Preview: Toreros open 2026 in San Francisco

USD (6-8, 1-1) vs. USF  (9-6, 1-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: War Memorial Gym at the Sobrato Center, San Francisco

On the air: ESPN+

Last time out: USD rallied from a 21-point second-half deficit to trail seventh-ranked Gonzaga by five with 11.2 seconds to play before losing 99-93 at home. Guards Ty-Laur Johnson (21 points) and Juanse Gorosito (16) and freshman forward D’Arrae Goodwin (15) led the Toreros.

Series history: USF leads the all-time series 52-42 and is riding a five-game winning streak against USD.

Toreros update:  Coach Steve Lavin has settled on guards Johnson, Gorosito and Adrian McIntyre and forwards Vuk Boskovic and freshman Alejando Alvies as his starters for the last three games, with guards Toneari Lane and forwards Tim Moore and Goodwin the first players off the bench. The key to USD’s success is its speed and defensive pressure and the ability to get points in transition. Although the collapsing defense is effective against stronger opposing frontlines, USD has problems getting rebounds. USD has edges in steals and turnovers against opponents but gets outrebounded by an average of 6.1 per game. Gs Johnson (14.2 points per game), Gorosito (11.2), Lane (10.2) and McIntyre (9.1) pace USD in scoring.

Dons update: USF is coming off a 70-62 WCC loss at Oregon State. The Dons are allowing 68.5 points per game and holding opponents to a 40.6% shooting percentage and 32% on 3-point attempts. Austrian forward David Fuchs comes off the bench to lead the Dons in scoring (13.2 points per game while shooting 54.2%) and rebounding (6.8 per game). Point guard Ryan Beasley is averaging 13.0 points per game and leads the Dons with 39 assists. He is followed in scoring by guard Tyrone Riley IV (11.7) and forward Mookie Cook (10.1 points, 5.6 rebounds per game).

Next up: Sunday at Santa Clara, 4 p.m.

— BILL CENTER