USC Basketball

USC men's basketball team continues to bolster their young talent with the signing of the number one junior college player in the nation, shooting guard J.T. Terrell.

He joins Ari Stewart, another Wake Forest player turned Trojan, who he played alongside his freshmen year. Now that both have brought their talents to Los Angeles, they will join other talented young players including freshmen Byron Wesley and Alexis Moore, who will also get the opportunity to showcase their abilities this upcoming season.

Described by Coach O'Neill as, "a dynamic scorer that will be able to impact our team offensively next year," the Men of Troy will look to take away a little of the shine that football receives and attract the loyal fans that trek to the Coliseum and scream their heads off for the football team.

USC will look to add more talent to the team from the 2011-2012 recruiting class.

Surely, USC wants to have a team to contend with rival UCLA, along with the rest of the talented Pac-12. If they continue on the path they are on now, recruiting talented players from around the world, USC will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

Standing at only 5'8", Maurice Jones is clearly the leader and primary scorer coming into the season after Jio Fontan was forced to have season ending surgery. Jones looked great in the scrimmage and is sure to be one of the quickest players on the court at all times.

Starting center Dewayne Dedmon had surgery on his left hand, but is ready to go for the season. One of the most athletic big men in not only the Pac-12, but nationwide, he is fun to watch and will be looked to in order to hold down the paint.

There is a lot of potential among this 2011-2012 USC men's basketball team, let's hope they can live up to the hype.  

As long as the lockout out goes on, it may effect their fan base, considering the fact that they are playing the only basketball in LA as of now.

The USC Trojans will need to groom a new power forward for next season.

Nikola Vucevic, who averaged 17.1 points and 10.3 rebounds in his junior season, announced on Friday that he is forgoing his season and will enter the NBA Draft.

Vucevic also announced he has retained agent Rade Filipovich of BDA Sports Management, who has known Vucevic’s father for more than 30 years.

Borislav Vucevic played professionally overseas for several years.

Vucevic decided that his best chance would be to enter the draft now, knowing that the current crop of draftees is among the weakest in several years. Vucevic would also have the option of playing overseas, should the NBA opt for a lockout when the current CBA expires on June 30.

"If there is a lockout," Vucevic told the LA Times, "I’m from Europe so I have a chance to go and play overseas."

USC finished the season at 19-15 after losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Virginia Commonwealth.

Vucevic would be the second big man lost to USC, after the departure of senior forward Alex Stepheson.

USC coach Kevin O’Neill hopes that transfers James Blasczyk, Dewayne Dedmon and Aaron Fuller will be able to fill their shoes.

For continuing coverage of USC basketball and the NCAA, follow Doug on Twitter @Sports_A_Holic.

The pundits who claimed that the Pac-10 was very weak this year are applauding themselves after the University of Southern California easily bowed out to Virginia Commonwealth 59-46.

In a game that USC could have and should have won, the Trojans found three ways to lose and ended with a complete collapse. The Trojans lost because of a lack of commitment on the defensive boards, turnovers and too many missed free throws.

VCU out-rebounded the bigger Trojans by only six, 35-29, but had 15 offensive rebounds.

USC turned the ball over 15 times compared to VCU’s eight. The combination of poor rebounding and unforced errors on the part of the Trojans allowed VCU to take a whopping 21 more shots than USC.

The Trojans went to the free-throw line 10 more times than VCU, but only shot 60 percent from the charity stripe, making 15 of 25.

That could have been the difference right there as the Trojans, who were down for most of the second half, had cut the deficit to a single point with 7:21 to go at 43-42.

But USC would go on to get just one field goal for the remainder of the game while being outscored 16-4 in crunch time.

The one bright spot for the Trojans was junior guard Jio Fontan, who was able to use the dribble to drive through the VCU defense for most of the night.

He racked up a team high 14 points for his efforts.

Unfortunately, the Trojan's best player, Nikola Vucevic was held to 11 points on just five field goal attempts for the entire game.

In embarrassing fashion, USC waved the white flag and conceded the game with less than two minutes to play and down by nine. USC coach Kevin O'Neill shouted to his players after the final TV timeout to refrain from fouling even though VCU had shot only 65 percent from the free-throw line themselves.

USC let VCU run the clock down and after a missed shot USC just dropped the ball onto the floor and walked off the court with a few seconds left. The officials were savvy to USC’s humility and did not blow the whistle for a kicked ball with two seconds remaining on the clock.

This sad ending was par for the course for a Trojan team that saw O’Neill suspended for their prior game—a 67-62 loss to Arizona in the semifinals of the Pac-10 tournament.

After a public apology for getting into an argument with a booster in a hotel, O’Neill was reinstated for the NCAA tournament.

