Overview
- No. 11 South Florida lost 83-79 to No. 6 Louisville in Buffalo, marking Hodgson’s first NCAA Tournament game as a head coach.
- The Western New York native coached in front of 38 relatives, with his father, who has dementia, attending his son’s game in person for the first time.
- Hodgson pushed back on suggestions his players disrespected Louisville and defended guard Wes Enis’s pregame confidence as standard belief in their ability.
- USF reached March Madness after an 11-game winning streak and an AAC tournament title, the program’s first NCAA berth since 2012.
- Reports this week say Hodgson turned down Syracuse and is considering Providence or staying at USF, though he has emphasized his focus on the Bulls.