University Southern California Trojans
Trojan Hoopsters Ready For Tune Up Against Occidental
November 04, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 4, 2004
Los Angeles -
2004-2005 Men's Basketball Roster
2004-2005 Men's Basketball Schedule
The 2004-2005 USC men's basketball team opens exhibition play on Friday (Nov. 5) against Occidental College in the Lyon Center at 7 p.m.
Ninth-year head coach Henry Bibby's squad is perhaps the most experienced team in the Pac-10, with six seniors suiting up in the Cardinal and Gold.
Four talented newcomers--three freshmen and one junior college transfer--are also in the mix as USC tries to reach the NCAA tournament for the third time in five years.
Although USC and Occidental are less than a dozen miles apart, it's been 60 years since the schools have met in the sport. The teams were frequent opponents in the early 1900s and, in fact, USC's second-ever men's basketball game was against Oxy (an 18-15 Trojan win in 1907). The teams played often through 1929 and twice more during World War II. USC holds a 15-6 overall record in the series, and won the first 9 games. The most recent meeting was a 49-24 Trojan victory in 1944.
USC hosts one more exhibition game at the Lyon Center next Friday (Nov. 12) against The Masters College before it begins its regular season on Nov. 22 against UC Irvine at the Sports Arena. The Trojans then embark on a two-game road trip, with games against No. 4 North Carolina and La Salle.