Perhaps he and the rest of the team should have stayed in Los Angeles.

In an up and down season where the USC Trojans men's basketball team has had to overcome injuries, defections, a very poor decision by its head coach and a return from a one-year, self-imposed ban on postseason play, the men of Troy stand on the precipice of roundball glory.

But just barely.

Sporting an unimpressive 19-14 regular season record, USC squeaked into the newly expanded field of 68 teams as one of the last four teams into the prestigious tournament.

Although on the surface this record appears less than impressive, a closer look may hearten the hopes of their beleaguered fans.

When USC began the season, its team faced a myriad of uncertainties, any one of which could have debilitated a lesser group of young men.

Before the ball was rolled onto the court for the first game, the Trojans had to deal with the ramifications of a one-year, self-imposed ban on postseason play as punishment for former head coach Tim Floyd's recruitment of the departed O.J. Mayo.

Then USC had to deal with a broken hand on its enforcer in the middle, Alex Stepheson, who, despite bravely playing through it, was clearly not the player he is now.

To compound the troubles, talented point guard transfer Jio Fontan was ineligible to play until well into the season.

Taken in its entirety, it would be easy to understand if the Trojans stumbled early.

And they did.

With blowout losses to lesser teams such as Rider, coupled with other close losses to teams they should have otherwise beaten, USC was only able to muster a 4-4 record early into the season.

But then came a very impressive blowout of No. 7 Texas, and Trojan fans could see the possibilities of what could be.

This was followed by a road victory over then-ranked Tennessee and a two-point loss on the road at future No. 1 seed Kansas.

All of this was accomplished with a one-handed center and their still ineligible point guard of the future.

This is not to say that the Trojans were bereft of talent. Not at all.

They still had their "double-double machine," Nikola Vucevic, a 6'10", 260-pound forward who many think may be the best player in the conference.

But the team still had no identity.

That too would change.

When point guard Fontan became eligible, the Trojans began to craft the image they now possess.

After some fine-tuning that inserted Fontan into the starting lineup, made three-point specialist Donte Smith the shooting guard and established freshman Maurice Jones as one of the first players off the bench, the Trojans became the team that has unexpectedly muscled its way into the Big Dance.

Oh, and let's not forget defensive specialist Marcus Simmons, the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and the guy who always draws the opposing team's best player.

Despite the Pac-10 tournament antics of their head coach, Kevin O'Neill, who found himself suspended for an unfortunate run in with an Arizona booster, the Trojans finished the season 7-3 and, coupled with a good out-of-conference record, now find themselves preparing to play a talented Virginia Commonwealth team in one of the "first in" tournament games.

To beat them, the Trojans must contend with a high-energy team that can pop the three-point shot with the best of them.

If they can get by VCU, the Georgetown Hoyas await them hungrily.

But first things first.

In a season where the obstacles were many, the Trojans have achieved what many thought was impossible, that being playing in the March Madness tournament.

Can they go deep in their bracket?

Only time will tell, and to be sure, with a very short seven-man rotation, depth issues may trip them up sooner rather than later.

But given the barriers already surmounted, it may be unwise to bet against them.

Even if they get bounced early, the season still was a success.

Given where the Trojans have been, it is a great place for where USC wants to go.

Only time will tell if they can get there this year.

This article compares two teams currently on the NCAA tournament bubble with comparable RPI and overall credentials.  Think of it as a virtual play-in game; two teams who could potentially meet in a First Four matchup. 

Baylor (17-10, 7-7 Big 12); RPI:  77, SOS:  50

USC (17-12, 9-7 Pac 10); RPI:  79, SOS:  52

Common Opponents:  Texas (BAY lost, USC won), Kansas (both lost), Nebraska (BAY won, USC lost), Washington State (BAY lost, USC won)

Why Baylor Gets In

Baylor picked up a huge win on Saturday, beating No. 17 Texas A&M in Waco.  The win puts Baylor back to .500 in the Big 12, at 7-7.  Maybe more importantly, it was the Bears’ second win over Texas A&M this season; they beat the Aggies in College Station in overtime earlier this month. 

Texas A&M is still in good shape to finish among the top four of the Big 12, and potentially receive a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament.  Baylor’s sweep of A&M looks very impressive in comparison to the other Big 12 teams fighting to make the tournament.

Baylor has beaten two of the Big 12’s bubble teams this season—Colorado and Nebraska.  With that being the only matchup with each of those teams this season, Baylor figures to have a slight edge on those two teams when the committee decides on a potential sixth team from the Big 12.

