Speaking on the Big East's weekly media teleconference Monday, USF coach Jim Leavitt was asked if he considers this week's a game at Central Florida, the last in a four-game series, a rivalry game.

"We do," Leavitt said. "The two schools are not very far apart, and it's always been a very big game for us. Absolutely."

Asked in a follow-up question by the Orlando Sentinel if he could explain then why USF isn't interested in continuing the series with UCF, Leavitt dodged the question.

"We've talked about that a lot," Leavitt said. "I'm focused on playing them this Saturday."

Leavitt called UCF "awfully good" no less than four times, but wouldn't make the Knights out to be any more or any less than any other team situated as his team's next opponent.

"We take each game and that's it," Leavitt said. "For us, this is the biggest game there is, because it's the one we play this Saturday."

UCF coach George O'Leary is up at 2:30 p.m. today, and we'll check back to see if he has anything more to say than Leavitt ...