday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. from War Memorial Gym at Sobrato Center. The Dons finished the 2025-26 season with an overall record of 17-16, marking five consecutive seasons with an overall winning record.Â
IN SEASON OPENERS:
In the Chris Gerlufsen era, the Dons have won every season opener and have won the last five consecutive season openers. Last season, the Dons opened the 2025-26 campaign with a 98-53 win over UC Santa Cruz. This is the second meeting all time against Radford. The Dons won the other meeting, 52-41 on Dec. 19, 2017 at USF. Â
FOURTEEN NEWCOMERS:
San Francisco's roster features 14 newcomers this season, tied for the most in Division I this season. UT Martin and Southern also boast 14 newcomers this season. Ndewedo Newbury and Aidan Braccia are the two returning Dons from the 2025-26 roster. Â
EIGHT INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS:
Eight of the 16 rostered Dons are international student-athletes. UT Martin leads the nation with 14 international student-athletes, while WCC foe Saint Mary's also features eight international players.Â
THIRD IN WEST COAST CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL:
USF was tabbed third in the annual West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Preseason poll. The Dons earned 58 points for third place, marking the second straight year, and four times in the last five years, that USF was tabbed third in the conference preseason poll.Â
CHIPS ON THE WCC PRESEASON TEAM:
Ndewedo Newbury was recognized as an honoree on the West Coast Conference's 10-member preseason team on Oct. 15. Newbury returns after missing all of last season due to injury. In 2024-25, before suffering a season-ending injury in December, Newbury started 11 games, averaging 8.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 24.1 minutes played per game. Newbury's recognition gives the Dons a player on the conference preseason team for three consecutive years.
DIAGNE STAYS IN THE WCC, TRANSFERS TO USF:
After competing against the Dons last year as a member of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, Ismaila Diagne transferred to USF during the offseason. Diagne appeared in 27 games in 2025-26, totaling 30 points, 67 rebounds (19 offensive, 48 defensive), 16 blocks, four assists, four steals and shot 12-for-24 (.500) from the field. A center, Diagne will be counted on as the Dons' big man at the 5 spot.Â
OOSTERBAAN MAKES THE MOVE TO USF FROM ST. THOMAS:
Another transfer addition this year. Ben Oosterbaan joins the Dons after playing the previous two seasons at St. Thomas. Last season, he started all 34 games and Oosterbaan made his presence felt in the program, setting multiple marks in the top 10 of the program's Division I single-season records: field goal percentage (7th), rebounds (7th), steals (9th), assist-to-turnover ratio (10th) and rebounds per game (10th).
FIVE-GAME HOMESTAND TO START:
USF will remain in the friendly confines of War Memorial Gym for the first five games of the season. Following Monday's matchup against Radford, the Dons will host North Dakota State (Nov. 6), Montana (Nov. 10), Portland State (Nov. 14) and Louisiana (Nov. 18) all at home before hitting the road. The Dons will only play two true road games during non-conference play - at Fresno State on Dec. 12 and at Texas State on Nov. 16.Â
WELCOME TO THE HILLTOP RYAN BOATRIGHT
On Sept. 14, head coach Chris Gerlufsen officially announced the hire or Ryan Boatright as assistant coach and director of player development. A collegiate standout at UConn, Boatright joined the program at the conclusion of a successful playing career, which spanned 11 seasons and took him to many of the best leagues domestically and internationally. He spent time in the NBA G League with stops on the Grand Rapids Drive, Agua Caliente Clippers, and Texas Legends. Additionally, he played in the NBA Summer League with the Brooklyn Nets. On an international level, Boatright played overseas in several countries, including Spain, France, Lithuania, and Türkiye.Â
DONS ON NATIONAL TV:
USF will appear on national television seven times during conference play as part of the West Coast Conference national television conference matchup schedule. Both meetings against Santa Clara and Saint Mary's will appear on the ESPN platform, while the Jan. 19 home game against LMU and both games against Pacific will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network. In addition, the Dons will also appear on CBS Sports Network for neutral site games against Oregon State, George Washington and Tulsa. The game against Fresno State will be broadcast on the USA Network.Â
NEUTRAL SITE TESTS:
For the second straight season, San Francisco will return to Palm Desert for the Acrisure Classic during the week of Thanksgiving at Acrisure Arena. USF is scheduled to first play Nevada on Monday, Nov. 23 before meeting former two-year affiliate WCC rival Oregon State the next day on Tuesday, Nov. 24. In December, the Dons head to Texas for the Texas Legends Coaching Classic in Frisco, Texas from the Comerica Center. USF will play George Washington on Saturday, Dec. 19 and Tulsa on Monday, Dec. 21. Both games will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.Â
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP NEW TOURNAMENT FORMAT:
With the West Coast Conference currently standing at 10 teams in the league, March's Credit Union 1 West Coast Conference Basketball Championship will feature a new format when the tournament returns to Orleans Arena in Las Vegas from March 5-9. The reformatted 10-team, nine-game, four-round tournament will feature two first-round games on March 5 before the men's quarterfinals start on Sunday, March 7, with the semifinals slated for March 8 and the title game on March 9. Â
UP NEXT:
USF remains on the Hilltop for the next four games. Next up, the Dons will face North Dakota State on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. Â
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