By USCTrojans.com Blog Contributor Stephanie Graves
- Coach O'Neill hit it on the head in the post-game press conference when he said, "We thought we had a good game plan going in...we did our job defensively." But in between that game plan and a solid defensive stand that kept one of the top Pac-10 teams to 40 percent from the field was a series of offensive cold spells and mistakes that led to the Trojans' demise in overtime. "We had a lot of wide open looks that didn't go in," stated the Trojans' head coach. Actually the Men of Troy went 5-21 on three-point attempts and shot 34.5 percent from the field. The Huskies further took advantage of the Trojans offensive slump, leading by 6 in the paint and 22 coming off the bench. UW also led 44-28 in total rebounds.
- The bright spot of the night was one of USC's big men, Nikola Vucevic who led both teams with 28 points and 14 rebounds. O'Neill pointed out that UW's "entire defense was based around guarding Nik." Vucevic later admitted that the one place the Husky defense was effective was scouting him and getting in front of him in the post. Nonetheless, his effort was the biggest reason the Trojans not only held on during the game, but until the final minute in overtime.
- The Trojans now have to move on and regroup before facing Washington State on Friday. "It's big britches time when you're playing good teams," mused O'Neill. Neither coach nor player seems worried about the future of the program whether it be two days from now or the rest of the season. Despite the heartbreaking loss in OT, O'Neill still says his team is "decent" and aren't taking their eyes off the Pac-10 title despite losing 13 players from last year to now. It was Vucevic that said it best when he declared nights like tonight, well, "that's how it is in sports."
Here is the monster from Montenegro himself on the gritty overtime loss to the Huskies:
