Best Reason to Attend USF Basketball Games

Over the past couple of seasons, there have been several good reasons to attend basketball games on the Hilltop: The University of San Francisco men's team has featured one of the best big men in the country, Darrell Tucker; a dynamic, ever-more-confident scorer in swingman John Cox (Kobe Bryant's cousin); and a renewed enthusiasm among the crowds at War Memorial Gymnasium. But the best reason to make the trek to Bill Russell's alma mater is head coach Phil Mathews. Although he's supposedly cooled down his sideline antics since his arrival at USF eight years ago, Mathews is still an arm-flapping, referee-assailing, foot-stomping treat. He screams at his team for a minor defensive lapse when the Dons are up by 20; his scowl is a thundercloud when they fall behind by five. USF was wise to renew Mathews' contract at the end of last season, ensuring his histrionics will be on display for the next several years. And though he has every reason to relax -- his team just posted its best conference record in 20 years -- something tells us Mathews will be just as passionate, and just as ready to yell, when play resumes in the fall. Basketball lovers on the Hilltop wouldn't have it any other way.