USC @ Arizona

[johngateswhiteley]

time: 8:30pm MT
venue: McKale Center
line:?
tv:?

thoughts: top 25 teams meet up, should be close and tough.

prediction: USC 72 'Zona 70

[JMarkJohns]

Coming off the come-from-behind win at Oregon, I'd pick Arizona here. Probably around 78ish-to-73ish... Shakur playing on a bum ankle and freshman center, Jordan Hill, is getting over the flu, but there's several players that have confidense and that's going to rule the day.

This also being the seniors final home series gives that much more motivation for the win.

[johngateswhiteley]

Coming off the come-from-behind win at Oregon, I'd pick Arizona here. Probably around 78ish-to-73ish... Shakur playing on a bum ankle and freshman center, Jordan Hill, is getting over the flu, but there's several players that have confidense and that's going to rule the day.

This also being the seniors final home series gives that much more motivation for the win.

nah, arizona is a joke. we'll handle them.

[JMarkJohns]

They struggled. I'm optimistic that's done now. I think they want it more after their struggles. Also, the first time you played Arizona, Taj Gibson was huge. With Jordan Hill now capable of playing a solid 20-25 minutes, I don't think he'll have near the impact. It's a coin flip game, but being at home and coming off a huge road win, I'll take the cats. If this were at USC, i'd probably say differently.

[johngateswhiteley]

They struggled. I'm optimistic that's done now. I think they want it more after their struggles. Also, the first time you played Arizona, Taj Gibson was huge. With Jordan Hill now capable of playing a solid 20-25 minutes, I don't think he'll have near the impact. It's a coin flip game, but being at home and coming off a huge road win, I'll take the cats. If this were at USC, i'd probably say differently.

actually, i was just referencing something i said in another thread. i think its going to be a very tough game and i'll be happy with a 1 point win for USC.

[JMarkJohns]

There's a chance UA gets caught looking ahead to UCLA. I pray not, as they really need this game as much as that one. I'd look for Marcus Williams to defend Nick Young this game (last game he was playing more PF than SF/SG). Williams is the teams quickest lateral defender, something evidensed by the success he had vs. Aaron Brooks last weekend. Brooks, who torched AZ at AZ, was limited to just 2-of-14 shooting with Williams defending. I'm hopeful that if he can do it against Brooks, he can help contain Young in the same fashion.

[johngateswhiteley]

damn this sucks...@ 6:30 ucla plays asu, and then @ 8:30 its oregon state vs. stanford. no SC vs. arizona!...ridiculous.

fox sports rm sucks.

[alamo50]

Chase all the way.

[MajorMike]

Pomeroy says Zona 77-69

[KewlKat00]

"TUCSON, Ariz. -- Lodrick Stewart and Nick Young scored 26 points each to lead Southern California (No. 23 ESPN/USA Today, No. 22 AP) to an 80-75 victory over Arizona (No. 24 ESPN/USA Today, No. 19 AP) on Thursday night, ending the Trojans' 21-game losing streak at McKale Center.

The Trojans (19-7, 9-4 Pac-10), who swept the season series with Arizona, outscored the Wildcats 8-2 over the final three minutes to win in Tucson for the first time since Jan. 17, 1985..."

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=270460012

[johngateswhiteley]

i followed it on my phone. booyah!

[JMarkJohns]

Arizona had every opportunity, but failed to do anything with them. As I predicted, Gibson wasn't much of a factor, but the Marcus Williams on Nick Young only ended up hurting Arizona as Williams is their best offensive player and, thanks to foul trouble, was out much of the second-half before eventually fouling out with several minutes remaining.

I'm not sure what the reason is, but over the past two seasons, Arizona is a mere 1-7 vs. the SoCal teams. I understand last season. That team was just messed up from the get go, but this season Arizona was supposed to have put all that crap behind them. They were supposed to be an elite team. Their early record showed they could be such, but onnce Conference play roled around this year, it's like they stopped caring.

Credit USC for putting enough pressure on the 'cats to force nearly 20 turnovers, though, at least six of the eightteen were unforced and three of the unforced led directly to six points for USC.

I can't say UA was looking ahead, but on Saturday, they'd damn sure better not look behind and wonder what happened. They need to win vs. the Bruins. They need it. They can't lose five straight against UCLA. That would kill them in recruiting.

[johngateswhiteley]

Southern Cal rules...Pac-10 basketball. Capt. Mike, we now have to go 1-4 for your prediction to be correct.