No. 7 Arizona Basketball to clash against the No. 19 USC Trojans
Following their win over UCLA, No. 7 Arizona Basketball (18-2, 8-1) returns to action in another marquee showdown with No. 19 USC (19-3, 9-3).
Well, it was a battle on Thursday evening as Arizona Basketball beat No. 3 UCLA inside McKale. However, that was two days ago, and the Wildcats have to be ready as they welcome No. 19 USC to town.
Coming into this matchup, Arizona is considered the favorite here; however, Arizona is going to have to avoid the hangover from Thursday night’s win, as they should still expect a battle against a talented USC team.
The Trojans are a Top 25 team for a reason, and they have a talented roster that is going to challenge the Wildcats.
In recent years, USC has provided a tough matchup for the Wildcats, winning four of the last six meetings, and we expect the Trojans to bring their ‘A-game’ and will once again provide a competitive and challenging game here.
Hopefully, Arizona can match the energy and intensity that they brought on Thursday evening, and put a whoppin’ to USC.
Getting to Know the details of Arizona Basketball’s opponent, the USC Trojans.
Team: USC Trojans
Conference: Pac-12 Conference
2020-21 Record: Finishing the year with a 25-8 (15-5) record in 2020-21, the Trojans finished in 2nd place in the conference, ending the year with a semifinals loss to Colorado in the Conference Tournament, before getting bounced by No. 1 Gonzaga in the Elite Eight.
Head Coach: Andy Enfield enters his 9th season with the Trojans, having compiled a 175–112 (78–79) record so far. Andy is currently coaching his 11th season in the NCAA, making a previous stint with Florida Gulf Coast, compiling a 216–140 record overall as a head coach.
Keys to the Game:
Bring the Energy – After a bit of an emotional battle against UCLA, the Wildcats could be on hangover watch here as they return to action against USC.
From the start, Arizona is going to need to bring the effort and energy if they are going to win. USC is a talented team and we know they are going to give a hell of an effort.
So once again, the Wildcats will have to be ready for a battle, otherwise, they will not win this game.
Defend the Three – As a team, the Trojans are a good shooting team, shooting 35.0 percent from three on an average of 18.8 attempts per game. They are also shooting 46.4 percent from the field.
The Trojans can get hot from outside if they get going, and following their cold shooting night against ASU, we expect them to bounce back a bit.
For this one, Arizona is going to have to be ready defensively and focused on defending the three if they are going to win.
Win the Battle of the Boards – Like Arizona, USC has great length and athleticism, and as a team, they are 41.7 rebounds per game. By comparison, the Wildcats are averaging 43.7 per game, so these are the two best rebounding teams in the conference.
Coming in, we expect this one to be a battle on the glass, and if Arizona is going to win, this is an area that they are going to need to put a focus on. Should the Wildcats win the battle of the boards, I like their chances of winning.
Arizona Basketball versus the USC Trojans game information and details:
Date: Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022
Time: 3:00 P.M. MST / 2:00 P.M. PST
Location: McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz. (14,655)
Spread: -11.0 Arizona (Also, don’t forget to use WynnBet to enhance your overall betting experience)
Television: FOX
Radio: 107.5 FM (Tucson) / 1290AM (Tucson) | Arizona IMG Sports Network
Team Records:
No. 7 Arizona Wildcats (18-2, 8-1): Winners of two-straight, Arizona returns to action after coming up with the big win against their rival, the UCLA Bruins. Once again, the Wildcats will have a tough matchup here as USC comes to town.
No. 19 USC Trojans (19-3, 9-3): After falling to Oregon nearly two weeks ago, the Trojans have reeled off five wins in their last six games, including a five-point win over Arizona State just two nights ago in Tempe.
Head-to-Head Record (since 1949-50): Since 1949-50, Arizona has had the upper hand in this matchup, holding a 63-31 lead over the Trojans, despite USC winning four of the last six meetings.
Last Meeting vs. Arizona: The last time the Wildcats played the Trojans was in Los Angeles, where Arizona came away with the big upset, defeating No. 17 USC 81-72.
My Prediction: Arizona 78 USC 66 – Simply put, I think USC is a good team; however, the Wildcats are just a bit deeper of a team. Even following their emotional win over UCLA on Thursday evening, Arizona is getting healthier and more confident, which is not a good thing for everyone else in the conference. I see Arizona coming out and playing sharp, coming away with the 12-point win.