It was fun while it lasted, but South Florida's improbable quest for an NCAA Tournament berth is just about done.

Yes, if the coach Stan Heath's club can win at Villanova next Wednesday, the Bulls can still entertain hopes of a late charge toward a tourney ticket, but that's a mighty tall mountain to climb. In all likelihood, a 16-point home loss to a St. John's team that's 5-9 in the Big East will doom USF on Selection Sunday. Teams fighting for their tournament lives are not supposed to slip on the banana peel the way the Bulls did on Saturday afternoon at the USF Sun Dome.

This contest was not in doubt over the final few minutes, a shocking result in a game that figured to fall solidly in the win column for South Florida. The same team that jolted Georgetown on the road and handled Pittsburgh at home was expected to knock off coach Norm Roberts' Red Storm in the Sunshine State, but it was the club from New York City that dealt out the punishment in this lopsided affair.

The Johnnies carried the play and owned the day because they played picture-perfect offense over the course of 40 minutes. SJU shot 59 percent from the field, had seven players contribute at least seven points, and received four particularly efficient performances from its lineup.

Guards Malik Boothe and Paris Horne, plus wing D.J. Kennedy and forward Justin Brownlee were exception for St. John's on Saturday. This formidable foursome combined to shoot 17 of 24 from the field, 4 of 6 from 3-point range, and 8 of 11 from the foul line. These basketball brothers also generated an overall total of eight rebounds and an assist-to-turnover ratio of almost 2-1 (nine assists, five turnovers). Some college basketball teams can flourish when only two or three players are bringing their best stuff to the gymnasium, but with the Johnnies having four in-form players - plus three other solid role players lending support as well - South Florida found itself outplayed and outgunned from the get-go.