Coming off a long and successful week in the Gulf Coast Showcase, the Hofstra University men’s basketball team heads home to take on the University of South Florida (USF) Bulls of the American Athletic Conference at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. The two sides faced off last season in Tampa, Florida, as the Bulls toppled the Pride 77-70. Former Hofstra standout guard Aaron Estrada led the Pride in scoring that night with 21 points. Both rosters have received major changes in the offseason, leading to what should be an intriguing matchup on Thursday, Nov. 30.
USF is 2-2 this season, most recently losing at home to the University of Maine. In their wins, the Bulls have posted victories against the South Carolina State University Bulldogs and the University of Northern Iowa Panthers. Westbury, New York, native Jayden Reid posted a double-double in the Bulls blowout of the Bulldogs. Redshirt senior Jose Placer was the leadman against Northern Iowa with 21 points.
The Bulls are dealing with the loss of their leading scorer Tyler Harris, who played his final season of eligibility with South Florida last season. Even in the loss against Maine, senior guard Chris Youngblood had 17 points on the night and has led the Bulls in scoring with 16 points per outing on 43% shooting, filling the hole in the lineup. Big man Kasean Pryor heads into the matchup off a season-best 12 points and 12 rebounds against Maine. The junior could be in line for more playing time considering the size of Hofstra’s starting center, Jacco Fritz.
The Bulls have gone bench-heavy this season with 10 players averaging at least 10 minutes a night. This contradicts Hofstra’s approach, as head coach Speedy Claxton has gone primarily to a six-to-seven-man rotation early on.
Like USF, Hofstra is without a great in Aaron Estrada, the former two-time Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) player of the year and the Pride’s leading scorer, who left the Pride for the Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama this offseason. However, the Pride has had no trouble filling in for his scoring as Tyler Thomas is second in the nation in scoring, averaging 25 points per game on 45% shooting. Thomas is coming off his most impressive outing with a 40-point explosion in the Gulf Coast Showcase title game, propelling Hofstra to victory against the High Point University Panthers. The Hofstra standout guard also claimed the CAA Player of the Week award for his efforts. As a team, the Pride is 31st in the nation with over 85 points a contest. The team also ranks 43rd nationally in 3-pointers percentage at 38.4% while taking 29.5 attempts per game.
Darlinstone Dubar will play a crucial role in the game for the Pride. The 6-foot-8-inch junior will look to continue the fine form he showed in the Gulf Coast Showcase. Dubar is coming into the game a week after scoring a career-high 30 points against the University at Buffalo Buffalo Bulls.
Both teams are looking to pick up another crucial mid-major victory. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Kevin Bires
