Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Brady Maffei
South Florida loses to Memphis in an offensive shootout
South Florida and Memphis combined for over 1,000 yards of total offense Thursday night. ORACLE PHOTO / Ayron Espino-Nardi South Florida suffered its fourth loss Thursday night against the University of Memphis in a game that saw no shortage of offense. Both teams combined for 1,133 total yards and 93 points, with Memphis getting the best of South Florida at the end 52-41.
COLUMN: Brian Hartline spoke about foundation. When will USF see progress?
Brian Hartline was hired at South Florida on Dec. 3, 2025. In his first season so far, he’s led the Bulls to a 6-3 record, with three games remaining. ORACLE PHOTO / JEANELLE HENDERSON In February, first-year head coach Brian Hartline called his new roster “different.” And for good reason. USF brought in 58 new players, including 41 from the transfer portal, ranking the No. 1 class among Group of 6 programs. Despite having 53 returning players, just four were returning starters.
Preview: Hartline says USF football has ‘consistent issue’ ahead of Memphis game
Cut: USF football players and coaches line up for the alma mater following the Bulls’ victory over UAB on Oct. 31. ORACLE PHOTO / AUDREY KOCZANSKI South Florida football will look to defend its home field against one of the American Conference’s top teams when the University of Memphis visits Raymond James Stadium on Thursday night.
Defense stays strong in USF volleyball’s win over UAB
South Florida improves to 7-7 in the American following a win in just three sets on Sunday. Nina Jioshvili-Ravva recorded 3 kills and 11 digs against UAB. ORACLE PHOTO / Cole Abruzzese USF women’s volleyball needed no more than three sets to defeat the University of Alabama at Birmingham at The Corral on Sunday afternoon. The Bulls (8-16, 7-7 American) were strong on defense, with 9 blocks and 40 digs on the night.
ESPN’s SportsCenter returns to USF ahead of primetime Memphis matchup
USF students and fans cheer during ESPN’s SportsCenter on Campus outside the Marshall Student Center on Nov. 6, 2025, before the Bulls’ 55-23 win over UTSA. ORACLE PHOTO / VIOLET VASQUEZ PIMENTEL ESPN’s SportsCenter on Campus will broadcast live outside Raymond James Stadium on Thursday as part of the lead-up to USF football’s American Conference matchup against the University of Memphis.
Takeaways: Missed opportunities haunt USF in last-second loss to ECU
USF fell 20-17 to East Carolina on a last-second field goal, marking its third conference loss. Coach Brian Hartline addressed the team’s offensive struggles, late-game execution and Luke Kromenhoek’s first start. ORACLE PHOTO / JEANELLE HENDERSON South Florida football suffered another close loss Friday night, falling 20-17 to East Carolina University on a 55-yard field goal as time expired at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
USF men’s basketball finds offensive rhythm in win over Charleston Southern
USF men’s basketball was picked to finish third in the American Conference Coaches Preseason Poll, behind Wichita State and Memphis. ORACLE PHOTO / AUDREY KOCZANSKI South Florida men’s basketball opened its 2026-27 season with a 98-71 victory over Charleston Southern University on Monday night at the Yuengling Center. The win marked Chris Mack’s regular-season debut as USF’s head coach, making him the fifth consecutive Bulls coach to win his debut game.
USF men's soccer falls to University of Memphis
USF men’s soccer conceded five second-half goals in a 5-1 loss to the University of Memphis on Friday evening at Corbett Stadium, falling to 1-11-3 overall and 0-5-2 in American Conference play.On Alumni Night, the Bulls remained winless in conference play, while Memphis (7-2-5, 2-0-4) stayed unbeaten in the American.
This will mark South Florida’s fourth game played on Halloween, with the Bulls holding a 1-2 record in the previous matchups. ORACLE PHOTO / COLE ABRUZZESE South Florida football hosts the University of Alabama at Birmingham at Raymond James Stadium on Halloween, looking to avoid a scare as it enters the final stretch of the regular season. The Bulls (5-2, 1-2 American) enter Saturday’s noon matchup fresh off a bye week, having last played on Oct.
