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The South Florida Bulls enter the 2026-27 season with a completely different look. New head coach Chris Mack takes over after a historic season for the program. The Bulls went 25-9 last season and reached the NCAA Tournament. They also won both the American Conference regular-season and tournament titles. However, Mack does not inherit that roster. USF has no returning players from last season’s team. Instead, Mack rebuilt the roster with 15 newcomers. Twelve players arrived through the transfer portal, while three came directly from high school. That creates plenty of excitement around Tampa. It also creates plenty of questions before the season begins.
Chris Mack Takes Over
Mack brings significant experience to Tampa after taking over as USF’s 13th head coach. He arrived after two 20-win seasons at the College of Charleston. Mack also owns more than 300 career victories. He has guided teams to nine NCAA Tournament appearances during his career. Mack previously led Xavier and Louisville to the NCAA Tournament. He also reached four Sweet 16s and one Elite Eight with Xavier. Now, Mack faces a different challenge at USF. He must quickly build chemistry among 15 players who have never played together. That process started during the summer and continues through preseason practices. Mack has stressed character, toughness, defense, and team basketball throughout the roster-building process. Those traits could become important once American Conference play begins.
Mike James and Sonny Wilson Lead the Way
USF recently named Mike James and Sonny Wilson team captains. The team selected both veteran guards through a player vote. Together, they bring 185 collegiate games into the season. They also bring 2,094 combined career points. James enters his sixth college season at 6-foot-5. The Orlando native previously played for Louisville, NC State, and Vanderbilt. He started 64 games during two healthy seasons at Louisville. During the 2023-24 season, James averaged 12.6 points and 5.0 rebounds. Wilson provides another experienced option in the backcourt. The 6-foot-1 guard spent three seasons at Toledo. He averaged 17.0 points and 4.6 assists last season. Wilson also earned second-team All-MAC honors. He enters the season with 99 career games and 98 starts. Wilson also owns 1,338 career points.
Plenty of Shooting
The Bulls built a roster with plenty of players who can score from outside. AJ Dancler gives USF another experienced guard. He averaged 15.6 points at Coastal Carolina last season. Dancler also shot 39.3 percent from three-point range. Andrej Shoshkikj could provide another major shooting threat. The North Macedonia native averaged 10.7 points at Stony Brook. He shot 45.1 percent from three-point range and 96.4 percent from the free-throw line. Chris Davis Jr. also returns to Mack’s system after playing at Charleston. Davis averaged 7.6 points as a freshman. He also shot 38.8 percent from three-point range. Meanwhile, Joshua Lewis gives USF a Tampa connection. Lewis played his high school basketball at Blake High School. He scored 1,590 points during his prep career. He averaged 8.1 points and 3.8 rebounds at Louisiana last season. Lewis also shot 44.4 percent from three-point range.
Photo Credit: USF Athletics
Size Inside
USF also addressed its frontcourt during the offseason. Zayden High gives Mack a 6-foot-10 forward with a high-level background. High previously played at North Carolina before transferring to South Florida. Tiefing Diawara adds even more size at center. The redshirt freshman stands seven feet tall and weighs 240 pounds. He played four games at Syracuse last season. Richard Goods also brings experience after playing at Stony Brook. Goods averaged 7.7 points and 5.9 rebounds last season. He played alongside Shoshkikj before joining the Bulls. Reph Stevenson provides another veteran presence in the frontcourt. He spent three seasons at Division III DePauw. Stevenson finished his DePauw career with 1,037 points and 647 rebounds.
Jake Feldhaus Brings Freshman Potential
The Bulls also added three players directly from high school. Jake Feldhaus could make an immediate impact among that group. The 6-foot-8 forward earned Kentucky Mr. Basketball honors last season. He averaged 20.7 points and 13.0 rebounds at Madison Central High School. Feldhaus also brings a physical style and the ability to shoot. Mack believes his college-ready body could help him adjust quickly. Jayden Johnson and Darren Moore round out the freshman additions. USF now has eight guards, six forwards, and one center. The roster also includes four players who earned four-star ratings from 247Sports.
A Challenging Non-Conference Schedule
The Bulls will get plenty of opportunities to test themselves before conference play. USF opens with an exhibition against Saint Leo on October 19. The regular season begins November 2 against Charleston Southern. The schedule then sends the Bulls to DePaul on November 5. USF will also face Saint Joseph’s, Coppin State, Tennessee State, George Mason, and Stetson. The Bulls will later meet Saint Louis in the A-10/American Showcase. The biggest home test comes against Alabama. The Crimson Tide visits the Yuengling Center in December. Alabama reached the Sweet 16 last season and finished No. 16 in the Associated Press poll. USF will also face Dayton on the road and visit College of Charleston. Those games should provide Mack with important tests before American Conference play.
What to Watch
The biggest question will involve chemistry. USF has talent across the roster, but talent alone cannot replace experience together. Mack must establish roles while building defensive consistency. The Bulls also need their veteran guards to set the tone. James and Wilson will play important leadership roles throughout that process. Meanwhile, USF needs its shooters to create spacing for the frontcourt. The Bulls also need their bigger players to rebound and defend consistently. The 2026-27 season represents a fresh chapter for South Florida basketball. Mack inherits a program coming off its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012. He also inherits a team that recently captured two American Conference championships.
Now, he must build something new. The Bulls have experience, shooting, size, and several players with proven production. The challenge involves turning those individual pieces into one team. That process begins October 19 against Saint Leo. Then, the real test starts November 2. USF will enter the season with plenty of new faces and plenty of expectations. The 2026-27 campaign will show how quickly Mack can bring everything together.
About Post Author
Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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Author Profile
Bradley Walker
Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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