The Yuengling Center is humming again. Honestly, if you haven’t been paying attention to the university of south florida basketball schedule lately, you’re missing one of the weirdest, most electric turnarounds in the American Athletic Conference.
Everyone expected a drop-off. They always do. But Coach Amir Abdur-Rahim—and now the continuation of that culture—has turned Tampa into a place where ranked teams come to sweat. It’s not just about the wins, though those are piling up. It’s about the fact that on any given Tuesday or Sunday, the Bulls might just drop 100 points on someone's head.
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You’ve got to look at the rhythm of the season to really get it. The non-conference portion was a total rollercoaster. We saw the Bulls travel to places like Oklahoma State and Alabama. Those weren't just "paycheck games." They were statements.
But the real meat? That's the AAC grind. The university of south florida basketball schedule for the conference season is a 18-game sprint. It's built on these home-and-home rivalries that are starting to get genuinely heated.
Upcoming Men's Schedule Highlights:
- January 18: Wichita State at USF (Yuengling Center) – 2:00 P.M. ET on ESPN2/U.
- January 22: USF at UAB (Bartow Arena) – 7:00 P.M. ET on ESPN2.
- January 25: Florida Atlantic at USF (Yuengling Center) – 1:00 P.M. ET on ESPN2.
- January 28: USF at Tulane (New Orleans) – 9:00 P.M. ET on ESPNU.
- January 31: USF at Temple (Philadelphia) – 8:00 P.M. ET on ESPN2/U.
Basically, the end of January is a nightmare. Four out of five games are either against top-tier conference foes or played in hostile gyms. If they survive this stretch, we’re talking about a serious seed in the conference tournament.
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Why the Home Games Feel Different Now
Go back three years. The Yuengling Center was half-empty most nights. Now? You can’t find a seat in the student section if you’re five minutes late. The university of south florida basketball schedule has become a social pillar in Tampa.
Take the UAB game earlier this month. It went to double overtime. A 109-106 heartbreaker. People weren't leaving. They were screaming. That kind of atmosphere changes how a team plays. It makes the home-court advantage real.
The Bulls have been dominant at home, sitting at 7-1 in the Sun Dome (I know, I know, it’s the Yuengling Center now, but old habits die hard). When Wichita State rolls in this Sunday, expect a sellout. It’s the Alumni Game. Rocky is dunking. It's a whole thing.
The Women’s Side: Still the Standard
We can't talk about USF hoops without Jose Fernandez. The man is a machine. While the men’s team is the "new exciting thing," the women’s university of south florida basketball schedule is where the blue-chip consistency lives.
They’ve been battling through a brutal schedule too. They played #1 UConn and #3 South Carolina in December. Most teams would fold. The Bulls just used it as a practice run for the AAC.
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Key Dates for the Women's Team:
- January 17: Wichita State at USF – 7:00 P.M. ET.
- January 20: USF at Temple – 7:00 P.M. ET.
- January 24: USF at Florida Atlantic – 2:00 P.M. ET.
- January 27: Charlotte at USF – 7:00 P.M. ET.
The women are currently 11-6. They’ve won three straight. They’re basically clinical when they get into conference play. Watching them dismantle UTSA 70-53 recently was a masterclass in defensive rotations.
The Roster Math
Who is actually doing the scoring? For the men, it’s a three-headed monster.
Izaiyah Nelson is a problem. 6'10" and playing like he’s 7'2". He’s averaging nearly a double-double and blocking shots into the third row. Then you have Joseph Pinion. If he gets a clean look from the corner, just go ahead and put the points on the board. He’s been the "X-factor" that keeps defenses from sagging into the paint.
- CJ Brown: The sophomore guard who is the engine. He’s averaging over 5 assists and 12 points.
- Josh Omojafo: The senior who provides the "grown man" buckets when the shot clock is winding down.
- Wes Enis: A junior who can go for 20 on any given night.
It’s a deep rotation. Coach Bryan Hodgson isn't afraid to go 10 deep if the energy is lagging. That’s why their pace-of-play is so high—they just outrun people.
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Looking Toward March
The AAC tournament is moving to a 10-team format this year. It runs from March 11 to March 15. The top two seeds get a massive advantage: they don't play until the semifinals on Saturday.
That is the goal.
If USF can stay in the top two, they only have to win two games to get the automatic bid to the Big Dance. The university of south florida basketball schedule wraps up on March 8 against Charlotte at home. That game could easily be for the regular-season title.
The stakes are high.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're planning on following the rest of the season, here is what you actually need to do to stay ahead:
- Download the Bulls Unlimited Radio App: It’s free. Sometimes the TV broadcasts are behind a paywall (looking at you, ESPN+), but the radio call is always there and frankly, the energy is better.
- Watch the "Bubble" Rankings: If USF hits 20 wins before the conference tournament, start checking Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology. They are currently on the fringe of an at-large bid.
- Check Ticket Resales for FAU: The Florida Atlantic game on January 25th is the biggest ticket of the year. Don't wait until the day of. Prices will triple.
- Monitor the Transfer Portal News: In the modern era, the "schedule" never really ends. With the coaching carousel always spinning, keeping an eye on who is staying and who is looking is vital for 2027.
The Bulls are no longer an underdog story. They’re a target. And that makes the final stretch of this season the most interesting month of basketball in Tampa in a decade.