USF SET FOR OPENING ACT - 11.11.11: San Francisco is set for "Opening Act 11.11.11" and will lift the curtain on the 2011-12 season by hosting the 2011 Hilltop Challenge. The Green and Gold opens a busy weekend of basketball Friday against North Dakota State in the opening game of the tournament at 6:00 PM. All USF games will feature live streaming video on USFDons.com, courtesy of Stretch Internet. The pregame show with
Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli will start 15 minutes before tip-off.
2011 HILLTOP CHALLENGE
11 FRI. NORTH DAKOTA STATE 6:00 PM
11 Fri. Northern Arizona vs. Louisiana 8:30 PM
12 SAT. NORTHERN ARIZONA 6:00 PM
12 Sat. Louisiana vs. NDSU 8:30 PM
13 Sun. NDSU vs. NAU 1:00 PM
13 SUN. LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 3:30 PM
DONS VS. THE FIELD: USF has played a combined three games against the tournament field and own a 1-2 all-time record against Northern Arizona. This will be San Francisco's first look at North Dakota State and Louisiana Lafayette.
A PEEK AT THE FIELD:
LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE
2010-11 Record: 15-15, 11-5 Sun Belt
Head Coach: Bob Marlin, 2nd Year
Web: RaginCajuns.com
NORTH DAKOTA STATE
2010-11 Record: 14-15, 8-10 The Summit League
Head Coach: Saul Phillips, 5th Year
Web: GoBison.com
NORTHERN ARIZONA
2010-11 Record: 19-13, 9-7 Big Sky
Head Coach: Mike Adras, 12th Year
Web: NAUAthletics.com
GREEN AND WILLIAMS EARN PRESEASON HONORS: Senior forward
Rashad Green and junior guard
Michael Williams earned 2011-12 Preseason All-West Coast Conference honors. Green turned in his finest season in the Green and Gold as a junior and captured All-West Coast Conference First Team honors, averaging a team-high 13.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game during league play. Green powered San Francisco's run to the quarterfinals of the 2011 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, averaging 19.0 points on .567 (17-30) shooting to go along with 8.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in three tournament contests. A 2010-11 NABC All-District 9 Second Team selection, Williams led the Dons in scoring (14.7 ppg) as a sophomore and ranked in the top-five among WCC scoring leaders while his 74 3-pointers were the second most by a Don in a single-season. Both Green and Williams were named to the 2011 National All-Jesuit All-America Team.
ON THE WEB: San Francisco Basketball is pleased to partner with Stretch Internet for the 2011-12 season. Stretch will provide live audio and video streaming throughout the season. All non-televised home contests will feature live video and all road contests will feature a live audio broadcast. Fans can access the Dons like never before on your favorite handheld devices via Stretch Internet's Game Central player.
USF DONS BASKETBALL ON 95.7 THE GAME: Select USF games during the 2011-12 season will be broadcast live on the radio home of Dons Basketball, at 95.7 The GAME, the Bay Area's only FM sports station. Now in his 21st year calling the action,
Pat Olson will team with USF Hall-of-Famer Jim Brovelli for another exciting season.
THE DONS ON 95.7 The GAME - Broadcast Schedule
Sat. Dec. 31 LMU TBA
Sat. Jan. 7 @BYU 6:00 PM
Sat. Jan. 14 Pepperdine TBA
Thu. Jan. 19 @Gonzaga TBA
Sat. Jan. 21 @Portland TBA
Sat. Jan. 28 San Diego TBA
Sat. Feb. 4 @LMU TBA
Sat. Feb. 11 @San Diego TBA
Thu. Feb. 16 BYU 7:00 PM
Sat. Feb. 18 Gonzaga TBA
Sat. Feb. 25 Saint Mary's TBA
MICHAEL WILLIAMS HEATS UP: Junior guard Michael Williams made a remarkable jump as a sophomore, and the sharpshooter captured All-West Coast Conference honors after leading the team in scoring at 14.7 points per game on .392 (74-189) from 3-point range, good for seventh place among West Coast Conference leaders. The Southern California native ranks fourth among league scoring leaders and made the game-winning free throws in USF's 83-81 overtime win versus Colorado (11/20/10). Williams turned in a big day in the Dons' 50-48 overtime triumph against Montana (12/12/10), scoring 23 points with 13 rebounds in 42 minutes. Williams turned in a career-high 26 points in a 69-57 win against Hampton (12/30/10) and had 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting vs. Gonzaga in the Zappos.com WCC Tournament Semifinals (3/6/11). Williams finished his sophomore campaign with 74 3-pointers, one shy of the single-season record held by Ali Thomas (1997-01), who drilled 75 in 1997-98. Williams enters the season ranked 10th on the Dons' career 3-pointer list with 103.
