South Florida @ Stetson preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 22, 2013 ) Stetson 63, South Florida 72

Any momentum South Florida looked to build in the early part of the season went out the window in the second game of the season. The Bulls hope to get back on track as they travel to undefeated Stetson on Wednesday for the first road game of the season.

Looking to turn around a downtrodden program, the Bulls need to shake their recent history and string some wins together. After a preseason victory was followed up with a win against Florida Atlantic on opening night, USF suffered a disappointing 63-53 loss to Morgan State at home on Monday. The Bulls struggles from the floor were apparent against Morgan State, hitting on just 34.8 percent of their shots - including 7-for-22 in the second half - a trend they hope to reverse in facing a Hatters team that has held their first two opponents to 41.3 percent from the field. "Now it's time to get down in the stance," USF coach Brian Gregory told reporters. "It's time on offense to make an extra pass and knock down a big shot, or knock down a free throw. We didn't respond and that's what this game is all about. In close games, you've got to respond in positive ways and we didn't do that tonight. Hopefully we'll learn from that."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN3

ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA (1-1): Graduate transfer Terrence Samuel recorded his first double-digit performance with USF, registering a team-high 13 points in Monday's loss to Morgan State. The 6-3 guard from Brooklyn, N.Y., also set a career high with seven rebounds. The former Penn State and Connecticut performer is averaging 11 points and five assists through the opening two games.

ABOUT STETSON (2-0): The Hatters look to start the season with three consecutive victories for the first time since 2000-01 after opening with victories against NAIA-member Webber and Florida International. Freshman forward Abayomi Iyiola leads Stetson in scoring in the early going, averaging 16 points per game. He was joined by three other players in reaching double digits in scoring in the overtime victory against FIU - Divine Myles, Luke Doyle and B.J. Glasford, who set a career high with 17 points.

TIP-INS

1. Gregory, who also had stints at Dayton and Georgia Tech, needs one more victory to reach 250 for his career.

2. USF holds an 18-7 lead in the series, including victories in the past 12 meetings - last losing in 1989.

3. The Bulls are shooting 86.5 percent (32-for-37) from the free-throw line, tops in the American Athletic Conference among teams with at least two games played.

PREDICTION: Stetson 62, USF 61