Seeing It Through To The End

In the era of the transfer portal, it’s routine for college athletes to consider their options elsewhere. Khalil Shabazz felt like he owed it to himself last spring with one season of eligibility remaining.
 
Shabazz played a significant role in San Francisco earning its first NCAA Tournament bid since 1998, but the program was in transition. Coach Todd Golden exited for a rich contract at Florida, and all-West Coast Conference stars Jamaree Bouyea and Yauhen Massalski had exhausted their time in college.
 
“I definitely considered it. I entered the portal to see what was out there,” Shabazz said. “I talked to some coaches, but my heart was always here.”

Chris Gerlufsen, who spent last season as USF’s associate head coach in charge of the offense, was promoted to replace Golden. Naturally, he was eager to keep his best returning player, but not to the point where Shabazz ever felt pressured. The two talked regularly but Gerlufsen gave Shabazz space to sort things out.
 
“He was super understanding of the whole situation,” Shabazz said. “He had a job to do and he definitely wanted me to stay. I trust him, on and off the court. This is like home for me.”
 
Shabazz stayed and Gerlufsen had the player around whom he would build his first team. “It means the world to me personally that he decided to kind of back me and trust in me as his coach,” Gerlufsen said. “He’s going to go down as one of the greats to play here. He embodies what a USF basketball player should look like. He’s a warrior — nothing has ever been given to him.
 
“He’s as hard-nosed as they come. He’s a leader and he’s as good of a well-rounded basketball player and kid as I’ve had.”

The partnership is off to a rousing start. The Dons completed their non-conference schedule with an 11-4 record that included a 75-73 road win over unbeaten UNLV on Dec. 17.
 
Shabazz is averaging 14.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.2 steals to rank among the top 15 in the WCC in all four categories. And he’s on pace to join Bouyea among USF’s top-10 career scorers. 
 
Not bad for a 6-foot-1, 170-pound player who had no Division I scholarship offers out of high school in Seattle and spent his freshman season at Division II Central Washington. “I love his backstory,” Gerlufsen said.
 
With Bouyea gone, Shabazz’s role has shifted a bit. “He’s learning what it means to be an every day leader, what that looks like and the value it brings to the rest of the guys in the locker room,” Gerlufsen said. "When his voice is the same on a daily basis it does wonders for our group.”
 
Shabazz is paired in the backcourt this season with Washington State transfer guard Tyrell Roberts, one of four newcomers Gerlufsen brought in who have combed to provide 28 points per game.
 
“JB, that’s my guy. We made a lot of history at USF,” Shabazz said of Bouyea. “But it’s been a smooth transition (with Roberts). We just had to get to know each other on the court. Getting the feel wasn’t difficult at all.”

Shabazz and Roberts each scored 17 points in the win at UNLV while junior forward Zane Meeks posted a 17-point, 17-rebound double-double. Things didn’t go so smoothly two nights later as the Dons played their worst game of the season in a 68-63 loss to heavy underdog Texas-Arlington.

“I hate to say this, but sometimes you need to go through some adversity in order to really see what you’re all about, what your true character is all about,” Gerlufsen said. “By no means did I like the feeling we had after the Arlington game. But I knew that was not who we were.”

“Sometimes you need those losses,” Shabazz agreed, “to make sure we never go through that again."

Two days after the UTA defeat, refocused and motivated, the Dons crushed then-25th-ranked Arizona State 97-60, the program’s largest margin of victory ever against an AP Top-25 opponent. Shabazz and Roberts combined for 40 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.

That taste of success should linger into the Dons’ WCC opener Thursday at Santa Clara, which has won nine of its past 10 games to fashion a 12-3 record. 
 
“I’m really optimistic in terms of where we are as a team,” Gerlufsen said.
 
No more so than his senior guard. Asked where he envisions his team in the WCC race, Shabazz said, “We’re going to finish top-2. I love where we’re at, honestly. I think we’ll be able to show just how good a team we are in the first week of conference play.”

LAST WEEK’S BIG THING: In a 104-52 win over Northern New Mexico, USF women’s coach Molly Goodenbour made sure everyone received the gift of playing time three days before Christmas. Fourteen players scored for the Dons, with reserves totaling 72 points, 40 rebounds, 23 assists and 10 steals. Among the backups, sophomore Malia Latu scored 18 points, graduate transfer Amy Baum had eight assists and sophomore Aya Keita collected five steals — all career bests.
 
THIS WEEK’S BIG THING: While the women began WCC play two weeks ago, the men embark on the start of conference action Thursday with four games: Loyola Marymount at Portland, San Diego at Saint Mary’s, BYU at Pacific and USF at Santa Clara. Pepperdine and Gonzaga don’t get started until they clash Saturday afternoon in Spokane.
 
NET RANKINGS UPDATED: Below are the top five men’s and women’s teams in the latest official NET ranking rankings, which are used to help determine the NCAA Tournament field and seedings.
 
Men: 12. Gonzaga; 16. Saint Mary’s; 88. USF; 96. Santa Clara; 99. Loyola Marymount
 
Women: 40. Gonzaga; 102, Santa Clara; 105. USF; 126. Portland; 159. BYU