Thirty-Six Years Later: USF Claims First Conference Tournament Title Since 1990

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For the first time in nearly four decades, the confetti fell for the South Florida Bulls. On Sunday afternoon, top-seeded USF dismantled the Wichita State Shockers 70–55 at Legacy Arena in Birmingham to capture the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament Championship.

The victory was more than just a trophy—it was a long-awaited “return to glory” for a program that had spent years in the shadows of the college basketball landscape.

A Season of “Firsts”

The 2025–26 campaign has officially become the most decorated season in USF’s 55-year history.

The Sweep: For the first time ever, the Bulls won both the regular-season conference title and the conference tournament championship in the same season.
The Drought Ends: This was USF’s first conference tournament title since 1990, when they were members of the Sun Belt Conference.
The Record: With the win, the Bulls tied the program record for single-season victories (25–8) and extended their current winning streak to 11 games.

The Championship Recap: Defense Wins Titles

The Bulls relied on the same formula that carried them through the regular season: a suffocating defense and a relentless second-half surge.

Enis Takes Over: Tournament Most Outstanding Player Wes Enis led the way with 19 points, 15 of which came in the second half. Perhaps more impressively, he played all 40 minutes while holding Wichita State’s leading scorer, Kenyon Giles, to just five points on 2-of-11 shooting.
The “Zai” Effect: AAC Player of the Year Izaiyah Nelson anchored the paint with 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks, including an alley-oop dunk early in the first half that set the tone for the afternoon.
The Closer: After the Shockers cut the lead to a single point early in the second half, USF responded with a 14–4 run sparked by back-to-back three-pointers from Isaiah Jones and Enis, effectively putting the game out of reach.

USF Men’s Basketball Tournament History

Milestone	Year	Conference
Last Conference Tourney Title	1990	Sun Belt
Last NCAA Appearance	2012	Big East (At-Large)
Total NCAA Appearances	4	1990, 1992, 2012, 2026
Current Win Streak	11	AAC

Selection Sunday: A Buffalo Homecoming

Just hours after cutting down the nets, the Bulls gathered in Birmingham to watch their name appear on the big screen. The committee awarded USF a No. 11 seed in the East Region.

The Opponent: They will face the No. 6 seed Louisville Cardinals (23–10) on Thursday, March 19, at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY.
The Storyline: The matchup is a poetic “homecoming” for head coach Bryan Hodgson, who grew up in the Buffalo area and served on the staff at the University of Buffalo before his rise to head coaching prominence.
Familiar Faces: Louisville is currently coached by Pat Kelsey and features two former Bulls players, Kasean Prior and Ryan Conwell, adding a layer of “revenge” intrigue to the first-round clash.

What’s Next for the Bulls?

The Bulls fly back to Tampa today to celebrate with fans before heading north for their Thursday tip-off. With the program’s first tournament title in 36 years and a “dangerous” 11-seed tag from national pundits, the “SoFlo Rodeo” is officially heading to the Big Dance.