|
By Joel Welser
jwelser@collegehoops.net
USC Trojans
Pacific 10 (23-11, 11-7)
Seed: #5
East Region
RPI: 40
Big Wins:
1/18 Arizona (80-73), 2/3 Oregon (71-68), 2/15 at Arizona (80-75)
Bad Losses:
11/16 South Carolina (74-80), 2/18 at Arizona State (58-68), 3/1 at
Washington (70-85)
Last NCAA
Appearance: 2002, First Round loss to UNC-Wilmington
Coach:
Tim Floyd (4-5 in 5 NCAA appearances)
Probable
Starters:
Gabe Pruitt,
Junior, Guard, 12.6 ppg, 4.1 apg, 1.7 spg
Lodrick
Stewart, Senior, Guard, 14.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg
Nick Young,
Junior, Guard, 17.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg
RouSean
Cromwell, Sophomore, Forward, 2.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg
Taj Gibson,
Freshman, Forward, 11.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.8 bpg
Key
Roleplayers:
Dwight Lewis,
Freshman, Guard, 5.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg
Daniel Hackett,
Freshman, Guard, 4.8 ppg, 2.7 apg
Keith
Wilkinson, Sophomore, Forward, 1.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg
Abdoulaye
N’Diaye, Senior, Center, 3.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg
Why They Can
Surprise:
If defense
really does win championships, watch out for the Trojans. The opposition
only shoots 39.1% against USC. Much of the defensive help comes from the
emergence of 6-9, 210 pound freshman Taj Gibson. Not only does Gibson
provide a presence under the basket and average 1.8 blocks per game, but he
adds 11.8 points and 8.4 rebounds and creates a much, much needed offensive
threat in the paint.
The true
strength of the Trojans is on the wings. Nick Young is a great slasher,
Lodrick Stewart can knock down three’s all day and Daniel Hackett is a
smart, high energy team player who always seems to be in the right place at
the right time.
Why They Can
Disappoint:
The Trojans
score 71.4 points per game, yet only average 12.8 assists. The team play, or
lack thereof, has been a problem. Three freshmen average over 20 minutes per
game and that youth has translated into the occasional bout of poor team
play. By this time of year, freshmen are pretty much sophomores, but when
USC gets down late in an NCAA Tournament game, will they find their
teammates or try and force a bad shot on their own?
Who To
Watch:
Point guard
Gabe Pruitt missed the first semester, but by the time the Pac-10 hit
conference play, Pruitt was back in the starting lineup for good. The junior
is not scoring as much as he did as an underclassman, but USC and Coach Tim
Floyd do not need him to. Pruitt can concentrate on running the show and
dishing out to the bigger scoring threats on the wings and under the basket.
It will be Pruitt’s job to be the coach on the floor and keep the young team
looking like an experienced team.
Joel’s
Bracket Says: Elite Eight loss to Georgetown
▪
2007 NCAA Tournament Bracket
|
