USF Bulls Open Basketball Season With New Coaching Duo
Chris Mack and Kristy Curry begin their first campaigns at South Florida with Monday games against Furman and Charleston Southern.
By Aiko Brooks ·
South Florida's men's and women's basketball teams open their seasons at Yuengling Center in Tampa on Monday, marking the first official games for two new head coaches hired this spring.
The women's team plays Furman at 5 p.m., while the men's team faces Charleston Southern at 7 p.m. Both programs are led by staff members who joined the university in March, a move intended to stabilize two successful rosters after recent leadership changes.
Chris Mack, formerly of Louisville, took over the men's program after Bryan Hodgson departed for Providence. The Bulls entered the 2025 season as American Conference champions and NCAA Tournament participants. Mack has since reconstructed the roster, adding 12 transfers and three high school recruits.
The men's offense centers on Sonny Wilson, a 6-foot-1 senior point guard transferred from Toledo. Wilson started 98 games over his three seasons there, recording more than 1,300 points and 330 assists. Mack described Wilson as one of the fastest point guards in the country and said the team will rely on his ability to create opportunities for teammates in the open court.
Supporting Wilson are guards Mike James and Chris Davis Jr., along with forwards Garrett Johnson and Zayden High. High, a 6-foot-10 junior from North Carolina, is noted for his passing ability. Davis, a sophomore, made eight three-pointers in a recent exhibition against Saint Leo. Josh Omojafo is the only player returning from the previous season's roster.
Kristy Curry, who left Alabama after 13 years, assumes control of the women's program following the departure of Jose Fernandez to the WNBA. Fernandez led the team for 25 seasons, securing four conference titles and 10 NCAA tournament appearances. The 2025 squad was led by interim coach Michelle Woods-Baxter, and only four players remain from that group.
Curry aims to implement an up-tempo, position-less style of play. She emphasized a focus on perimeter shooting and defensive effort during the American Conference Tipoff in Tampa. The roster includes nine newcomers, among them Amourie Porter, who averaged 16.3 points and 7.3 rebounds at Winthrop, and Kate Novik, a 12.2 points per game scorer from DePaul.
Stefanie Ingram, a senior point guard from Orlando, is the most experienced returnee on the women's side. She averaged 9.9 points and 5.7 assists last season and led the American Conference in assists. Ingram scored 27 points in the team's victory over Duke. Curry also brought in Mallory Collier, a 6-foot-3 forward from North Carolina State, and Kendall Puryear, a junior who made 14 starts at Purdue.
Mack and Curry noted their shared location in the same building and aligned goals during a joint press conference last week. Mack called Curry a strong addition to the university's athletic department. Curry stated that the teams intend to provide winning and entertaining basketball to local fans.
Fans can purchase tickets for the season openers online or by calling 800-GOBULLS.
