Scouting DePaul - BATTLE OF THE BOTTOM!

The BATTLE OF THE BOTTOM has never been so intense (Picture:www.life.com)

Here we go USF fans, one of the biggest basketball games is this Saturday, THE BATTLE FOR THE BOTTOM! The USF Bulls, 8-20 (2-13) and 15th place in the Big East, are on the road (haven't won a road game all season) to take on 16th place DePaul, 7-20 (1-14). DePaul is coming off of a beat down by St. John's and the Bulls have had this week off to prepare a game-plan for the Blue Demons.

The Blue Demons share the basement with USF and have the numbers to prove it. DePaul averages 67.9 points per game (206th in the country) compared to USF's 61.5 (312th in the country - painful I know). DePaul averages 31.4 rebounds per game (312th - no big men inside) while USF averages 36.7 per game (89th in the nation - we do something have way decent at least). The Blue Demons average 14.6 assists per game (68th) while USF averages 12.4 (217th - point to the guards for this bad number). DePaul shoots .429% from the field (215th) while USF shoots .413% (287th), so don't expect a high scoring, well-executed, pretty game on Saturday. [keep reading]

Face the facts, both teams stink. We are both in the bottom of the Big East and probably won't hit double digits in wins this season. This is not a marquee matchup, but this is a battle for pride. Neither team wants to be at the bottom of the conference and will do anything they can to keep out of the basement. Let's take a look at the players to watch out for in round of THE BATTLE FOR THE BOTTOM! [keep reading]

DePaul is led by freshman forward Cleveland Melvin (6'8" 210-pounds) that continues to excel in Big East play. He averages 14.3 points per game and 5 rebounds per game. He will be the man player to shut down (watch for Gilchrist to match up with him in the paint). Guard Brandon Young (6'3" 175-pounds) averages 12.2 points per game (shooting 43% from the field), 2.3 rebounds per game, and 3.8 assists per game. The USF guards (Poland and Crater) will have to shut him down and get the ball out of his hands. USF was able to do this in the first match up as they slowed the game down and frustrated the set plays of the DePaul offense.

Forward Tony Freeland (6'6" 216-pounds) is another player the Bulls will have to watch. He averages 9.6 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game. Center Krys Faber (6'11" 260-pounds) had a big game against USF last time. He averages 7.5 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game. He will match up against Famous and Anderson battling for rebounds. The Bulls should hold the advantage in the paint due to their size and athletic ability. Guard Jeremy Kelly (6'1" 170-pounds) is the other guard that averages 7.3 points per game, 2.2 rebounds per game, and 3 assists per game.

Other players to watch:

Guard - Jimmy Drew - 6'4" 210-pounds - 6.5 PPG 3.5 RPG

Forward - Moses Morgan - 6'5" 208-pounds - 3.8 PPG 1.6 RPG

Guard - Michael Bizoukas - 6'1" 175-pounds - 1.3 PPG 1.5 RPG

Guard/Forward - Mike Stovall - 6'5" 200-pounds - 6.2 PPG 1.5 RPG

Outcome of the game: The Bulls took care of business the first time these two teams faced off in Tampa. Hugh Robertson had 16 points and Jawanza Poland had 11 points as well. The USF big men did enough to out rebound the Blue Demons and disrupted their set offensive plays. DePaul has to rely on set plays due to the lack of playmakers on their roster. The Blue Demons have played better recently, despite the beat down by St. John's. The road has not been kind to the Bulls even though they have played well before (Pitt game).

This game may be one of the toughest to call this season. If USF plays like they did before, they can win this game. The Bulls have the size advantage inside and just are more athletic at every position, but the game is on the road and I'm sure the Blue Demons will come out focused in this game. The Bulls have had the entire week to prepare for this game, but the team is just so inconsistent to judge which player will show up. I may just toss a coin to predict this game. I think it will be an ugly, sloppy first half of basketball as both teams continue to struggle to execute their offense and continue to shoot poorly from the field. The second half, I think DePaul will somehow find a way to win this game at home and the Bulls will falter late and give the game away, just like they always seem to do on the road.

Final score prediction: DePaul 65 USF 63