Sweeping UCLA Tonight Would Be Sweet, Again!

USC looks to bounce back with 3rd straight season sweep of UCLA, and 6th win in a row.

The No. 16 Trojans have shaken off Tuesday’s loss to No. 2 Arizona and are focused on Saturday’s regular-season finale against the No. 17 Bruins

Adam Grosbard (OC Register —  LOS ANGELES — In the three days since Tuesday’s loss to Arizona, the USC men’s basketball team has had a loose vibe around practice. No sense of panic, no overreaction from the No. 16 Trojans (25-5 overall, 14-5 Pac-12).

“We’re not getting hung up on losing one game,” forward Chevez Goodwin said. “If losing one game defined a season, well then, that’s kind of stupid.”

That’s a valid, forward-thinking mentality for a team with designs on a second straight deep NCAA Tournament run. But it does not take away from the importance of Saturday’s regular-season finale against the Trojans’ crosstown rivals, No. 17 UCLA (22-6, 14-5).

There are the practical implications for next week’s Pac-12 Tournament. The winner on Saturday will earn the slightly more favorable No. 2 seed while the loser drops to No. 3. Either way, there is a strong possibility of a Battle for L.A. rematch in the semifinals in Las Vegas.

The Trojans have spoken all year about playing their best basketball when the games actually matter. That starts next week with the chance to earn the Pac-12 Tournament title and the league’s automatic bid to the 68-team NCAA Tournament, where the ultimate prize remains.

To be clear, USC will participate in March Madness no matter what happens in Vegas. Being No. 31 in the NET rankings and occupying a spot in the Associated Press’ Top 25 since the second week of the season are strong indicators USC will get to keep dancing even with a first-round exit from the conference tournament.

But deep postseason runs require playing your best basketball at the right time of the year. So USC would like to continue its trend of no losing streaks this season with a win over the Bruins to build momentum with another signature victory. And that requires shaking off the loss to Arizona quickly.

“We had to learn something from that game; I think they did,” head coach Andy Enfield said of his players. “And now we’ll go see how much we learned tomorrow and throughout next week.”

But USC has won five straight against the Bruins. In fact, no scholarship player on USC’s roster has lost to UCLA in their careers. For Goodwin and fellow graduating senior Isaiah White, Saturday will present them the opportunity to finish their careers undefeated against their rivals – barring, of course, a rematch in Vegas next week.

“You see the YouTube videos of the history UCLA and USC and it’s all like ‘UCLA, UCLA, UCLA, UCLA, UCLA, USC here, USC there,” Goodwin said. “But for me to come in here, me and Zay White, to get four wins off of ‘blue-blood’ royalty, you can’t ask for better than that.”

No. 16 USC (25-5, 14-5) at No. 17 UCLA (22-6, 14-5)

When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

Where: Pauley Pavilion

TV/radio: ESPN / 790 AM

ocregister.com

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HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
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March 5, 2022 7:54 pm

Free Throws …………….DANG !

TrojanRJJ
Noble Genius
TrojanRJJ
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March 5, 2022 6:32 pm

Based on the Oregon State game, I thought Oregon was going to destroy SC. I was wrong. I really expect the Bruins to smoke SC tonight. May I be wrong again.

HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
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March 5, 2022 6:12 pm

How about USC Mens Basketball does not lose another game for the next 2 months ? ……… FIGHT ON !!!!! ……. (And if …….If our current Mens Basketball coach could pull that off could we let him leave ?????).

Steveg
Major Genius
Steveg
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March 5, 2022 10:37 am

How is it that ucla is an 8 point favorite? Home court?

HOF19
Noble Genius
HOF19
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March 5, 2022 10:04 am

All’s I have to say is >>>>>>>> FIGHT ON !!!!!

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
Golden Trojan
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March 5, 2022 9:51 am

Last game of the regular season. It would be great if everybody is playing on all cylinders tonight.

Steveg
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Steveg
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March 5, 2022 8:40 am

Anyone know when Spring ball starts?

Golden Trojan
Major Genius
Golden Trojan
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March 5, 2022 9:47 am
Reply to  Steveg

Looks like March 30th. FYI The scholarship roster has;
3 QB
5 RB
11 WR
5 TE
13 OL
13 DL
10 LB
10 CB
9 S
1 Freshman Aussie Punter
That adds up to 80 with 5 open scholarships.

Steveg
Major Genius
Steveg
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March 5, 2022 10:19 am
Reply to  Golden Trojan

Thanks GT, you did all my homework for me.

Chris
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Chris
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March 5, 2022 5:58 pm
Reply to  Golden Trojan

position group rankings in my opinion

  1. QB, but only if CW stays healthy
  2. running backs-
  3. wide receivers
  4. Safeties
  5. O line, starters can be great. but only 6 deep. Can easily drop to bottom with a few injuries.
  6. Corners
  7. tight ends
  8. D Line
  9. linebackers

what are your thoughts?

TrojanRJJ
Noble Genius
TrojanRJJ
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March 6, 2022 1:10 pm
Reply to  Chris

Chris, I do not think rating the position groups is the way to view the team. The O has skill players that can match any team we play in 2022; the weak part is the OL. I think the OL, absent serious injuries, will be adequate and no more. Adequate is a huge improvement where it has been for the last five years. So, against the 2022 opponents, the O will be fine. We have a huge problem on D. The LBs were awful last year and the most talented LBs on the roster are a true frosh, two transfers… Read more »