Why Baylor is Left Out

Baylor has beat just one team inside the RPI top 50—Texas A&M.  Although the two wins over A&M are an excellent asset for Baylor, the lack of wins against any other teams close to the caliber of A&M will raise some concerns with the committee.

Some very questionable losses to teams at the bottom of the Big 12 could very well come back to haunt Baylor on Selection Sunday.  Losses at Oklahoma and Iowa State and a loss to Texas Tech at home have kept Baylor from being a likely NCAA tournament team; instead they have struggled to remain near the middle of the Big 12 standings.

Despite a decent overall schedule strength (50), Baylor’s strength of schedule in non-conference games sits at 204.  None of Baylor’s wins outside the Big 12 have come against a team in the RPI top 100 (Lipscomb at 122 is the highest RPI win). 

The three games against teams in the RPI top 100 that Baylor did play—Florida State, Washington State, and Gonzaga—they lost.  Two of those losses were in the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii, where Baylor looked rather mediocre in their only chance to earn some solid non-conference wins.

Why USC Gets In

Like Baylor, USC picked up a very big win within the past few days, beating No. 10 Arizona at home on Thursday night.  They followed that up by taking care of business against Arizona State, which improved the Trojans to 9-7 in the Pac 10 and put them into fourth place in the league. 

In addition to the Arizona win, USC also beat UCLA—who also beat Arizona this weekend and moved into a tie for first place—earlier in the season.  Wins over the top two teams in the conference will be something that most other bubble teams will not be able to stack up against.

The wins over Arizona and UCLA are two of USC’s four wins against the RPI top 50.  The Trojans are a very respectable 4-4 against the top 50, which includes a 17-point win over Texas, and a win at Tennessee. 

While beating Texas is the team’s signature win, the road win over Tennessee is quite impressive as well.  Considering some of the teams the Vols have knocked off this season, the win serves as an excellent complement to the victory over Texas. 

Not many bubble teams will have a better duo of non-conference wins.

Why USC is Left Out

Despite the weekend sweep over the Arizona schools, USC still has seven losses in the Pac 10.  They also sit in fourth place, two games behind Washington for third place.  With a trip up to Washington looming next weekend, the Trojans could be facing a 10-8—or even 9-9—finish in the conference.

Given the fact the Pac 10 figures to likely be just a three-bid league, a fourth place finish and near .500 record may mean the Trojans come up a little short of receiving an at-large bid.

One of the main reasons for USC’s questionable 17-12 overall record is their inability to take care of all the teams they are more than capable of beating.  USC has six losses to teams outside the RPI top 100, including two to Oregon—who is just 13-14 this season.  Even worse, three of those six losses are to sub-200 RPI teams—TCU, Bradley, and Oregon State. 

That level of inconsistency could more than offset the quality wins that USC has, and ultimately send them to the NIT.

Who Gets In?

About a week ago, both of these teams seemed to be almost off the bubble-radar.  Recent key wins have made each of them worth a solid second look. 

While the Big 12 figures to get at least a couple more teams in the NCAAs than the Pac 10, Baylor’s .500 record does not include too many wins of major significance, aside from the two over Texas A&M.  That, along with their lack of any solid non-conference wins makes it tougher to justify including Baylor in the field of 68. 

USC has proven they can beat some teams who figure to do some real damage in the NCAA tournament.  When you also factor In a two-point loss at Kansas—thanks to a late Josh Selby three-pointer—USC has shown us a huge upside to their ability to compete against the very best. 

In a year with some watered-down bubble teams, USC has the substance to overcome their inconsistencies.

USC:  IN, Baylor:  OUT

Other matchups:

Michigan-Georgia:  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/624160-michigan-vs-georgia-which-team-will-make-the-ncaa-tournament

Boston College-Colorado State:  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/626211-boston-college-vs-colorado-state-which-team-will-make-the-ncaa-tournament

USC head coach Kevin O'Neill started trying to win Thursday night's game against No. 10 Arizona on Tuesday afternoon.

During the Pac-10 coaches weekly conference call, O'Neill made the following statement about Wildcat power forward Derrick Williams: "He's the most protected dude I've seen since Michael Jordan. If the guy walks across the court, it's a foul."

(If you didn't already know, mentioning Jordan and Williams together in this way was a tribute to neither the Hall of Famer nor the rising-star sophomore.)

A short time later on Tuesday, Williams tweeted: "I don't get Michael Jordan treatment... Just stop fouling me and we will be good."

On Thursday, Williams was held to under 10 points for the first time this season as USC upset Arizona at home, 65-57.

The fact that Williams only scored eight points is noteworthy—and how he scored those points is intriguing.

Williams made both of his free throws on Thursday night.

On the season, he leads the nation in both free throw attempts and free throws made.

