**Basketball practice ended early yesterday, and by the time I got to Galen Center the team had scattered so I don't have any interviews/quotes to share. Apologies for that. But here's a matchup breakdown nonetheless**
USC (21-9, 10-7 Pac-12) vs. UCLA (19-11, 12-5)
When: 12:15 p.m. PT
Where: Galen Center
TV/Radio: CBS/790-KABC
Last Meeting: USC won 74-63 at Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 11, led by 17 points and 14 rebounds by Nick Rakocevic, 16 points from Jonah Mathews, 14 points from Ethan Anderson and 13 by Daniel Utomi.
A lot has changed since USC rolled into Pauley Pavilion in mid-January and posted a convincing 11-point win over rival UCLA.
The Trojans have remained enigmatic since then, but the Bruins have morphed into one of the hottest teams in college basketball and come into the rematch Saturday at Galen Center with wins in seven straight games and 11 of their last 13.
UCLA remains in the hunt for its first Pac-12 regular-season title since 2012-13, as it comes into the day tied with Oregon (which it lost to in its only meeting).
And yet, the Trojans are better positioned for an NCAA Tournament bid at this point. ESPN's latest "Bracketology" projections from Joe Lunardi has USC as a No. 9 seed opening the tournament in Omaha, Neb., while UCLA is projected as a No. 11 seed and still on the bubble as one of the last eight teams in the field.
Meanwhile, USC is also still in contention for a top-4 seed and first-round bye in the Pac-12 tournament, entering the day in a four-way tie for third place in the conference with Arizona, Arizona State and Colorado.
Those are the stakes, and the rivalry clash Saturday is sold out and should feature the best crowd all season at Galen Center.
It's also the last home game for USC seniors Nick Rakocevic (10.7 points, 8.4 rebounds per game), Jonah Mathews (13.2 PPG) and Daniel Utomi (8.4), who in his lone season with the Trojans has become a pivotal cog in the starting lineup.
As for the four-year seniors, Mathews enters the day 17th in program history with 1,371 career points and third in 3-pointers (242), with a chance to surpass former teammates Bennie Boatwright (243) and Elijah Stewart (245) for the top spot on that list. Rakocevic is 22nd in points (1,286) and second all-time in rebounds (916).
For the Bruins, meanwhile, they are led by Chris Smith (13.1 PPG), Jalen Hill (9.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (9.0 PPG).
Follow along here in the game thread for commentary.
USC (21-9, 10-7 Pac-12) vs. UCLA (19-11, 12-5)
When: 12:15 p.m. PT
Where: Galen Center
TV/Radio: CBS/790-KABC
Last Meeting: USC won 74-63 at Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 11, led by 17 points and 14 rebounds by Nick Rakocevic, 16 points from Jonah Mathews, 14 points from Ethan Anderson and 13 by Daniel Utomi.
A lot has changed since USC rolled into Pauley Pavilion in mid-January and posted a convincing 11-point win over rival UCLA.
The Trojans have remained enigmatic since then, but the Bruins have morphed into one of the hottest teams in college basketball and come into the rematch Saturday at Galen Center with wins in seven straight games and 11 of their last 13.
UCLA remains in the hunt for its first Pac-12 regular-season title since 2012-13, as it comes into the day tied with Oregon (which it lost to in its only meeting).
And yet, the Trojans are better positioned for an NCAA Tournament bid at this point. ESPN's latest "Bracketology" projections from Joe Lunardi has USC as a No. 9 seed opening the tournament in Omaha, Neb., while UCLA is projected as a No. 11 seed and still on the bubble as one of the last eight teams in the field.
Meanwhile, USC is also still in contention for a top-4 seed and first-round bye in the Pac-12 tournament, entering the day in a four-way tie for third place in the conference with Arizona, Arizona State and Colorado.
Those are the stakes, and the rivalry clash Saturday is sold out and should feature the best crowd all season at Galen Center.
It's also the last home game for USC seniors Nick Rakocevic (10.7 points, 8.4 rebounds per game), Jonah Mathews (13.2 PPG) and Daniel Utomi (8.4), who in his lone season with the Trojans has become a pivotal cog in the starting lineup.
As for the four-year seniors, Mathews enters the day 17th in program history with 1,371 career points and third in 3-pointers (242), with a chance to surpass former teammates Bennie Boatwright (243) and Elijah Stewart (245) for the top spot on that list. Rakocevic is 22nd in points (1,286) and second all-time in rebounds (916).
For the Bruins, meanwhile, they are led by Chris Smith (13.1 PPG), Jalen Hill (9.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (9.0 PPG).
Follow along here in the game thread for commentary.
