USC basketball history cannot match ucla. Since 1919, ucla has compiled a 1931-877 record (.688), 11 national championships and 19 Final Fours. Since 1906, SC is 1706-1244 (.578), with 0 national championships and 2 Final Fours (1940, 1954). John Wooden is responsible for 10 national championships, 12 Final Fours and a 620-147 record (.808) in 27 seasons. *Assist to Sam Gilbert A little extra ‘Magic’ propelled Wizard of Westwood. The all-time series is 146-114 (.561) in favor of the westwooders. Enfield is 10-13 against the bruins, 10-9 excluding his first 2 seasons after inheriting a dumpster fire from Kevin O’Neill. Against Mick Cronin, Andy is 5-3, winning 5 in a row before losing the last 3.
The bruins come into the game 17-3, 8-1 with losses to No. 6 Arizona, No. 17 Baylor, No. 34 Illinois and wins over No. 39 Kentucky, Oregon and Maryland.
AP No. 8 ucla is No. 4 in KenPom, No. 5 in NET. Unranked SC is No. 49 in KenPom, No. 61 in NET. In their last meeting, the bruins escaped with a 60-58 win. SC played the last game without Vince Iwuchukwu and ucla without Amari Bailey. Both players will play in this game. “They are a different team now with Vince,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said of USC this week. They’re a better team now.”
The bruins average 75.4 ppg and hold opponents to 59.8 (+15.6 ppg). They shoot 46.7% FGs, 35.4% 3FGs (1st in Pac tied with Ariz), 71.6% FTs and hold opponents to 40.9% FGs, 29.6% 3FGs, 68.8% FTs.
They outrebound opponents 35.8 to 32.4 rpg (+3.4 margin). Their biggest edge is in TOs, forcing 17.1/g and averaging 10 TO pg (+7.1 margin – good for No. 2 in the NCAA). They score 20.9 ppg off TOs. They average 8.9 steals/game (best in Pac, SC is 3rd at 7.6) and 4.1 blocks (6th in Pac, SC is 2nd).
Jaime Jaquez leads the bruins with 16.1 ppg, followed by Jaylen Clark 13.9, Tyger Campbell 13.8 and David Singleton 10.3 ppg. Amari Bailey adds 9.5 ppg and Adem Bona 8.4.
Jaquez is their leading rebounder (7.2 rpg, No. 7 in Pac. Drew is No. 12 at 6.6), followed by Clark 7.0 rpg, Bona 5.0 rpg. Tyger Campbell has 92 assists (4.6 apg – No. 6 in Pac, behind No. 5 Drew at 4.8 apg).
Jaylen Clark tops the Pac in steals with 51, Kobe is 2nd with 42 and Boogie is 5th with 34. Adem Bona has 29 blocks (6th in Pac), Josh Morgan is No. 1 with 51 blks, No. 8 in NCAA.
SC is averaging 71.3 ppg, yielding 69.4 (+4.9 ppg margin), shooting 45.6% FGs, 31.8% 3FGs, 72.4% FTs.SC is -0.3 in rebounding margin and TO margin –not good.
Boogie leads with 15.6 ppg, Drew 14.0, Reese and Tre 9.4, Josh 8.2 and Kobe 7.7 ppg.
So there’s no secret here, SC has to shoot better, especially from the 3-pt line and make it chaotic for the bruins offense, by clamping down inside and making their shooters score from outside. We have to rebound better and avoid TOs. Drew and Boogie need to be on their games and outscore Jaquez and Clark. Interesting matchup will be Vince against the bruins’ frosh big man Adem Bona. Bona has the whole season under his belt, Vince has appeared in just 4 games, missing summer and fall camps and the first 16 games. Can he step up? If he can, I like the Trojans’ chances to pull the upset and secure a Quad 1 win.
USC won a school-record 73 games over the last 3 seasons (22 in 2020, 25 in ‘21 and 26 in ‘22). The previous record was 71 (2016-18). USC's 73 total wins the previous three seasons tied for the third most among all Power 6 basketball programs, trailing only the last two NCAA champions Kansas (83) and Baylor (81). The three consecutive seasons of 20+ wins equals the school record for most consecutive 20-win seasons set from 2016-18.
The UCLA Bruins (17-3, 8-1) are coming off their first conference loss of the season, a 58-52 setback at Arizona on Jan. 21.
USC has two star guards in senior Boogie Ellis, who leads the Trojans with 15.6 PPG, and fifth-year Drew Peterson, who leads USC with 6.6 RPG and 4.75 APG.
UCLA also has two star veteran guards in RS Sr Tyger Campbell, who leads the Bruins with 4.6 assist pg and Sr Jaime Jaquez Jr., who leads the Bruins with 16.1 PPG and 7.2 RPG.