He has now shot 250 on the season, an average of nine free throws per game.

A couple of questions arise.

Did O'Neill's comment get into Williams' head, making him subconsciously alter his game?

Did the refs who called the game, hear the comments ahead of time and unintentionally adjust their approach to the contest?

It is interesting to note that USC, normally a very physical ballclub, did not get whistled for a foul until after the first TV timeout and was only called for six personal fouls in the whole first half.

Along with that, Arizona only shot four free throws in the first half and Williams didn't take any of them.

The truth is, lots of factors go into the final outcome of a game.

We will probably never know what impact or influence O'Neill's comments really had on the final result.

However, this is just one more reminder of the fact that, while a sporting event is a physical contest, there has and always will be a mental side to the game. 

For years there has been a sort of "truism" when it came to college sports in the Los Angeles southland.

For football dominance, look no further than the cardinal and gold of USC.

If you are looking for the powers that be in basketball, journey to Westwood and check out the powder blue of UCLA.

That was just the way it was, and for decades, no one thought of anything else than USC football and UCLA basketball.

Now that appears to be changing.

With USC's 63-52 victory over the Bruins last night at the Galen Center, the Trojans have now won four in a row over their crosstown rivals and they did it in convincing fashion.

Although the Trojans were down by two at halftime, USC came roaring out in the second half. Behind their stifiling defense, the Trojans won going away in front of a spirited fan base that finally came out to support a team that has deserved their attention for a long time.

Some things are starting to become crystal clear with this basketball edition of the men of Troy.

One, their front court of Nikola Vucevic and Alex Stepheson is one of, if not the best in the conference.

Vucevic scored 20 points last night and Stepheson, playing without a cast on his left hand for the first time since the opening game of the season, pulled down 13 rebounds as the duo easily outclassed their Bruin counterparts.

Meanwhile, guards Jio Fontan and Maurice Jones both played well, particularly on defense, as they stymied the Bruins with their continual disruptive presence.

For the Trojans, this victory may be just a sample of things to come.

Although it is still early in the season, the Trojans are getting better by the game as their young players learn to fit in coach Kevin O'Neill's system.

As the season progresses and true freshmen Maurice and Bryce Jones (no relation) and Garrett Jackson gain more experience, they will become an even more dominating force for the Trojans and a bigger headache for their opponents.

Already this young group is beginning to jell and by the time the Pac-10 tournament rolls around, they should be ready to make some hay.

Don't believe me?

Just ask Ben Howland and those guys in the powder blue uniforms.

Many people will tell you that in college basketball, the third game of any conference schedule is far too early to place significant importance on it.

Perhaps they are right.

But what if you are a young team trying to find your identity?

What if the best player on your team, according to your coach, is only playing his fifth game with the squad?

And what if he is joined by three true freshmen who are counted on to contribute, in large portions, to whatever success USC hopes to achieve this season?

And finally, what if that third conference game is against your arch-rival, UCLA?

When the Trojans host the Bruins on Sunday at the Galen Center, these will be some of the questions facing USC as they try to build on the momentum they have built over the last eight games or so.

With victories over two Top 25 teams (Texas and Tennessee) and a close loss on the road at Kansas, the Trojans have given notice that despite their youth, they are good and are only going to get better.

Despite an overtime loss to preseason conference favorite Washington, USC has improved with each game and Jio Fontan, the player head coach Kevin O'Neill calls "the best player on the team," is still trying to find his niche in the rotation.

When he does, watch out.

Fontan brings experience and talent to a lineup that features perhaps the best forward in the conference, Nikola Vucevic, along with forward Alex Stepheson, who is still playing basically one-handed but doing it well.

Meanwhile, those true freshmen, point guard Maurice Jones and off guard Bryce Jones, along with forward Garrett Jackson, join seniors Donte Smith and Marcus Simmons to form a nice, if thin, rotation that coach O'Neill is becoming increasingly comfortable with.

Now come the mighty Bruins.

Okay, maybe not so mighty but nonetheless, they are UCLA.

And, despite what many would call a much easier schedule than the Trojans, they do sport a better overall record.

And this is a rivalry game, one that both teams will look to build the rest of their season on if victorious.

If the Trojans can win on Sunday, they will find themselves in the upper echelon of the Pac-10 standings.

For a young team, this will be heady stuff and will provide a positive foundation as USC moves forward through the conference schedule.

However, if the Trojans lose, given their young age, it may also signal a downward spiral that O'Neill may be hard pressed to stem.

That's the price of youth.

So, is winning this game crucial to this season's overall success for the Trojans?

Maybe not, but for a young Trojan team, a win would remove the question altogether.

And that is the best answer the Trojans can give.