Critique of three articles about USF basketball:
I. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641305/West-Coast-Conference-basketball-preview-and-predictions-Expect-Gonzaga-and-BYU-to-be-on-top-again.html?pg=all
Considering the low expectations for USF basketball this season, it makes sense to give minimal coverage to the team. However, Steele does a good job analyzing the lack of returning players and the criticism that Rex Walters has faced recently.
II. http://bustingbrackets.com/2015/11/29/san-francisco-dons-beats-uc-riverside-rice-loses-fresno-state-uc-santa-barbara-round-ball-showcase-games/
Harvill looks at recent games and the upgrades that are in store at Memorial Gym. She takes an optimistic look at the team, which was reasonable considering the way they scraped out a win against UC Riverside. Last year's team was extremely poor in close games, so to win on a night where the team had trailed almost the entire way is reason to be positive. Still, she ignored the concerning trend of slow starts that continued over to the UC Santa Barbara game, where the slow start prevented a comeback. With all of that considered, Fansided isn't typically the most reputable source, so it's encouraging to see decent coverage of a mid-major team there.
III. http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/article/Michigan-State-jumps-to-top-of-college-basketball-6682341.php
The San Francisco Chronicle gives a very brief recap of Monday's win over Cal State Northridge. This article's brevity is a reflection of the current state of USF basketball. What was once one of the top programs in the nation is nothing more than a footnote. A poorly played game between two unremarkable teams isn't deserving of any more than a short recap, and that's what this game got. As someone who attended the game, I can say that it was one of the worst displays of basketball I've ever witnessed. At other games this season, the on-court product was generally decent. Monday's game was nearly unwatchable. USF didn't so much win as much as they managed to be slightly less inferior than their competition. If USF basketball was more noteworthy at this time, the team's performance would've deserved harsh criticism because it was a lousy performance bailed out by an even poorer opponent.
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