BE GAME No.2: Nova at USF - Official TBP in game thread

[Vega]

A MUST WIN GAME

 

It's tough to tell your Big East Conference teams without a scorecard – who's coming? who's staying? – but University of South Florida men's basketball coach Stan Heath isn't looking ahead.

"I only know that it's still a very, very, very good basketball conference,'' Heath said. "We have our hands full.''

And that continues tonight when the Villanova Wildcats (10-4, 1-0 Big East) face the Bulls (9-4, 0-1) at the Sun Dome.

 

Villanova is among the Big East's basketball-first private schools – the so-called "Catholic 7'' – that recently announced plans to leave and begin their own conference.

USF is coming off a 55-44 home loss against Syracuse, which is making its final swing through the Big East before joining the ACC.
 

Saturday afternoon, the Bulls travel to No. 3-ranked Louisville, which has been USF's league partner since 1991 (in the Metro, Conference USA and the Big East). But Louisville, too, is eventually headed to the ACC.

"It's Houston and SMU (coming to the Big East),'' Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said Sunday. "You can't even name all the teams who are going to be there and when they're going to be there. It's not the same. The ACC is a very stable league, I think. Knock on wood. Knock on some president's head. We hope it's stable, but who knows?

"Nothing is really stable. Things are going to (keep) changing. I'll be fishing some place and playing golf. There are many changes yet to come.''
 

Heath isn't yet ready to absorb the potential changes. USF basketball could go from what's widely perceived as the nation's best hoops conference to … who knows?

"It's not something I talk about with my team,'' Heath said. "This is a league with so much tradition, so many memories. Just being part of it has been special.

"We'll see where things land in place as time goes on. For this year, for next year, let's just go through the wars and battles. Let's enjoy the moment.''

As painful as that can be at times.

"There are no nights off in the Big East,'' USF junior forward Victor Rudd said. "You've got to bring it every single night. Or else you're going to get beat.''

Last season, USF pulled off the unlikely accomplishment of beating Villanova three times – home-and-home, plus in a Big East Tournament game.

After reaching the NCAA Tournament in seven consecutive seasons, the Wildcats slumped to 13-19 last season. Villanova already shows signs of big improvement.

"We need to protect this home game because we're going to be on the road a bit,'' Heath said. "This game has a lot of weight to it.'


http://www2.tbo.com/sports/usf-bulls/2013/jan/09/3/spsporto1-usf-bulls-prepare-for-another-tough-test-ar-601786/

[Brad]

USF MEN’S BASKETBALL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: Jan. 7, 2013

GAME DAY INFORMATION

Date: January 9, 2013

Location: Tampa, Fla.

Tip-off: 8 p.m. Eastern

TV: BIG EAST Network/BHSN -

Rich Hollenberg and Bob Wenzel

Radio: 98.7 The Fan- Jim Lighthall and Todd Kalas

Sirius 104

Arena: Sun Dome (9,662)

The Game

The University of South Florida men’s basketball team continues its 2013 BIG EAST slate with a home match-up against Villanova on Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 8 p.m. in the USF Sun Dome. The Bulls (9-4), picked to finished eighth in the league, are coming off of a 44-55 loss to No. 7/7 Syracuse while the Wildcats (10-4) opened the season with a 98-86 overtime win against St. John’s at home. USF has won the last four meetings between the two squads including three during the 2011-12 season.

THE BROADCAST

The USF vs. Villanova game be on the BIG EAST Network and will air locally on BHSN with Rich Hollenberg (play-by-play) and Bob Wenzel (analyst) on the call. Additionally, fans can listen to the game on 98.7 The Fan with Jim Lighthall (play-by-play) and Todd Kalas (analyst) calling the action. Nationally, the game can be heard on Sirius 104.

[Triple B]

A MUST WIN GAME

 

 

[Vega]

A MUST WIN GAME

 

 

 

You should have read the article

"We need to protect this home game because we're going to be on the road a bit,'' Heath said. "This game has a lot of weight to it."

 

If that doesn't mean a must win game then I don't know what does.

[jjlovecub]

Very respectabull student turnout

[Held_AccountaBull]

Man oh man. I could rebound better then these guys.

[Vega]

So far Soft ass Fitzpatrick has given up all of Nova offensive rebounds

[Held_AccountaBull]

Not a national televised game. Guess that means Rudd will be a no show.

[Vega]

That was an easy lob to catch but Fitzpatrick is so afraid of physical play he fumbled away the ball that led to a Nova fast break dunk. Egbunu and Perry have strong hands so that part won't be a problem next season

[Vega]

Also the offense is is looking like typical micro coaching again. To much thinking is going to have USF in trouble. Got to let these kids play a little Coach