Preview: USF football faces UAB with conference aspirations still alive
This will mark South Florida’s fourth game played on Halloween, with the Bulls holding a 1-2 record in the previous matchups. ORACLE PHOTO / COLE ABRUZZESE South Florida football hosts the University of Alabama at Birmingham at Raymond James Stadium on Halloween, looking to avoid a scare as it enters the final stretch of the regular season. The Bulls (5-2, 1-2 American) enter Saturday’s noon matchup fresh off a bye week, having last played on Oct.
USF women’s volleyball pulls off five-set comeback victory against FAU
South Florida junior outside hitter Addy Brus had 19.5 points and 16 kills in the bulls comeback win over FAU. ORACLE PHOTO / JEANELLE HENDERSON South Florida women’s volleyball rallied from a two-set deficit to defeat Florida Atlantic University 3-2 Wednesday, snapping the Owls’ four-game winning streak behind a third-set surge from junior outside hitter Addy Brus. The rally was led in the third set by Brus, who scored eight points in the set to give the Bulls a 25-23 win.
OPINION: USF students athletics pride should extend beyond football
USF reported $33.35 million in football expenses during 2024-25, compared with $5.45 million for women’s basketball, according to its EADA report. ORACLE GRAPHIC / COLE ABRUZZESE College sports can foster a sense of belonging and give students a reason to take pride in their university. At USF, Homecoming week showed how football can bring the community together, from game-day excitement to celebrations across campus.
USF men’s basketball offers first glimpse of Chris Mack era in exhibition win
Head coach Chris Mack looks on during the Bulls first exhibition match against Saint Leo on Monday night. ORACLE PHOTO / VIOLET VASQUEZ PIMENTEL South Florida men’s basketball opened its exhibition season with a 104-72 win over Saint Leo University on Monday night, giving new head coach Chris Mack his first look at the Bulls against outside competition. The Bulls hosted the Lions in an exhibition for the second consecutive year, earning another win ahead of the regular season.
Takeaways: USF football finds victory, not consistency
USF’s offense continued to struggle out of the gate Saturday, extending a troubling trend that has followed the Bulls throughout the season. ORACLE PHOTO / COLE ABRUZZESE South Florida football returned to the win column Saturday night, but its 29-2 victory over Kent State University revealed many of the issues troubling the Bulls throughout the season remain unresolved.
USF basketball embraces new chapters at American media days
This marked the first year the American Tipoff was held in downtown Tampa. ORACLE PHOTO / MITHIL VYAS South Florida men’s and women’s basketball entered American Conference Media Days on Monday with new head coaches, revamped rosters and expectations of continuing their programs recent success. The event — held at the JW Marriott in downtown Tampa — brought together coaches and players from across the conference.
USF football’s late rally falls apart against UTSA
This was just the third all time meeting between USF and UTSA. ORACLE PHOTO / JEANELLE HENDERSON South Florida football appeared headed toward another fourth-quarter comeback Thursday night against University of Texas San Antonio before a late defensive breakdown spoiled its chances at the Alamodome.
Preview: USF looks for complete performance against Temple
South Florida is on the verge of 10 straight home wins dating back to 2024. ORACLE PHOTO / JEANELLE HENDERSON South Florida football returns to Raymond James Stadium on Saturday, looking to carry its undefeated start into the heart of conference play. USF enters the matchup 4-0 following a 14-6 comeback win over Bowling Green, where it was held scoreless through three quarters before scoring twice in the fourth.
Preview: USF football shifts focus to Delaware State
This is the first-ever matchup between South Florida and Delaware State. ORACLE PHOTO / COLE ABRUZZESE South Florida football returns to Raymond James Stadium on Saturday with an opportunity to start a season 3-0 for the first time since 2018. The Bulls enter the matchup following a 28-24 comeback win over Army, scoring 14 unanswered points in the final five minutes to erase a 10-point deficit.
Takeaways: USF finds a way over FIU despite offensive struggles
Saturday night’s game drew 41,847 fans, including 9,873 students, marking USF’s third-highest total attendance in the last 15 years. ORACLE PHOTO / AYRON ESPINO-NARDI South Florida football didn’t need an explosive offensive performance to open the Brian Hartline tenure with a 19-9 win over Florida International University. USF scored one touchdown and relied on four field goals from junior kicker Nico Gramatica to build its lead.
