San Francisco Dons
The Dons have unraveled a bit down the stretch in conference play. They’ve endured a 90–63 blowout loss to Oregon State Beavers, a home upset against LMU Lions (85–74), and another road blowout at the hands of the Saint Mary’s Gaels (79–54).
Since the last meeting with Santa Clara, USF has gone 2–3, with most games decided by double digits — in either direction. It’s been a volatile stretch.
Offensive Profile
Statistically, the Dons don’t overwhelm you in league play:
4th in turnover rate (15.2%)
Only top-3 offensive category: **Free Throw Rate (38.7%)**
They aren’t lighting it up from deep or dominating efficiency metrics — they generate value by attacking the rim and getting to the line.
Defensive Profile
Defensively, they’ve been solid in specific areas:
4th in defensive rebounding rate (holding opponents to 25% OREB rate)
3rd in defensive free throw rate (28.4%) — they defend without fouling
However, the bigger picture is concerning:
Defensive efficiency: 109.8 (196th nationally)
Turnovers forced: 13.5% (low)
They don’t pressure the ball, and they don’t consistently disrupt rhythm. In a loaded WCC, that’s led to shootouts against bottom-tier teams and blowouts against the league’s top four.
For every productive stretch offensively, they’ve allowed comparable production on the other end.
Key Personnel
David Fuchs
Fuchs has carried the interior production.
Recent stretch:
30 pts, 9 reb vs Pacific
13 & 11
9 & 11
21 pts, 13 reb
He’s been their most consistent physical presence and can tilt games in the paint.
Ryan Beasley
Beasley is the engine. His role fluctuates between scorer and distributor:
30 pts vs LMU
17 pts vs Oregon State
Multiple 7+ assist games, including an 11-assist performance
When he controls tempo, USF looks competent. When he’s forced into inefficient scoring, things unravel.
Junjie Wang
With injuries to Tyrone Riley IV and Mookie Cook, Wang has provided steady scoring:
19 vs Pacific
11 and 14 in back-to-back games
He’s not explosive, but he’s stabilizing.
What’s Different About This USF Team?
Past Dons teams were defined by defensive toughness.
This group? Not quite.
The defensive drop-off is noticeable. They don’t force turnovers, and they struggle containing high-level WCC offensive talent. That’s why they’ve looked overmatched against top-tier competition.
What to Expect vs Santa Clara
They face Gonzaga Bulldogs tonight (2/18), then host Santa Clara. Expect urgency — pride and WCC Tournament seeding are on the line.
Signs of life:
Tyrone Riley IV is beginning to look more like the expected anchor.
Freshman Legend Smiley (15 pts vs San Diego)
Sr. Vukasin Masic (22 pts vs San Diego)
If those two continue producing alongside Beasley and Fuchs, USF becomes much more balanced.
Bottom Line
The Dons are talented but inconsistent.
They:
Get to the line.
Rebound defensively.
Lean heavily on 2–3 primary scorers.
They:
Don’t force turnovers.
Defend worse than previous USF teams.
Struggle against elite offenses.
For Santa Clara, the key is pace and discipline:
Don’t foul.
Make them guard in space.
Test their defensive rotations early.
If this becomes a half-court free-throw game, it favors USF.
If it becomes an efficiency battle with ball movement and perimeter pressure, it favors the Broncos.
[Preview by @KourtsideKev11 ]
