University Southern California Trojans
Trojans' Postseason Dreams Will Be Tested in Tucson
June 21, 1999 | Men's Basketball
March 3, 1999
TUCSON, Ariz. - With its chances of winning the Pac-10 gone, Arizona looks to generate some momentum for the postseason in its final two regular season contests.
The No. 13 Wildcats (20-6, 11-5) will take on Southern California on Thursday night before a Saturday clash with No. 16 UCLA.
Arizona has lost its last two games, allowing Stanford to clinch the conference title and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
The Wildcats were beaten by Stanford on Saturday, 98-83. Senior guard Jason Terry suffered through a woeful 7-for-29 shooting performance, but did score 21 points.
One of the nation's top point guards, Terry averages 22.2 points and 5.6 assists per game. Terry has also won several games for Arizona with key baskets at the end of games.
Center A.J. Bramlett, the only other key player left from the Wildcats' NCAA championship club of two years ago, adds 14.5 points and 9.5 rebounds.
Terry, Bramlett and the rest of the Wildcats will face an improving USC (14-11, 6-10) club on Thursday.
"USC has been playing very well over the past couple of weeks. They had two sizable wins at home last weekend," Arizona coach Lute Olson said. "They played UCLA tough and they won at Stanford and then lost by only three at Cal. This is the best that they have played by far all year."
The Trojans defeated Washington and Washington State last weekend. USC beat Washington State 83-62 on Saturday behind 20 points from Brian Scalabrine.
The sophomore center has been USC's best player, averaging 15.0 points and 6.5 rebounds a game.
USC likely needs to win both of its remaining games to qualify for a postseason berth. The Trojans will close the year Saturday at Arizona State.
Arizona is the Pac-10's top scoring team at 82.6 points per game, but will be facing a strong defensive club. In USC's last seven games, opponents are shooting 40 percent and averaging only 64 points per game.
Arizona defeated USC 87-78 in the season's first meeting, on Jan. 4.
Arizona owns a 40-30 advantage in the all-time series with USC, having won 25 of the past 31 games. USC has not won in Tucson since Jan. 17, 1985.
