Hey USF students, Bulls really want you at tonight’s game

TAMPA ― At this point, USF hasn’t enticed students into attending tonight’s men’s basketball home showdown against UCF with a raffle for four years of fully-paid tuition.

Then again, a few hours remain until the 7 p.m. tipoff.

The school’s efforts to draw its student body to this rivalry matchup transcends the typical game-night giveaways such as free pizza (which it’s doing, by the way). To help attract the largest home crowd of the season, USF is going to some creative extremes.

The first 1,000 students who show up receive a rally towel and sunglasses, but those are the hors d’oeuvres in a smorgasbord of perks.

One student will win a spring-break getaway to the Bahamas that includes a two-night stay at a resort and a $500 gift card toward travel accommodations.

And that free pizza? It will be available in the Coca-Cola Student Lounge (at the bottom of Gate D in the Yuengling Center) while supplies last. Those interested in winning the Bahamas trip can sign up in the same lounge, from 6-7 p.m.

Additionally, every student ― and Bulls fan ― who shows up is encouraged to wear white.

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The indefatigable promotion has been an athletic department collaboration. Scroll through Twitter, and you’ll encounter a concerted effort by various USF sports teams and administrators to get people into the stands tonight.

The Bulls’ largest home crowd so far was the 5,707 who watched their overtime win against East Carolina on Feb. 10. A victory tonight would be the their most significant to date.

UCF (20-6, 10-4 American Athletic Conference) is 34th in the most recent NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings. The Bulls (18-9, 7-7) are 72nd.

Contact Joey Knight at jknight@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Bulls.