TAMPA, Fla. – Bryan Hodgson was flanked by CJ Brown and Izaiyah Nelson during his postgame press conference Sunday afternoon following a 90-62 victory over Tulane at the Yuengling Center. A conference championship trophy was on the table in front of them, the result of winning at least a share of the American regular season title.
Nelson enjoyed such a victory with Hodgson at Arkansas State a year ago when the Red Wolves were outright regular-season Sun Belt champs. Brown tasted it Sunday in what is hoped to be a mere appetizer after remaining at USF.
“I was fortunate enough to win one with (Nelson) last year,” said Hodgson, pointing at the hardware. “When I got (to USF), I said to CJ, ‘If you stick around and you stay here and play for me, we are going to win one of these.’”
Brown has more than done his part. The Marietta, Ga. native is averaging 11.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in starting all 29 games as a sophomore point guard for the Bulls. That is only part of the picture, though. As the only returning active player – De’Ante Green appeared in 21 games before a season-ending injury (Achilles) shortened his 2024-25 campaign and he has missed this season – Brown had to shoulder some responsibility in helping 13 new faces assimilate to the program and, in the larger picture, the campus that exists beyond the walls of the Muma Center.
“I had to grow up a lot, mature a lot,” he said. “Thanks to the guy right here (Hodgson), I have grown up a lot, stepped into the point guard role and have been more vocal like the leader I am trying be.”
As for the trophy in front of him, it is a reminder of what a former coach had in store when Brown was recruited to play at USF.
“It means a lot,” said Brown, who began his collegiate career under Amir Abdur-Rahim, but never played for the beloved coach, who passed away prior to last season. “Coach Amir came in and won (a regular season title in 2023-24), and he promised me that I would win one with him. Sadly, he passed.”
READ: USF’s 2026 Football Schedule: Recalling The Last Time The Bulls Played At West Point
Brown, who started eight games and averaged 7.2 points as a freshman last season under interim coach Ben Fletcher, now has a title under Hodgson, who spoke glowingly of the young man’s maturity in helping bring the roster together.
“CJ really showed these guys the ropes as far as being the one returner in the lineup,” he said, noting how the sidelined Green has also done a fantastic job as a leader. “CJ has been an everyday guy, the best compliment you can get as a player. He is extremely unselfish and to me he is the best point guard in this conference. End of discussion. I am super proud he is our point guard and I would love to win a lot more games with him.”
That could happen beginning Thursday night at Memphis (9 p.m./ESPN2) and continue next Sunday in the regular-season finale at the YC against Charlotte (2 p.m./ESPN+). The conference tournament gets underway next Wednesday in Birmingham. Should the Bulls nail down the top seed, they would have their tourney tip-off in Friday’s semifinal round. Here is the schedule.
First Round | Wednesday, March 11
Game 1: No. 8 Seed vs No. 9 Seed – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPNU
Game 2: No. 7 Seed vs No. 10 Seed – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT | ESPN+
Second Round | Thursday, March 12
Game 3: Game 1 Winner vs No. 5 Seed – 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT | ESPNU
Game 4: Game 2 Winner vs No. 6 Seed – 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT | ESPNU
Quarterfinals | Friday, March 13
Game 5: Game 3 Winner vs No. 4 Seed – 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT | ESPN2
Game 6: Game 4 Winner vs No. 3 Seed – 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT | ESPN2
Semifinals | Saturday, March 14
Game 7: Game 5 Winner vs No. 1 Seed – 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT | ESPN2
Game 8: Game 6 Winner vs No. 2 Seed – 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT | ESPN2
Final | Sunday, March 15
Game 9: Game 7 Winner vs Game 8 Winner – 3:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. | ESPN
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