South Florida Bulls Win AAC Tournament, Earn First NCAA Bid Since 2012

Top-seeded USF defeats Wichita State 70-55 to clinch automatic NCAA Tournament spot

Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:35am

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The University of South Florida men's basketball team won the American Athletic Conference tournament championship on Sunday, defeating second-seeded Wichita State 70-55. The victory secures the Bulls' first NCAA Tournament berth since 2012.

Why it matters

South Florida's triumph marks a significant milestone for the program, which had not reached the NCAA Tournament in over a decade. The AAC title and NCAA Tournament appearance will raise the Bulls' national profile and provide a boost of momentum heading into the big dance.

The details

Led by 19 points from junior guard Wes Enis, top-seeded USF dominated Wichita State throughout the AAC championship game. The Bulls built a double-digit lead in the first half and never looked back, cruising to a 15-point victory and clinching the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

  • The AAC championship game took place on Sunday, March 16, 2026.
  • South Florida's last NCAA Tournament appearance was in 2012.

The players

Wes Enis

A junior guard for the University of South Florida, Enis scored a team-high 19 points in the AAC title game.

University of South Florida

The South Florida Bulls are the men's basketball team of the University of South Florida, a public research university located in Tampa, Florida.

Wichita State University

Wichita State University is a public research university in Wichita, Kansas, and the Bulls' opponent in the AAC championship game.

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What they’re saying

“This is a huge moment for our program and our university. We've been working hard to get back to this point, and I'm so proud of our team for earning this NCAA Tournament bid.”

— Brian Gregory, Head Coach, University of South Florida (ESPN)

What’s next

South Florida will now await its seeding and first-round opponent when the NCAA Tournament bracket is revealed on Selection Sunday.

The takeaway

South Florida's AAC tournament championship and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012 represents a significant turnaround for the program, which has worked to rebuild and regain its status as a contender in the American Athletic Conference.