USF transfer AJ Dancler out for 2026-27 season after summer workout injury
AJ Dancler was apart of the top 100 overall recruiting class brought into USF this season, according to 247Sports. USF ATHLETICS PHOTO USF men’s basketball will be without one of its most experienced offseason additions for the entirety of the 2026-27 season. Senior transfer guard AJ Dancler will miss the upcoming season after undergoing surgery on Aug. 27 for a knee injury he suffered during summer team workouts, head coach Chris Mack said Monday.
'It didn't feel real'
Izaiyah Nelson’s selection with the 51st pick ties him with former Bull Charlie Bradley for the third-highest NBA Draft pick in USF history. ORACLE PHOTO / VIOLET VASQUEZ PIMENTEL When Izaiyah Nelson got the phone call that he was about to be taken with the 51st overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the celebration inside his draft party didn’t come immediately. Instead, Nelson sat quietly.
Orlando Magic selects USF men’s basketball Izaiyah Nelson in the NBA draft
Izaiyah Nelson makes it 10 total draftees in program history for USF men’s basketball. ORACLE PHOTO / JEANELLE HENDERSON Surrounded by family and friends, USF senior forward Izaiyah Nelson’s NBA dream came true Wednesday night when he was selected 51st overall to the Orlando Magic. Originally drafted to the Washington Wizards, Nelson’s rights were traded to Orlando in a three-team draft-night deal.
USF women’s soccer adds two assistant coaches to the staff
USF women’s soccer head coach Chris Brown is entering his third season leading the Bulls, posting a 21-10-8 record. USF ATHLETICS PHOTO As USF women’s soccer prepares for the 2026 season, head coach Chris Brown has turned to a pair of coaches with collegiate postseason experience to fill in staff positions.
USF women’s lacrosse left out of NCAA Tournament after American title loss
USF’s No. 17 RPI ranking is the highest ranking for any first or second-year program in NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse history. ORACLE PHOTO / VIOLET VASQUEZ PIMENTEL USF women’s lacrosse was left out of the NCAA Tournament despite entering Selection Sunday with a Rating Percentage Index of 17 — well within range of past at-large selections.
USF men’s basketball’s Izaiyah Nelson earns NBA Draft Combine invite
USF men’s basketball has seen nine players selected in the NBA Draft, but just two since 2006. ORACLE PHOTO / ELLIE FROST For the first time since 2010, USF men’s basketball has a player headed to the NBA Draft Combine. Senior forward Izaiyah Nelson earned an invitation to the 2026 event, and is the first Bull to receive the opportunity since Dominique Jones Jones was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 25th overall pick in the first round of the 2010 draft.
USF women’s lacrosse embraces expectations ahead of American tournament
USF women’s lacrosse holds a 23-9 record during the program’s first two seasons since becoming a varsity sport. ORACLE PHOTO/VIOLET VASQUEZ PIMENTEL USF women’s lacrosse is heading back to the postseason — and for a second straight year, it’s doing so as a program still writing its opening chapters. In just the team’s second season, the Bulls are continuing a rapid rise that has quickly set expectations for what the program can become.
USF men’s and women’s basketball transfer portal tracker
USF men’s and women’s basketball both hired new head coaches who look to rebuild new rosters this upcoming season. ORCALE PHOTO / THOMAS MARRS The Oracle’s portal tracker will be updated with every transfer that commits to USF men’s and women’s basketball. Under new head coaches Chris Mack and Kristy Curry, USF men’s and women’s basketball have begun utilizing the transfer portal to build their rosters for the 2026–27 season.
USF men’s basketball sees Chris Mack bring trusted circle to Tampa
USF men’s basketball head coach Chris Mack has 12 20-win seasons in 15 years as a head coach. ORACLE PHOTO / DYLAN SABOL USF men’s basketball head coach Chris Mack has begun shaping his program with a newly assembled coaching staff announced Thursday. Mack, who was hired from the College of Charleston on March 26, will be joined by a group largely drawn from his previous stops at Xavier and Charleston, including former players.
USF’s Kristy Curry signs 5-year, $4 million deal with revenue-sharing bonuses
Kristy Curry was hired as the next head coach of women’s basketball after 25 seasons with Jose Fernandez. ORACLE PHOTO / HAYLEY REED Newly hired USF women’s basketball coach Kristy Curry will earn $750,000 in her first season with the Bulls. Curry signed a five-year, $4 million contract with USF through 2031, according to records obtained by The Oracle. Her deal includes a $500,000 base salary and $250,000 in supplemental compensation tied to promotional and media obligations.
