The Star's Bruce Pascoe breaks down the starting lineups, storylines and stats as the No. 2-ranked Arizona Wildcats travel to face No. 16 USC on Tuesday night.
Bruce Pascoe The Star's Bruce Pascoe breaks down the starting lineups, storylines and stats as the No. 2-ranked Arizona Wildcats travel to face No. 16 USC on Tuesday night:Radio: 1290-AM, 107.5-FMG Kerr Kriisa G Drew Peterson HOW THEY MATCH UPThe last time: Azuolas Tubelis had 18 points and 11 rebounds while Arizona held USC to just 34.3% shooting in the Wildcats’ 72-63 win on Feb. 5 at McKale Center.
Although USC’s defense is rated just the sixth most efficient in Pac-12 play, the Trojans have the third-best field-goal percentage defense in conference play behind only Arizona and ASU . “Everybody knows their top four scorers – Mobley, Peterson, Ellis and Goodwin — but their bench scored 19 points in that and their bench is playing better. They’re more aggressive and finding a bigger role.
UA coach Tommy Lloyd noted that the Wildcats did have a disadvantage in playing all their makeup games on the road, but wasn't bothered when reminded that the USC game would have to be crammed between UA's loss at Colorado on Saturday and two final home games later this week against Stanford and Cal.
The Trojans also beat USC in a manner that might seem familiar to the Wildcats: Oregon’s Quincy Guerrier, who had 21 points with 6-for-11 3-point shooting against Arizona on Feb. 19, put the Ducks ahead 69-67 on a 3-pointer with 23 seconds remaining.