On the way to Galen, I hear a woman say “Hey 1-3,” I think is Caleb Williams behind me? No, it’s Drew, walking to Galen with Malik Thomas. You can tell it’s a big game as we pass a long line of students, waiting to enter.
Founder’s is full, not taking any walk-ins. No real celebrity sightings, except for alum Shannon Beador, one of the Real Housewives of Orange County, if that counts. Mike Bohn makes the rounds. Before the speaker is brought to the mike, there is a disgusting group of bruin students with the gall to do an 8-clap, before being asked to leave. Who let the f’in bruins in?! Some Founders had to have sold their tickets for that to happen – our fans suck!
Andy Enfield is today’s speaker, so you can tell it’s a big game. If there was any doubt, it’s erased when we spot the ageless, always dapper Jim Hill (he’s 76, I looked it up) with his pre-game intro from the Galen HOF area.
Andy is suited up, but wearing Kobe's for this game. He explains that it’s Coaches vs. Cancer week and Nike gifted the team Kobe signature shoes. He keeps his comments brief and takes a few questions. He is proud of the improvement his team has shown this season and of his 100% graduation rate. He says each team has 2 all-conference seniors and that it will come down to whichever team’s supporting cast plays better. He’s asked about playing 2-bigs together and said that was the plan coming into the season, but because of Vince’s issues, we will continue to play 4 guards. He mentions that Silas Demary is here with Silas, Sr. and that Isaiah Collier’s mother is also here.
We pass the Bishop Gorman bball team on the way into the arena, which is rapidly filling up to an announced crowd of 9605, largest of the season. The student sections are full, the Trojan Knights are body painted with ‘B-O-O-G-I-E O-N’. I spot former COB Rick Caruso and Trojan bball alums Brandon Granville, Sam Clancy, Isaiah White and Amar Ross. I see Gavin Morris with a white-hooded, sunglassed figure (guessing Rodrick Pleasant trying to stay incognito before Signing Day). They join a group of football players, including Caleb, JJ3, Brendan Rice, Zion Branch, Raleek Brown and Tackett Curtis. Malachi Nelson and Makai Lemon, back from the Polynesian Bowl, join as well. The NBA Scouts are back. The media tables are full. A cheering section of bruins is above us. The ESPN crew is broadcasting. Galen Center’s own Keith Williams, Jr. delivers the national anthem and brings down the house, the man has got some vocal range!
The game tips off. SC goes up 14-9, before a 7:26 scoreless drought has the Trojans going into halftime trailing 37-25. Six of ucla’s 12 FGs are 3’s. They made 7-10 FTs. SC made 10 FGs (3 threes), but made only 1-2 FTs. Leading scorer Boogie had only 4 pts and was 0-5 on 3’s and Drew had 4 TOs.
At halftime, Caleb Williams gets a standing ovation from the Galen Center crowd as he came to center court to be recognized for his Heisman win.
DJ Malski gets the crowd revved up for the 2nd half with fan favorite YMCA - even Bill Walton was up from his high perch with the synchronized arm movements. Malski said “Get it Uncle Bill!”
SC had just overcome an 18-pt deficit at Pauley, could they come back down 12? The answer was a resounding YES. SC outscored the bruins 52-27 in the second half on the strength of 27 points from Boogie, who would establish a new career high of 31 pts. Enfield continually put him into position with ball screens to isolate him against defenders he could attack. Asked after the game how unexpected Boogie’s performance was, Mick Cronin replied, “About as unexpected as traffic tomorrow morning on the 405" – haha. SC had a 17-2 edge in fast break points in the 2nd half.
SC outshot ucla 49% to 35.7% FGs and 45.5% to 44.4% 3FGs (making 10 to the bruins’ 8). SC finally got to the foul line making all 16 FTs in the 2nd half to finish 17-18 for the game! This comes after they went 14-14 against ASU! Hopefully, they keep shooting well the rest of the season, it could be a difference maker.
Boogie added to his scoring performance by dishing out 6 assists with 0 TOs. Drew put up 16 pts and 4 rebs (3/4 3FGs), Kobe had 10 pts, 5 assists and team-high 5 rebs and 3 steals. Tre added 7 points and 4 rebs. SC had just 2 TOs in the 2nd half to finish with 9 TOs for the game. SC forced 13 bruin TOs, the first time this season that ucla has lost the TO margin. Vince played a season high 17 minutes, scored 6 pts with 3 rebs. More importantly, he and Josh were able to hold Adem Bona to 1 shot in the 2nd half and were able to jump out on ball screens to impede the bruins’ paths.
With the 77-64 win tonight, USC improved to 15-6 (7-3) and are in second place in the Pac, 1 game behind the bruins, now 17-4 (8-2). Enfield improves to 6-3 against Cronin and SC has won its last five home games against UCLA, its longest streak since 1960-63. This was SC’s first win over an AP Top 10 team since beating No. 8 UCLA on Jan. 25, 2017. SC is now No. 42 in KenPom and 52 in NET ranking. There are still four more opportunities for SC to secure Quad 1 wins: road games at CU, Utah, Oregon, and home against Arizona.
