Purdue bond can wait a week

GAINESVILLE — Florida quarterback Austin Appleby doesn't expect his text message group of one-time Purdue quarterbacks to be too active this week when his No. 21 Gators prepare to play at No. 16 LSU.

Appleby and LSU starter Danny Etling were teammates at Purdue. Appleby took Etling's starting job in 2014, prompting Etling to transfer to LSU. Appleby left the Boilermakers as a grad transfer after last season.

"I'm a big Danny Etling fan," Appleby said.

That doesn't mean they'll be chatting much this week.

Appleby said he, Etling and current Purdue starter David Blough stay in touch with group texts. He'll wish Etling good luck this week but doesn't expect to share much more, given the rivalry and what's at stake (the SEC East championship).

"We're not mortal enemies …" Appleby said. "It's been pretty cool to keep that group together."

INJURY UPDATES: Quarterback Luke Del Rio (shoulder), linebacker Jarrad Davis (ankle) and offensive lineman Cam Dillard (leg) will be out this week, UF coach Jim McElwain said. Defensive end Bryan Cox and left tackle David Sharpe will probably be out with leg injuries, and defensive end CeCe Jefferson is expected to get limited reps. Offensive lineman Tyler Jordan (leg) is questionable.

Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher officially ruled safety Derwin James (knee) out for the rest of the regular season with a torn meniscus.

USF SOCCER: The men's team, runner-up in the American Athletic Conference tournament, will host Florida Gulf Coast in an NCAA tournament first-round match 7 p.m. Thursday.

Basketball

NO. 3 VILLANOVA 79, NO. 15 PURDUE 76: Josh Hart scored 24, and the defending national champion Wildcats (2-0) held off the host Boilermakers (1-1).

ELSEWHERE: J.P. Macura scored 18 and No. 11 Xavier (2-0) took advantage of 38 personal fouls by visiting Buffalo, pulling away for an 86-53 victory. … V.J. King scored 17 and Deng Adel added 16, including eight during host Louisville's 10-0 run to close the first half, helping the 12th-ranked Cardinals (2-0) pull away from William & Mary 91-58.

WOMEN: Napheesa Collier had 28 points and a block down the stretch as visiting UConn (1-0) held off No. 12 FSU (1-1) 78-76, the No. 3 Huskies' 76th straight win. … Eleanna Christinaki scored a career-high 29, and No. 19 Florida (2-0) beat host Chattanooga 72-61. … Top-ranked Notre Dame (2-0) beat visiting Fordham 67-36 in a Preseason WNIT quarterfinal game.

Times staff writer Joey Knight contributed to this report, which used information from Times wires.