Trojans host No. 9 Oregon for final game
The USC men’s basketball team will look to end the season on a high note and gain momentum heading into the Pac-12 tournament as the No. 9 Oregon Ducks roll into the Galen Center. The Trojans snapped a three -game losing streak with a win over the Oregon State Beavers on Wednesday night.
In their previous matchup in late January, the Ducks (24-6, 13-4) entered as the underdogs. At the time, the Trojans (20-10, 9-8) were sitting at 15-3 and had just been ranked for the first time since 2008.
Forward Elgin Cook led the Ducks with 26 points, five rebounds and four assists en route to an 89-81 victory. Forwards Dwayne Benjamin and Chris Boucher each added 16 points for the Ducks.
The game was close throughout, but the Ducks went on a 13-1 run midway through the second half to pull away 71-56. The Trojans never got closer than 7 again.
Freshman forward Bennie Boatwright had one of his best games against the Ducks, finishing with 23 points and 12 rebounds, his first collegiate double-double. Junior guard Julian Jacobs chipped in 18 points, six rebounds and five assists. The rest of the team combined to shoot 38 percent from the field.
The two teams have gone in opposite directions since their last matchup in Eugene. The Ducks have won 10 of their last 12 games, including the last time they played USC, and clinched at least a share of the Pac-12 title with their victory over UCLA on Wednesday. A win over the Trojans would give them their first Pac-12 title since 2002.
“They are a tough team. They’re a top-10 team in the nation for a reason,” sophomore guard Jordan McLaughlin said. “They have a little bit of everything: outside shooting, inside shooting, defense, blocking and the ability to spread the floor.”
The Trojans bounced back from their disappointing road trip to Oregon by winning their next three games. However, the Men of Troy lost five of their next six games before getting back on the winning track against the Beavers. USC currently sits at sixth in the Pac-12. A win over the Ducks along with a Colorado loss would give the Trojans the No. 5 seed heading into the Pac-12 Tournament.
Despite this being the last regular season game for both teams, there is a lot at stake.
The Ducks enter the Galen Center riding a four-game winning streak, where they have outscored opponents by an average of 11 points. Forward Dillon Brooks leads a well-rounded Ducks squad that currently has four players averaging more than 12 points per game.
Oregon has a strong offense, but their strength has been their defense. The Ducks are second in the Pac-12 in steals and blocks per game with 7.4 and 5.6 respectively. They also lead the conference in turnover margin.
One of the Trojans’ biggest weaknesses this season has been turnovers. In winnable games against Arizona State and Oregon State, the Trojans let the win slip away with high turnover rates. Oregon loves to feast on turnovers and get out in transition, something the Trojans will need to slow down if they hope to win.
Lucky for the Trojans, they are a completely different team at home. The Men of Troy boast a 16-1 home record, with their only loss coming at the hands of a strong Utah team.
“We’re 16-and-1 on our home floor,” head coach Andy Enfield. “So whatever magic they have needs to happen on Saturday because Oregon is one of the top teams in the country.”
Behind the likes of McLaughlin, junior guard Katin Reinhardt and Boatwright, the Trojans are one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country. The Trojans seem to do better when they average around twenty 3-point shots per game, as they convert close to 40 percent of their attempts. The Ducks have the second worst 3-point defense in the Pac-12, something the Trojans should look to take advantage of.
“We really did something special at home this year,” Jacobs said. “I think we just have to defend our home court one more time, and we are motivated because of the last time we played them.”
Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. this Saturday, March 5. The game will be aired on the Pac-12 Network.