BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: SOUTH FLORIDA @ ST. JOHN'S

February 1, 2009


The final Big East match-up on this Super Bowl Sunday has South Florida, getting away from all the big game excitement at home to travel north to meet St. John's in a conference match-up.

Each team comes into the game with 2-6 conference records. The Redstorm own home wins over Notre Dame and Rutgers, whole USF has swept two games from pitiful DePaul.

The Bulls are led by the one-two punch of shooting guard Dominique Jones and emerging freshman big man Augustus Gilchrist.

Jones, a junior, averages a team-high 18.4 points a game, leads the team with Gilchrist at 4.9 rebounds a contest, and also leads the team in assists (4.0) and steals (1.6). Gilchrist is averaging just over 12 points a game in Big East play.

St. John's has been decimated by injury, losing Anthony Mason Jr for the season in November and have been without point guard Malik Boothe and forward Rob Thomas lately. The Redstorm still plays hard under coach Norm Roberts and give a little extra effort in the comfy confines of Carnesecca Arena.

Paris Horne has been on a tear for SJU, eclipsing 20 points in three of his last four games and DJ Kennedy does a little bit of everything as a point-forward in their attack. If SJU can get Justin Burrell going against the thin USF front line, SJU will be in good shape today. St. John's is a slight home favorite (-2 1/2), they should be a winner in a pretty good game.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

St. John's 66
South Florida 62