USF’s Chris Mack wants men’s basketball built around ‘everyday guys’
Newly hired men’s basketball head coach Chris Mack has an 11-9 record in NCAA Tournament games across his career. ORACLE PHOTO / DYLAN SABOL Chris Mack said there was zero hesitation about him wanting to coach at USF during Tuesday’s introductory press conference. Mack was hired last Wednesday from the College of Charleston, as the fifth men’s basketball head coach in the last five seasons.
USF hires Alabama’s Kristy Curry as women’s basketball coach
Kristy Curry was announced as USF’s next head coach on Tuesday evening. Curry joined the Bulls following one season under interim coach Michele Woods-Baxter. ORACLE GRAPHIC / RACHELL ROSS USF has hired Alabama coach Kristy Curry to become the sixth women’s basketball head coach in program history, the university announced Tuesday. Curry made the move to Tampa following 13 seasons with Alabama, posting a 245-173 record over that span.
USF earns March Madness bid after winning first American title
USF men’s basketball captured its first American Conference Championship Sunday following a 70-55 win over Wichita State in the conference finals. ORACLE PHOTO / KEATON DUKE When the bracket for the NCAA Tournament was revealed Sunday evening, USF men’s basketball finally heard its name called again for the first time in 14 years. After beating Wichita State 70-55 Sunday for its American Conference title, the Bulls were given the No. 11 seed in the East region.
USF men’s basketball enters American tournament with March Madness hopes
USF’s last March Madness appearance was in the 2011-2012 season where it made it to the round of 32 before losing to Ohio University. ORACLE PHOTO / ARIANA RIVADENEIRA HERRERA For the second time in three seasons and in program history, USF men’s basketball was crowned the American Conference regular-season champions. The title marks another milestone for a program that has continued to gain momentum over the past few seasons.
USF men’s basketball assistant hired as Tennessee Tech head coach
Tobin Anderson has a 12-8 career record across all divisions in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. USF ATHLETICS PHOTO USF men’s basketball assistant Tobin Anderson is leaving after one season to become the next Tennessee Tech head coach, according to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello. Anderson joined the Bulls ahead of the 2025-26 season as a special assistant to head coach Bryan Hodgson, bringing veteran coaching experience to a program undergoing significant roster and system changes.
USF men’s basketball ties single season win record against Charlotte
The Bulls are looking to win a conference regular-season title and conference tournament championship in the same season for the first time ever. ORACLE PHOTO / ARIANA RIVADENEIRA HERRERA One by one, USF men’s basketball players went up and cut pieces of the net down as USF celebrated its regular-season championship, topping it off with a banner reveal. Sunday’s 83-60 win over Charlotte marked the final regular-season game of a historic year for South Florida.
USF’s Izaiyah Nelson built on family, fueled by work
Izaiyah Nelson has snagged at least six offensive rebounds in nine different games this season. That’s the most by any USF player over the past 30 seasons. ORACLE PHOTO / JEANELLE HENDERSON USF men’s basketball senior Izaiyah Nelson wanted his grandfather to see him reach the NBA. Although his grandfather died in 2022, Nelson said he still remains a source of motivation every time he steps on the court.
USF men’s basketball clinches American regular-season title share in win over Tulane
The Bulls now have seven wins at home this season by at least 20 points, the most during a single campaign in school history. ORACLE PHOTO / VIOLET VASQUEZ PIMENTEL USF men’s basketball clinched a share of the American Conference regular-season title for just the second time in program history on Sunday. The Bulls used a late first-half defensive stand and interior dominance to outlast Tulane 90-62.
USF men’s basketball seeks fifth straight win in matchup with Memphis
Memphis was voted first in the American Conference preseason coaches poll with South Florida named second. ORACLE PHOTO / CAROLINA MOLERO ROCA USF men’s basketball will look to keep its four-game winning streak going Thursday night when the Bulls host Memphis at the start of the late-season stretch. South Florida (18-8, 10-3 American) enters the game on its longest run of conference wins this season and sits at the top of the conference standings with only a handful of games remaining.
