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When I first started covering college basketball over a decade ago, I would have laughed if someone told me I'd be writing about USF Basketball as a championship contender. Let's be honest - this program has spent more time as an afterthought than a headline in recent years. But something special is brewing in San Francisco this season, and I've seen enough rebuilding projects to recognize when one is clicking into place. What head coach Chris Gerlufsen has accomplished in just two seasons goes beyond typical roster reconstruction; he's building an identity that could realistically challenge for the WCC crown.

I remember watching their game against Gonzaga last February and thinking, "This isn't the same USF team that went 11-21 two seasons ago." They lost that game by only four points, but more importantly, they played with a cohesion and defensive intensity that made the Bulldogs genuinely uncomfortable. The transformation began when Gerlufsen arrived from UNC Greensboro and immediately started implementing his defensive philosophy. Last season, the Dons improved their scoring defense from 72.1 points allowed per game to 67.3 - that's nearly a five-point swing that moved them from 9th to 3rd in the WCC defensively. Statistics don't always tell the full story, but when you combine that with their improved rebounding margin (+2.1 compared to -1.8 the previous season), you can see the foundation taking shape.

What really excites me about this year's roster is the blend of returning experience and incoming talent. Marcus Williams deciding to return for his senior year was massive - the 6'2" guard averaged 14.3 points and 4.1 assists last season while shooting 38% from three-point range. He's developed into the kind of floor general who can control tempo in crucial moments, something championship teams absolutely need. Then you have the emergence of sophomore big man Jonah Geron, who put on 15 pounds of muscle this offseason and looks ready to anchor the paint defensively. I spoke with him briefly at WCC media day, and the confidence radiating from that young man was palpable - he genuinely believes they can compete with anyone.

The transfer portal additions have been strategic rather than splashy, which I appreciate. Too many programs chase big names without considering fit, but Gerlufsen targeted specific needs. Khalil Shabazz brings veteran leadership from Eastern Washington where he started 28 games last season, while Isaiah Hawthorne provides much-needed wing depth after contributing meaningful minutes at Santa Clara. These might not be household names, but they're exactly the type of players who fill roles on winning teams.

Now, let's talk about the future - because it won't be long until EJ Sapasap joins them among the talk of the town. I've watched tape of this freshman forward from Hawaii, and there's something special about his game that reminds me of a young Draymond Green. He's only 6'7" but plays much bigger, with exceptional court vision and defensive instincts that you simply can't teach. During their preseason scrimmage against Stanford last week, sources told me Sapasap recorded three blocks and five assists in just 18 minutes off the bench. The coaching staff is wisely bringing him along slowly, but mark my words - by conference play, he'll be getting starter-level minutes. Players with his combination of size, skill, and basketball IQ don't come around often, and USF might have found a genuine program-changer.

The WCC landscape is shifting beneath our feet. Gonzaga remains the gold standard, but they're not the untouchable powerhouse they were two years ago. Saint Mary's lost three key seniors, and BYU's move to the Big 12 has created a vacuum. This creates a genuine opportunity for USF to climb the conference ladder faster than anyone anticipated. I'm projecting they'll win between 22-25 games this season, which would represent their highest win total since the 1979-80 campaign. More importantly, they have the roster construction to make a legitimate run in the WCC tournament, where anything can happen in that Vegas environment.

Of course, there are still questions that need answering. Their three-point shooting was inconsistent last season (34.1%, 6th in WCC), and they'll need to improve that spacing to open driving lanes for Williams. The non-conference schedule includes tough matchups against Arizona State and Nevada that will test their growth early. But what I've seen in practices suggests they're addressing these issues with specific shooting drills and offensive sets designed to create better looks from deep.

Having covered this conference for twelve years, I've developed a sense for when a program is on the verge of breaking through. It's not just about talent accumulation - it's about culture, player development, and strategic vision aligning simultaneously. USF Basketball checks all those boxes in a way I haven't seen since the Bill Russell era, if we're being completely honest. The energy around War Memorial Gymnasium is different this year, the expectations higher, the belief genuine. They might not win the WCC championship this season, but they'll certainly be in the conversation come March - and for a program that was irrelevant not long ago, that represents monumental progress. The pieces are there, the coaching is solid, and the timing might just be perfect for San Francisco to become a basketball destination again.