Florida Atlantic @ South Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 22, 2016 ) South Florida 62, Florida Atlantic 78

Another new era of South Florida basketball begins on Friday night when the Bulls host Florida Atlantic. Brian Gregory becomes the third head coach in five years for the program, which has spiraled downward since winning two games in the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

USF is in need of an injection to its program after failing to reach double digits in victories each of the past three seasons, combining for 23 wins in that span. Gregory, who joins the Bulls after coaching Georgia Tech from 2011-16, brings plenty of experience having spent time as an assistant under Tom Izzo at Michigan State before leaving for Dayton in 2003 and leading the Flyers to an NIT title in 2010. Gregory has already made a mark by bringing in 10 new players, including three transfers eligible to play this season - Terrence Samuel, Stephan Jiggetts and Payton Banks. Florida Atlantic enters the season predicted to finish 12th in Conference USA and the game gives two struggling programs the chance to get off on the right foot.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN3

ABOUT FLORIDA ATLANTIC (2016-17: 10-20): The Owls return three starters in Ronald Delph, Jailyn Ingram and Gerdarius Troutman. The three combined for almost 26 points per game last season for an Florida Atlantic team that averaged 70.3, leaving the Owls with a need to find more offense. FAU put up 68 points in an exhibition victory over Division II Lynn as Delph led the way with 18.

ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA (2016-17: 7-23): The Bulls finished last season in turmoil, firing head coach Orlando Antigua in midseason while ending the year with one victory in the final 19 games. But USF looked rejuvenated in a preseason victory against Flagler where the Bulls scored 94 points, more than in any other game from last season. USF shot almost 50 percent from the field and outrebounded Flagler 54-35, with Banks (19 points) and sophomore Tulio DaSilva (18) leading the way offensively.

TIP-INS

1. Florida Atlantic beat USF in last year's meeting 78-62 in Boca Raton as Ingram led the Owls with 16 points.

2. The change over at USF saw the Bulls return just 28 percent of its offense, 26 percent of its rebounds and 16 percent of the team's assists from last season.

3. Incoming Bulls freshman F Alexis Yetna earned a bronze medal with France at the 2017 FIBA Under-20 European championship.

PREDICTION: South Florida 77, Florida Atlantic 73