USF men’s basketball’s speed fuels top-10 scoring offense
CJ Brown is the only American Conference player averaging at least 12 points, five assists, and four rebounds per game this season. He’s the first Bulls player since Adrian Hillman in 1996-97 to reach those marks. ORACLE PHOTO / ELLIE FROST USF men’s basketball has built one of the most explosive offenses in the country, pairing high-tempo play with quick buckets to become a top-10 scoring team in the country.
Hightower’s career high lifts USF men’s basketball past UTSA
Bulls freshman guard Gavin Hightower finished with a career best in USF’s win over UTSA on Wednesday. ORACLE PHOTO // THOMAS MARRS USF men’s basketball found a spark off the bench Wednesday night, with freshman guard Gavin Hightower providing a key lift in the second half of a 109-88 win over UTSA. South Florida (15-8, 7-3 American) surged past the Roadrunners (4-18, 0-10 American), who haven’t won a game during conference play this season.
USF men’s basketball battles back, but falls late to Wichita State
Senior center Izaiyah Nelson slams the fastbreak dunk against Wichita State. ORACLE PHOTO / CAROLINA MOLERO ROCA USF men’s basketball and Wichita State both overcame double-digit deficits, but the Shockers did so late in the game — defeating the Bulls 86-85 in overtime. South Florida (11-7, 3-2 American) navigated a game of runs Sunday afternoon, weathering early and late surges from the Shockers (11-8, 3-3 American) with neither team able to string together consistent stops.
USF men’s basketball shines in third straight conference win
USF was in front almost the entire night, leading for 39 minutes and 33 seconds against Eastern Carolina. ORACLE PHOTO / LEXI KERNAN USF men’s basketball put on one of its cleanest and balanced scoring halves of the season Wednesday night, draining a barrage of three-pointers at an impressive rate to open the game. The Bulls nailed 3-pointers at a 50% rate in the first half, leading to an 82-71 win over East Carolina at the Yuengling Center.
USF men’s basketball stifles Utah State in dominant win
Thursday night marked the ninth straight game having at least three Bulls players score in double figures. ORACLE PHOTO / VIOLET VASQUEZ PIMENTEL USF men’s basketball caught fire quickly Thursday night, bouncing back from recent shooting struggles to overpower Utah State 74-61. Coming off a poor 38% shooting week at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, the hot start gave the Bulls a much-needed jump on both ends.
USF women’s basketball overpowered in loss to UConn
UConn was the second 2025 Final Four team the Bulls have faced this season, after taking on UCLA in November. ORACLE PHOTO / VASQUEZ PIMENTEL USF ran straight into a storm it couldn’t tame on Tuesday night, outmatched on both ends as No. 1 UConn’s defense closed every window and its offense kept pouring in answers. The Bulls (5–4) ran into the nation’s top-ranked team and reigning national champions, falling to the Huskies 85–51 at the Yuengling Center.
USF men’s basketball wins one, drops two in Bahamas tournament
USF men’s basketball spent Thanksgiving week in the tropics, navigating three consecutive games during the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas. The Bulls (4-4) opened the tournament with a 78–66 loss to Virginia Commonwealth on Wednesday afternoon. Less than 24 hours later, they bounced back with a 97-91 overtime win over Western Kentucky, advancing to the fifth-place game against Colorado State. USF fell 83–68 on Friday evening against the Rams, earning sixth.
USF explosive second half downs UAB
USF’s big plays set the tone Saturday, turning an early deficit into a dominant performance that left UAB on its heels. The Bulls (8-3) struggled to generate movement early, stalling on consecutive drives while UAB countered with 10 points. South Florida eventually shook off the slow start to secure a 48-18 win over the Blazers (3-8) — a result that required patience before an explosive finish.
USF and Kennesaw State honor Abdur-Rahim in Love Wins Classic
USF men’s basketball and Kennesaw State met for the inaugural Love Wins Classic, a game created to honor the life and legacy of former coach Amir Abdur-Rahim. Abdur-Rahim, who died on Oct. 24, 2024, left a profound mark on both programs. He turned Kennesaw State, which had never posted a winning season in Division I, from a one-win team into an NCAA Tournament program in 2023. He then joined the Bulls later that year and led USF to an American Conference regular-season title in 2024.
Hodgson says USF men’s basketball found ‘a way’ in rout over FAMU
Finding studs on waivers is often the key to winning a fantasy championship. Check back every week to learn who is trending up. Roster percentages are …
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Brady
Contact Brady, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack