I didn't have a partner to record Trojan R&R, so I thought I'd share a few thoughts here. ...
1. Swing game
USC somewhat downplayed the significance of its comeback afterward — they sounded relieved more than anything — but this was a really important game. It probably meant more not to lose than it did to win, what with being at home (where USC is now 15-0) and coming off two losses. I'm not sure the Trojans would have handled losing Wednesday too well. They haven't exactly been the toughest team mentally.
2. Two of a kind
I feel like there wasn't much sense of urgency until USC fell behind by double digits. (This simply doesn't fly on the road, as USC knows). The Trojans ultimately woke up from their slumber in the second half of the second half. Trailing by 15, they went on a 33-7 run behind a switch to zone defense and the playmaking of their co-point guards. We always say we never know where the offense is going to come from, just that it is going to come. Well, it almost didn't against the Buffaloes. USC had just 45 points through 31 minutes. It was at this point that Jordan McLaughlin and Julian Jacobs seemed to turn on a scoring switch. They're both unselfish, pass-first players. But maybe they need to look to score more often throughout the game, especially when the offense is flat. The point guard duo combined for 42 points on just 22 shots, shooting an efficient 63.6 percent from the floor. The rest of the team shot just 35.7 percent.
3. Inside out
Rebounding is still an issue. A serious one, in fact. Colorado won that battle 37-21, recording 12 offensive rebounds in the process. This gave the Buffaloes too many second-chance opportunities, despite a solid defensive effort by the Trojans. (They really miss forward Darion Clark, whose shoulder injury is expected to keep him out another 1-2 weeks.) Colorado also had a number of possessions where it scored really late in the shot clock. I asked Coach Andy Enfield if it was a case of good offense beating good defense and he seemed to agree. USC did record 13 steals, with 11 coming from its guards. The entire team has mad a more concerted effort on that end of the floor since getting embarrassed by the Oregon schools last month.
4. Paging No. 4
Freshman forward Chimezie Metu needs to get more minutes. He's the most defensive-minded player on the team and completely changes how teams can attack the rim against USC. He was the unsung hero down the stretch with two blocks, an assist, a rebound and a pair of free throws in the final minute that extended the lead to seven. Strangely, his role has been somewhat limited since he exploded for 21 and 8 in the first meeting against UCLA five weeks ago. (Part of that has been because of foul trouble, but that doesn't totally excuse playing him less than 20 minutes a game, as he often does.)
5. The big picture
The win kept USC (19-7, 8-5) alive in the Pac-12 title race and put it in position to have a first-round bye in the conference tourney. With at least six games remaining (five in the regular season), they probably need to win at least two of them to clinch an NCAA tournament berth. That shouldn't be an issue with three still left to play at Galen.
1. Swing game
USC somewhat downplayed the significance of its comeback afterward — they sounded relieved more than anything — but this was a really important game. It probably meant more not to lose than it did to win, what with being at home (where USC is now 15-0) and coming off two losses. I'm not sure the Trojans would have handled losing Wednesday too well. They haven't exactly been the toughest team mentally.
2. Two of a kind
I feel like there wasn't much sense of urgency until USC fell behind by double digits. (This simply doesn't fly on the road, as USC knows). The Trojans ultimately woke up from their slumber in the second half of the second half. Trailing by 15, they went on a 33-7 run behind a switch to zone defense and the playmaking of their co-point guards. We always say we never know where the offense is going to come from, just that it is going to come. Well, it almost didn't against the Buffaloes. USC had just 45 points through 31 minutes. It was at this point that Jordan McLaughlin and Julian Jacobs seemed to turn on a scoring switch. They're both unselfish, pass-first players. But maybe they need to look to score more often throughout the game, especially when the offense is flat. The point guard duo combined for 42 points on just 22 shots, shooting an efficient 63.6 percent from the floor. The rest of the team shot just 35.7 percent.
3. Inside out
Rebounding is still an issue. A serious one, in fact. Colorado won that battle 37-21, recording 12 offensive rebounds in the process. This gave the Buffaloes too many second-chance opportunities, despite a solid defensive effort by the Trojans. (They really miss forward Darion Clark, whose shoulder injury is expected to keep him out another 1-2 weeks.) Colorado also had a number of possessions where it scored really late in the shot clock. I asked Coach Andy Enfield if it was a case of good offense beating good defense and he seemed to agree. USC did record 13 steals, with 11 coming from its guards. The entire team has mad a more concerted effort on that end of the floor since getting embarrassed by the Oregon schools last month.
4. Paging No. 4
Freshman forward Chimezie Metu needs to get more minutes. He's the most defensive-minded player on the team and completely changes how teams can attack the rim against USC. He was the unsung hero down the stretch with two blocks, an assist, a rebound and a pair of free throws in the final minute that extended the lead to seven. Strangely, his role has been somewhat limited since he exploded for 21 and 8 in the first meeting against UCLA five weeks ago. (Part of that has been because of foul trouble, but that doesn't totally excuse playing him less than 20 minutes a game, as he often does.)
5. The big picture
The win kept USC (19-7, 8-5) alive in the Pac-12 title race and put it in position to have a first-round bye in the conference tourney. With at least six games remaining (five in the regular season), they probably need to win at least two of them to clinch an NCAA tournament berth. That shouldn't be an issue with three still left to play at Galen.
