COACHES: DePaul - Jerry Wainwright (first season, 194-156, overall); USF - Robert McCullum (27-50, third season; 71-95).
NOTABLE: The Bulls won't have a better chance at their first Big East win, facing a team that has lost six in a row. The Blue Demons rank last in the conference in assists, steals, scoring margin and shooting percentage allowed. Top scorer Sammy Mejia, a 6-foot-6 junior guard averaging 15.3 points, injured his ankle last week and could be limited. While USF has been prone to late collapses, DePaul has consistently fallen behind by double digits in the first half. Against a poor perimeter defense, expect a big game from Bulls senior guard James Holmes, who is averaging a team-best 18 points. DePaul is second worst in the Big East in rebounding margin, so USF senior center Solomon Jones, the league's second-best rebounder at 10 per game, could lead a strong rebounding night. USF has four players averaging in double digits, with junior forwards Melvin Buckley and McHugh Mattis increasing their scoring to balance the two seniors.