GREEN LIGHT: Senior guard Rashad Green captured All-West Coast Conference First Team honors after playing a key role in USF's resurgence during league play. The Manhattan transfer led the Dons in scoring during the WCC season with 13.6 points to go along with 5.5 rebounds. In USF's 68-62 win against Santa Clara (2/5/11), Green scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Dons to the sweep of the Broncos and captured WCC Player of the Week honors in the process. Green scored a career-high 23 points with 10 rebounds in leading USF to a 76-59 win against Pepperdine in the WCC Tournament Quarterfinals (3/5/11). Green scored 21 points at Colorado State (11/29/09) and matched it with 21 points, nine rebounds and eight assists at Pepperdine (1/29/11). The New Yorker scored 17 points against Hampton (12/30/10). Green adds 12.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Green lifted the Dons to a win in the second round of the CIT Tournament at Hawaii (3/19/11), posting his fourth double-double of the season with 22 points on 7-of-10 from the field with a career-high 15 rebounds.
MR. BLACKWELL'S LIST: Junior forward Perris Blackwell made big contributions in his second season in the Green and Gold and earned All-West Coast Conference Honorable Mention selection. The Southern California product posted a trio of 17-point nights at San Jose State (11/17/10), at Montana State (11/24/10) and at Washington (12/18/10). Blackwell turned in a monster game in USF's 74-67 win at Santa Clara (1/8/11), setting career-highs with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Blackwell ranked second among WCC leaders in field goal percentage at .559 (128-229) and was fourth in rebounding (7.0). The SoCal product led the Dons with eight double-double nights and ranked third on the team in scoring (10.7). Blackwell scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting at Hawaii (3/19/11) with three rebounds in 25 minutes.
ANGELO CALOIARO PROVIDES A BIG LIFT: Senior forward Angelo Caloiaro turned in the most-accurate season from beyond the arc in program history as a sophomore, connecting on a whopping .491 (55-112) from long distance. The South Bay native continued to produce in his third season in the Green and Gold. Caloiaro recorded his first career double-double with 18 points and a career-high 13 rebounds against Seattle U. (11/12/10) and added three more during the non-conference season. The Mitty product scored a career-high with 26 points and eight rebounds in an 83-81 overtime win against Colorado (11/20/10) and scored 18 points with seven boards in a crucial road win at Portland (2/17/11). Caloiaro ranks fifth in career USF 3-pointers (131), ranked fourth on the team in scoring (9.9) and led USF in rebounds (7.3), good for third place among WCC leaders. The South Bay product posted his sixth double-double of the season with 21 points and 12 rebounds against Santa Clara (3/22/11) and ripped down 11 boards at Hawaii (3/19/11).
CODY DOOLIN ON POINT FOR THE DONS: Sophomore guard Cody Doolin made a huge impact for San Francisco in his rookie season. Doolin started every game for the Green and Gold in 2010-11 and ranked third on the team in minutes (32.0). The Texan scored a career-high 23 points, including the game-winning 3-point play against Gonzaga (1/22/11). Doolin averaged 7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game as a freshman. During league play, Doolin ranked seventh among WCC leaders in assists (3.5) and was 10th in 3-point field goal percentage at .378 (14-37) during league contests. Doolin was the first USF frosh named to the WCC All-Freshman Team since Myron Strong in 2008.
DONS HONOR HANK GREENWALD: USF will recognize former Dons broadcaster Hank Greenwald on "Hank Greenwald Day" Sunday, November 13. Greenwald's iconic voice called the action for San Francisco Basketball from 1980-82.
