Home Sweet Home
After losing their most consecutive games this season in just over one week, and with their postseason hopes on the line, the Trojans needed to return to form at the Galen Center on Wednesday. Emotionally bolstered by the return of forward Darion Clark, USC came out with an energy and purpose that had been absent in the last month, scoring a season-high 56 points in the first half to shake off its recent dry spell. The Trojans led for over 35 minutes in the game, reaching a 23-point lead at the half. USC now stands at 16-1 at home after the win and 20-10 on the season. It is USC's first 20-win season since 2009, a remarkable accomplishment for a young team that won just 12 games (three in Pac-12 play) a season ago.
"The thing that has made me the most proud is that the players have developed as a unit and as individuals," said head coach Andy Enfield. "Players win games, and they have done outstanding this year winning 20. Credit to our players for the way they came out in the first half. They have turned this program around to get to 20 wins."
Winning As A Family
In front of their home crowd on #USCSocialNight, the Trojans could not have performed truer to their season motto "It Takes A Team". Four players - Jordan McLaughlin (17), Katin Reinhardt (15), Bennie Boatwright (13) and Nikola Jovanovic (10) - scored in double figures and the team accounted for 21 total assists, well above its season average of 14.9 per game. In the first half alone, USC had 15 assists on 21 made field goals. McLaughlin accounted for nine of his team's assists in the game and afterwards expressed his excitement in finally having fun as a group again on the court.
"It felt great," said McLaughlin. "It felt like we got back to the team that won 19 games. This week in film we watched all our good games and then we watched film on the things we did bad playing on the road. We got our confidence back watching film of the team that won 19 games and then we translated it today."
March Mentality
USC had lost five of six coming into Wednesday's game, putting their chances of making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011 in jeopardy. But the calendar turned a page on Tuesday, and the Trojans are dead set on making March a month to remember. Wednesday's win reminded fans what this team looks like when it is clicking on all cylinders, an encouraging sight with the Pac-12 Tournament less than one week away and Selection Sunday fast approaching. The team however, refuses to talk about NCAA Tournament possibilities, choosing instead to focus on the tough task awaiting them on Saturday.
"We're 16-1 at home," said Enfield. "Whatever magic we have on our home court, we need to bring it Saturday. Oregon is a tough team."
Echoing his head coach's thoughts, Reinhardt added, "Oregon is our last home game... We've really done something special this year at home and I think we've just got to protect our home court one more time."
The Trojans host the No. 9 Oregon Ducks on Saturday at 1 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcast on Pac-12 Networks and on the radio on ESPN 710 AM.
Check out the SnappyTV highlights from USC's 20th win!
