…Versus Colorado (who then beat UCLA) and Utah. Lots of late arrivers and the Galen Center was about 1/2 full. On one event a student missed out on getting prizes so AD Lynn Swan shot FTs for him (1st try rimmed out) and then another that was perfect. Lynn looks good but has that beginning boiler that all us older guys seem to harvest. USC needs a sports shirt with heavier elastic below to push some of that extra pounds up towards the chest level. LOL. Helton was also at the game. As was D'Anthony Melton, a great kid that became one of the NCAAs (and FBI's) victims IMO in college politics.
USC looked great ,particularly in the first half, raining 3 pointers and creating turnovers (17 leading to 17 points off turnovers). USCs defense the last 2 games has been the best of all year and seemed to be dedicated to Melton. USC had a 24 point lead at the half. Conversely the big guys were pretty much shut down after drawing defenders away from the periphery. Total of Metu, Boatwright and Racocevic was 4 points. The trio hit 20 points in 2H. McLaughlin is really one of the most overlooked talents in USC BB history. Always there to make the right shot or pass.
USC survived a better second half by Utah where they did cut the lead to 16, but never were a real threat. as shown by only one lead change in the game (coming after a 6-0 start for Utah). The 84-67 score broke a Utah 8 game win streak over USC. And a big deal…..Utah missed 2 free throws in a row so everyone got a free chic Fil-a sandwich bringing out the biggest roar from the student section.
On to Oregon State and Oregon. The latter has been a tough venue for opponents for a long time. USC is 13-6 and 4-2 in league play, 1/2 game behind Arizona and Stanford (that 50 foot basket last week…ugh).
USC looked great ,particularly in the first half, raining 3 pointers and creating turnovers (17 leading to 17 points off turnovers). USCs defense the last 2 games has been the best of all year and seemed to be dedicated to Melton. USC had a 24 point lead at the half. Conversely the big guys were pretty much shut down after drawing defenders away from the periphery. Total of Metu, Boatwright and Racocevic was 4 points. The trio hit 20 points in 2H. McLaughlin is really one of the most overlooked talents in USC BB history. Always there to make the right shot or pass.
USC survived a better second half by Utah where they did cut the lead to 16, but never were a real threat. as shown by only one lead change in the game (coming after a 6-0 start for Utah). The 84-67 score broke a Utah 8 game win streak over USC. And a big deal…..Utah missed 2 free throws in a row so everyone got a free chic Fil-a sandwich bringing out the biggest roar from the student section.
On to Oregon State and Oregon. The latter has been a tough venue for opponents for a long time. USC is 13-6 and 4-2 in league play, 1/2 game behind Arizona and Stanford (that 50 foot basket last week…ugh).
