FACTS & STATS: USF Sun Dome (10,411) -- Tampa, Florida. Television: ESPN360. Home Record: Notre Dame 17-0, USF 7-7. Away Record: Notre Dame 4-4, USF 3-10. Neutral Record: Notre Dame 2-2, USF 2-1. Conference Record: Notre Dame 13-4, USF 3-14. Series Record: Notre Dame leads, 2-1.

GAME NOTES: The South Florida Bulls will try to make the final game of their 2007-08 campaign a memorable one, as they host the 19th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a Big East affair at the Sun Dome. The Bulls' season began with so much promise, until Big East play got underway and things fell completely apart. USF has dropped 14 of its 17 conference outings and that obviously wasn't good enough to qualify for the upcoming Big East Tournament. On Wednesday, the Bulls were downed at Villanova, 72-59, as they dipped to 12-18 overall. As for Notre Dame, it has set a school record by winning 13 Big East games during the regular season and that has helped it earn a first-round bye in the upcoming tournament. The Irish have won 10 of their past 12 outings, including a 68-55 triumph over St. John's on Wednesday that extended their home winning streak to 37 games. Now at a healthy 23-6 overall, Notre Dame takes to the road, where it has gone an even 4-4 thus far. The Irish hold a 2-1 edge in the all-time series against USF, with the teams splitting a pair of meetings last season.

Notre Dame is the top scoring team in the Big East at the moment, averaging a healthy 81.1 ppg on 45.9 percent shooting from the field and an efficient 41.4 percent from downtown. Luke Harangody has put together a tremendous campaign and he is one of just two players in the conference averaging a double-double, ranking first in scoring (21.0 ppg) and second in rebounding (10.4 rpg). Kyle McAlarney is second on the team with 15.2 ppg and 3.6 apg, while Rob Kurz contributes 12.7 ppg and 7.6 rpg to this potent attack. In the team's last game, Harangody tallied 20 points and collected six caroms to lead Notre Dame in a win over St. John's. Kurz posted 15 points, and McAlarney had 13 points on 3-of-5 three-pointers. Notre Dame shot 53.8 percent from the field and scored 20 points from 12 turnovers by St. John's.

The Bulls come into the contest averaging 69.1 ppg, but that number has dwindled to just 63.8 ppg in conference play. Freshman Dominique Jones has been a pleasant surprise for USF this season and he leads the team in scoring (17.0 ppg) as well as steals (45). Kentrell Gransberry is the only other player, besides Harangody, in the Big East that is averaging a double-double on the season, with 16.1 ppg and a conference-high 10.9 rpg. Jesus Verdejo rounds out the double-digit scorers with 10.7 ppg. In the squad's previous contest, the Bulls shot a dismal 31.5 percent from the floor, including a poor 4-of-23 showing from downtown, as they were dropped by Villanova. Jones, though, had a big night, finishing with 29 points and four boards.

The Irish have the advantage over the Bulls in many areas, and they should have no trouble scoring the victory behind the efforts of Harangody and company.

Predicted Outcome

Notre Dame 77, South Florida 66