Following a break up of its first two Large Ten Convention video games final week, No. 24 Southern California returns to nonconference play on Tuesday when it visits the College of San Diego.
The Trojans (8-1) dropped their first choice of the season their final trip, squandering an 18-point halftime lead in an 84-76 loss to Washington on Saturday in Los Angeles.
USC surrendered a 13-0 to start out the second half, which set the tone for the ultimate 20 minutes.
“With no (Rodney) Rice, (Alijah) Arenas or (Amarion) Dickerson, you have to play an A-game,” Trojans coach Eric Musselman mentioned, referencing their three marquee gamers lacking on account of damage.
Essentially the most notable is Rice, the Trojans’ major playmaker by means of the primary six video games earlier than sustaining a shoulder damage in an 83-81 win over Seton Corridor on Nov. 25.
Rice is averaging 20.3 factors and 6 assists per sport. His timetable for a return was unclear as of Sunday.
Chad Baker-Mazara has carried the first scoring load in Rice’s absence, tallying 21 factors towards Washington on Saturday — proper in keeping with his season common. Nevertheless, USC is looking for extra consistency from different choices, together with Ezra Ausar (15.9 factors per sport).
Ausar’s massive second half (all of his 13 factors) at Oregon helped USC to an 82-77 conference-opening win on Dec. 2, however Musselman mentioned on Saturday that “his efficiency (was not) worthy of him persevering with on the market.”
Musselman pointed particularly to rebounding being a problem. At offensive rebounds allowed each 34% of alternatives per KenPom.com, USC ranks No. 273 nationally. They common 37.6 boards per sport, to 36.0 for opponents.
The Trojans will look to regroup on the glass and begin a brand new successful streak towards a slumping opponent.
San Diego (3-5) returns dwelling for the primary time since Nov. 21, which additionally marked the start of the Toreros’ ongoing, four-game skid.
San Diego fell right into a 28-point gap on Friday at San Jose State earlier than rallying within the second half. The Toreros may pull no nearer than to inside 11 factors after the preliminary deluge of an 86-69 setback.
Rebounding can be a priority for the Toreros, who rank 360th nationally in offensive rebounding proportion allowed to opponents. By way of eight video games, they common 31.5 boards to 36.5 for his or her opposition.
“(San Jose State was) plus-15 on the boards,” Toreros coach Steve Lavin mentioned. “And with USC coming in … we have to enhance in that space of controlling the paint and the backboards; being extra aggressive within the paint and on the glass.”
Opponents have attacked the inside towards San Diego to attain greater than 51% of their factors towards the Toreros from contained in the 3-point arc. Groups have shot nearly 53% on two-point field-goal makes an attempt towards San Diego for the season.
USC has a chance to bounce again after a woeful capturing efficiency from contained in the arc on Saturday towards Washington. The Trojans made simply 14 of 37 makes an attempt, which — mixed with 8-of-23 capturing from lengthy vary — noticed a normally prolific offense stagnate at 36.7% accuracy.
The 76 factors scored had been nearly 15 fewer than their 90.6-per sport common by means of the primary eight contests.
San Diego, in the meantime, has not scored greater than 78 factors towards a Division I opponent. The Toreros’ offense seeks a constant spark, with nobody averaging greater than 10.9 factors per sport. Juanse Gorosito and Ty-Laur Johnson are co-leaders, simply Toneari Lane a hair again at 10.6.
–Area Degree Media