The lasting image for this game was of the team ringing the Victory Bell and Boogie wielding the Sword.
Fight on! Beat the Cougs!
The bruins come into the game 17-3, 8-1 with losses to No. 6 Arizona, No. 17 Baylor, No. 34 Illinois and wins over No. 39 Kentucky, Oregon and Maryland.
AP No. 8 ucla is No. 4 in KenPom, No. 5 in NET. Unranked SC is No. 49 in KenPom, No. 61 in NET. In their last meeting, the bruins escaped with a 60-58 win. SC played the last game without Vince Iwuchukwu and ucla without Amari Bailey. Both players will play in this game. “They are a different team now with Vince,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said of USC this week. They’re a better team now.”
The bruins average 75.4 ppg and hold opponents to 59.8 (+15.6 ppg). They shoot 46.7% FGs, 35.4% 3FGs (1st in Pac tied with Ariz), 71.6% FTs and hold opponents to 40.9% FGs, 29.6% 3FGs, 68.8% FTs.
They outrebound opponents 35.8 to 32.4 rpg (+3.4 margin). Their biggest edge is in TOs, forcing 17.1/g and averaging 10 TO pg (+7.1 margin – good for No. 2 in the NCAA). They score 20.9 ppg off TOs. They average 8.9 steals/game (best in Pac, SC is 3rd at 7.6) and 4.1 blocks (6th in Pac, SC is 2nd).
Jaime Jaquez leads the bruins with 16.1 ppg, followed by Jaylen Clark 13.9, Tyger Campbell 13.8 and David Singleton 10.3 ppg. Amari Bailey adds 9.5 ppg and Adem Bona 8.4.
Jaquez is their leading rebounder (7.2 rpg, No. 7 in Pac. Drew is No. 12 at 6.6), followed by Clark 7.0 rpg, Bona 5.0 rpg. Tyger Campbell has 92 assists (4.6 apg – No. 6 in Pac, behind No. 5 Drew at 4.8 apg).
Jaylen Clark tops the Pac in steals with 51, Kobe is 2nd with 42 and Boogie is 5th with 34. Adem Bona has 29 blocks (6th in Pac), Josh Morgan is No. 1 with 51 blks, No. 8 in NCAA.
SC is averaging 71.3 ppg, yielding 69.4 (+4.9 ppg margin), shooting 45.6% FGs, 31.8% 3FGs, 72.4% FTs.SC is -0.3 in rebounding margin and TO margin –not good.
Boogie leads with 15.6 ppg, Drew 14.0, Reese and Tre 9.4, Josh 8.2 and Kobe 7.7 ppg.
So there’s no secret here, SC has to shoot better, especially from the 3-pt line and make it chaotic for the bruins offense, by clamping down inside and making their shooters score from outside. We have to rebound better and avoid TOs. Drew and Boogie need to be on their games and outscore Jaquez and Clark. Interesting matchup will be Vince against the bruins’ frosh big man Adem Bona. Bona has the whole season under his belt, Vince has appeared in just 4 games, missing summer and fall camps and the first 16 games. Can he step up? If he can, I like the Trojans’ chances to pull the upset and secure a Quad 1 win.
USC won a school-record 73 games over the last 3 seasons (22 in 2020, 25 in ‘21 and 26 in ‘22). The previous record was 71 (2016-18). USC's 73 total wins the previous three seasons tied for the third most among all Power 6 basketball programs, trailing only the last two NCAA champions Kansas (83) and Baylor (81). The three consecutive seasons of 20+ wins equals the school record for most consecutive 20-win seasons set from 2016-18.
The UCLA Bruins (17-3, 8-1) are coming off their first conference loss of the season, a 58-52 setback at Arizona on Jan. 21.
USC has two star guards in senior Boogie Ellis, who leads the Trojans with 15.6 PPG, and fifth-year Drew Peterson, who leads USC with 6.6 RPG and 4.75 APG.
UCLA also has two star veteran guards in RS Sr Tyger Campbell, who leads the Bruins with 4.6 assist pg and Sr Jaime Jaquez Jr., who leads the Bruins with 16.1 PPG and 7.2 RPG.
On the way to Galen, I hear a woman say “Hey 1-3,” I think is Caleb Williams behind me? No, it’s Drew, walking to Galen with Malik Thomas. You can tell it’s a big game as we pass a long line of students, waiting to enter.
Founder’s is full, not taking any walk-ins. No real celebrity sightings, except for alum Shannon Beador, one of the Real Housewives of Orange County, if that counts. Mike Bohn makes the rounds. Before the speaker is brought to the mike, there is a disgusting group of bruin students with the gall to do an 8-clap, before being asked to leave. Who let the f’in bruins in?! Some Founders had to have sold their tickets for that to happen – our fans suck!
