Game No. 3: South Florida (9-22, 3-15 Big East) vs. Villanova (21-10, 9-9 Big East)
Line: Nova -9.5
TV: 7 p.m., ESPNU
What to watch for: A spark from Villanova. The Wildcats have lost nine of 14 and may be without their best 3-pointer shooter and second-leading scorer Corey Stokes (hamstring). He’ll be a gametime decision. Nova is shooting just 38.9 percent on its current four-game skid.
Tourney talk: We have Nova as a seven seed right now, an upset tonight – or even a win and a blowout loss tomorrow — could drop it into that dreaded eight-nine game in the NCAA tournament.
Sheen meter: “Got to dismiss these clowns.” If the Wildcats don’t, they’ll be the biggest laugh in the Big East.
Prediction: The experienced Nova backcourt should be enough, even with an off shooting night, to survive the conference’s worst team in turnover margin.
Nova 68, USF 54
Winner faces: No. 7 Cincinnati tomorrow at 7 p.m.
