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© St. Petersburg Times, published February 1, 2002
WHEN/WHERE: 7; Freedom Hall.
TV/RADIO: ESPN; WQYK-AM 1010.
RECORDS: USF 14-6, 4-3 C-USA; Louisville 12-7, 3-5.
COACHES: South Florida -- Seth Greenberg (88-79, sixth season; 193-149 overall). Louisville -- Rick Pitino (first season; 364-131 overall).
KEY PLAYERS: South Florida -- Altron Jackson, G/F, 6-6 Sr. (18.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.3 spg); B.B. Waldon, PF, 6-8 Sr. (13.4 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.6 apg); Will McDonald, C, 6-11 Jr. (12.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg). Louisville -- Reece Gaines, SG, 6-6 Jr. (19.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.4 apg); Ellis Myles, PF, 6-8 So. (9.2 ppg, 10.7 rpg); Luke Whitehead, F, 6-7 So. (11.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg).
NOTES: This is where USF hit the skids last season, dropping seven of its final 11 after entering February with a record identical to this season. ... Louisville lost Wednesday night at Memphis 80-70. ... With the burden of becoming C-USA's all-time leading scorer behind him, expect Jackson to take it up a notch. The senior is averaging 9.0 rebounds in conference play. ... USF is second-to-last in C-USA in free-throw shooting (60.8 percent), but McDonald (four) and Brian Swift (two) saved the day with six straight from the line in Tuesday's narrow escape at Central Florida. Louisville is last in the league in free throws (59.8 percent). ... USF leads C-USA in 3-point percentage (37.5), Louisville leads in turnover margin (plus-3.79). ... Gaines is third in the league in scoring and Jackson fifth, and Myles is second in rebounding. McDonald (56.4) and Waldon (56.0) are third and fourth in the league in field-goal percentage. USF's Reggie Kohn leads C-USA with 7.2 assists a game.