Andy Enfield is today’s speaker, so you can tell it’s a big game. If there was any doubt, it’s erased when we spot the ageless, always dapper Jim Hill (he’s 76, I looked it up) with his pre-game intro from the Galen HOF area.
Andy is suited up, but wearing Kobe's for this game. He explains that it’s Coaches vs. Cancer week and Nike gifted the team Kobe signature shoes. He keeps his comments brief and takes a few questions. He is proud of the improvement his team has shown this season and of his 100% graduation rate. He says each team has 2 all-conference seniors and that it will come down to whichever team’s supporting cast plays better. He’s asked about playing 2-bigs together and said that was the plan coming into the season, but because of Vince’s issues, we will continue to play 4 guards. He mentions that Silas Demary is here with Silas, Sr. and that Isaiah Collier’s mother is also here.
We pass the Bishop Gorman bball team on the way into the arena, which is rapidly filling up to an announced crowd of 9605, largest of the season. The student sections are full, the Trojan Knights are body painted with ‘B-O-O-G-I-E O-N’. I spot former COB Rick Caruso and Trojan bball alums Brandon Granville, Sam Clancy, Isaiah White and Amar Ross. I see Gavin Morris with a white-hooded, sunglassed figure (guessing Rodrick Pleasant trying to stay incognito before Signing Day). They join a group of football players, including Caleb, JJ3, Brendan Rice, Zion Branch, Raleek Brown and Tackett Curtis. Malachi Nelson and Makai Lemon, back from the Polynesian Bowl, join as well. The NBA Scouts are back. The media tables are full. A cheering section of bruins is above us. The ESPN crew is broadcasting. Galen Center’s own Keith Williams, Jr. delivers the national anthem and brings down the house, the man has got some vocal range!
The game tips off. SC goes up 14-9, before a 7:26 scoreless drought has the Trojans going into halftime trailing 37-25. Six of ucla’s 12 FGs are 3’s. They made 7-10 FTs. SC made 10 FGs (3 threes), but made only 1-2 FTs. Leading scorer Boogie had only 4 pts and was 0-5 on 3’s and Drew had 4 TOs.
At halftime, Caleb Williams gets a standing ovation from the Galen Center crowd as he came to center court to be recognized for his Heisman win.
DJ Malski gets the crowd revved up for the 2nd half with fan favorite YMCA - even Bill Walton was up from his high perch with the synchronized arm movements. Malski said “Get it Uncle Bill!”
SC had just overcome an 18-pt deficit at Pauley, could they come back down 12? The answer was a resounding YES. SC outscored the bruins 52-27 in the second half on the strength of 27 points from Boogie, who would establish a new career high of 31 pts. Enfield continually put him into position with ball screens to isolate him against defenders he could attack. Asked after the game how unexpected Boogie’s performance was, Mick Cronin replied, “About as unexpected as traffic tomorrow morning on the 405" – haha. SC had a 17-2 edge in fast break points in the 2nd half.
SC outshot ucla 49% to 35.7% FGs and 45.5% to 44.4% 3FGs (making 10 to the bruins’ 8). SC finally got to the foul line making all 16 FTs in the 2nd half to finish 17-18 for the game! This comes after they went 14-14 against ASU! Hopefully, they keep shooting well the rest of the season, it could be a difference maker.
Boogie added to his scoring performance by dishing out 6 assists with 0 TOs. Drew put up 16 pts and 4 rebs (3/4 3FGs), Kobe had 10 pts, 5 assists and team-high 5 rebs and 3 steals. Tre added 7 points and 4 rebs. SC had just 2 TOs in the 2nd half to finish with 9 TOs for the game. SC forced 13 bruin TOs, the first time this season that ucla has lost the TO margin. Vince played a season high 17 minutes, scored 6 pts with 3 rebs. More importantly, he and Josh were able to hold Adem Bona to 1 shot in the 2nd half and were able to jump out on ball screens to impede the bruins’ paths.
With the 77-64 win tonight, USC improved to 15-6 (7-3) and are in second place in the Pac, 1 game behind the bruins, now 17-4 (8-2). Enfield improves to 6-3 against Cronin and SC has won its last five home games against UCLA, its longest streak since 1960-63. This was SC’s first win over an AP Top 10 team since beating No. 8 UCLA on Jan. 25, 2017. SC is now No. 42 in KenPom and 52 in NET ranking. There are still four more opportunities for SC to secure Quad 1 wins: road games at CU, Utah, Oregon, and home against Arizona.
The lasting image for this game was of the team ringing the Victory Bell and Boogie wielding the Sword.
Fight on! Beat the Cougs!
