In-state battle: USF basketball's opponent is UCF to open 2024 NIT Tournament bracket

After its best season in 12 years, USF basketball will get a taste of postseason play.

The Bulls will play in the 2024 NIT after narrowly missing out on an NCAA Tournament bid.

They'll travel to No. 4 seed UCF (17-15) in the first round on Tuesday at 9 p.m. at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando.

Tickets for premium seating are $50 and $20 for non-premium seating.

Here is what to know about the Bulls.

How did USF get here?

The Bulls were 14-18 in 2022-23, and as a result, fired coach Brian Gregory after six years.

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The turnaround began when South Florida hired Amir Abdur-Rahim last March. The 42-year-old Atlanta native headed to Tampa after leading Kennesaw State to a 26-9 record, its first winning record in the school's Division I history. The No. 14 seed Owls' first March Madness trip in program history ended with a five-point loss to third-seeded Xavier.

The season began slow for USF with a 2-4 record and losses to Maine and Hofstra.

Abdur-Rahim and Co. earned a signature win Jan. 18 with a 20-point comeback to defeat No. 10 Memphis 74-73. The win vs. the Tigers ended the Bulls' 38-game losing streak vs. AP Top 25 opponents.

After that, the Bulls won 15 in a row, including an upset of No. 24 FAU. That win helped put USF in the top 25 for the first time in program history.

The losing streak and top-25 ranking ended with a loss at Tulsa on March 9.

Why didn't USF make March Madness?

Suddenly, the Bulls went from holding college basketball's longest win streak to fearing for their March Madness life as the AAC Tournament began.

USF won its quarterfinal game vs. East Carolina but fell 93-83 to fourth-seeded UAB in the semifinals. With FAU gaining an at-large bid and UAB winning the conference tournament and earning the automatic qualifier, the Bulls were left home.

South Florida ranked just 73rd in NET and lacked a Quad 1 win. Abdur-Rahim didn't share the opinion of bracketologists who predicted soon after Saturday's game that the Bulls would be snubbed.

“I don’t know who the bracketologists are. I guess they have a team somewhere sequestered,” Abdur-Rahim said. “But what I would say is this: If you want to see what South Florida’s all about, if you want to see if we’re one of the best 68 teams, put us in one of those First Four games. Put us against your best team. ... Come see about us, because this ain’t the same ol’ South Florida.”

The coach continued that attitude Sunday on X, formerly known as Twitter, after the selection committee left USF out of the NCAA Tournament.

USF players to watch

The Bulls feature three scorers who average double figures. This includes Chris Youngblood, Co-AAC Player of the Year. Youngblood averages 15.1 points on 45% shooting and 42% from 3-point range.

Guard Shelton Miguel averages 14.9 points, and forward Kasean Pryor adds 12.8 points and 7.8 rebounds.

Miguel was named the conference's Most Improved Player and unanimous Sixth Man of the Year.

Finally, Abdur-Rahim was named the leagues coach of the year, unanimously. The Bulls were selected ninth in the AAC preseason poll.

The coach was also a Naismith College Coach of the Year semifinalist.

What is USF's postseason history?

The Bulls have been to the NIT eight times in program history. Their best finish came in 1995, when they advanced to the quarterfinals. In fact, USF hasn't made it past the first round since, with its last NIT appearance in 2010.

Meanwhile, South Florida has been to the NCAA Tournament three times, with its top result coming in its last visit, a round of 32 game in 2012.

The Bulls did win the CBI in 2019 over DePaul.

Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun. Contact him at Nram@gannett.com and follow him @Noah_ram1 on Twitter.