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USC Hits The Road To Face No. 23 Arizona Thursday
February 04, 2020 | Men's Basketball, Features
The USC Trojans (17-5, 6-3) will play at the No. 23 Arizona Wildcats (15-6, 5-3) at the McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 6 at 6:00 p.m. PT. The game will air on ESPN2 with Dave Pasch and Bill Walton calling the action. The game will also be carried on Westwood One radio with Ryan Radtke and Chris Mullin calling the action. USC has won 17 or more of its first 22 games for only the third time in the last 28 seasons ( also 17-5 in 2016 and 18-4 in 2017). USC's 17 wins has surpassed its total from the 2018-19 season (16-17).
BREAKING DOWN No. 23 ARIZONA -- The Arizona Wildcats (15-6, 5-3) are coming off a road sweep at the Washington schools, defeating Washington State 66-49 on Feb. 1 and Washington 75-72 on Jan. 30. The Wildcats are 10-1 at home with its only setback being to No. 2 Gonzaga on Dec. 14 (84-80). A trio of freshmen lead Arizona in scoring: Zeke Nnaji (16.2), Nico Mannion (14.2) and Josh Green (11.7). USC defeated Arizona 80-57 at home and 78-65 at the Pac-12 Tournament last season, but Arizona leads the all-time series 67-43* (1 win by both teams vacated due to NCAA penalty, original record 68-44). USC has lost nine consecutive games at Arizona, last winning in 2008 (later vacated, so last win in Arizona was in 2007).
USC FALLS AT HOME TO No. 20/21 COLORADO -- USC allowed an opponent to shoot over 50 percent for the first time this season and lost 78-57 to No. 20/21 Colorado on Feb. 1, losing out on a chance to take over sole possession of first place in the Pac-12. USC led 14-13 seven minutes into the game, but Colorado went on a 13-3 run to take a 26-17 lead and never looked back. USC trailed 33-24 at halftime and after Colorado began the second half on a 17-4 run to make it a 22-point deficit at 50-28, USC got no closer than 18 points the rest of the way. USC made 37.9 percent of its shots in the game, while Colorado made 51.9 percent, including 62.5 percent in the second half. The Buffaloes were also hot from beyond the arc, making 47.4 percent of its shots (9-for-19). Isaiah Mobley led USC with 12 points and Onyeka Okongwu had a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. USC did not record a block in the game for the first time this season and first time since Dec. 29, 2017 vs. Washington. USC had its five-game home winning streak snapped. The 21-point loss was the biggest margin in a home loss since falling 67-39 vs. Utah on Feb. 1, 2015.
ARIZONA STATE ON DECK -- The Arizona State Sun Devils (13-8, 4-4) are coming off an 87-83 win at Washington on Feb. 1. ASU has won three of its last four games, with three of those games decided by four points for less. Junior point guard Remy Martin leads ASU in scoring with a 19.3 average and leads all players in Pac-12 play with a 21.6 average. USC defeated Arizona State 69-67 at home in the only meeting between the two school last season. USC leads the all-time series 54-41 (2 USC wins vacated due to NCAA penalty, original record 56-41). USC has lost its last six games at ASU, last winning 63-61 on Jan. 27, 2011.
THE MAGICAL MARKER -- USC held Utah to 52 points on Jan. 30 to improve to 13-0 this season when holding the opposition to under 70 points scored. In fact, USC is 66-2 in its last 68 games when holding the opposition to 69 points or less and is 81-8 in such games during the Andy Enfield Era.
ROAD WARRIORS -- USC is 5-2 on the road this season, after going 2-9 on the road during the 2018-19 season. Through Feb. 3, only 9 of the 87 schools among the ACC, AAC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC and Pac-12 have 5 or more true road wins this season. Also, only 25.3 percent (22) of the 87 schools are over .500 in road games . In six of the last 11 seasons, USC won 2 or less road games for an overall record of 34-90 (27.4 percent). USC finished over .500 on the road (6-5) during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, the only two seasons in the past 11 with a winning road record.
BOARD BROTHERS -- USC forwards Nick Rakocevic (8.5) and Onyeka Okongwu (9.1) are one of five pairs of teammates in Division I averaging 8.5 rebounds or more per game. The other schools with a tandem of rebounders averaging 8.5 rebounds or more per game are Eastern Washington, Saint Louis, West Virginia and William and Mary.
OKONGWU NEAR THE TOP OF THE CLASS -- Through his first 21 career games, Okongwu is averaging 16.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game, while shooting 60.6 percent from the field. His 63 total blocks already rank second on USC's all-time freshman blocks list, trailing only Taj Gibson's 69 in 2007. Among all freshmen nationally, he ranks tied for first in blocks per game (3.00) and in total blocks (63), second in field goal percentage (60.6 percent), tied for third in double-doubles (9), fourth and in offensive rebounds per game (3.24) and in rebounds per game (9.1), sixth in points per game (16.7), seventh in total points (350) and eighth in total field goals (134) and free throws made (82).
SENIOR'S SEVEN-GAME SURGE -- Senior guard Jonah Mathews has scored in double figures in each of the last seven games, the second longest such streak in his career (9 games last season). In the last seven games Mathews has averaged 15.3 points (107 points). Mathews has also made 41.0 percent of his three-point shots in that stretch (16-for-39) and 87.1 percent of his free throws (27-for-31).
ANDERSON MOVING UP THE USC FRESHMAN TOP 10 ASSIST LIST -- Freshman point guard Ethan Anderson had 4 assists vs. Colorado on Feb. 1 and now has 104 assists, passing Jordan McLaughlin (100) and Daniel Hackett (103) to move into 8th on USC's all-time freshman assist list. At his current pace of 4.85 assists per game he would break the school freshman record of 143 set by Burt Harris in 1993. Anderson ranks fourth in the Pac-12 in total assists and fifth nationally among freshmen (104).
BREAKING DOWN No. 23 ARIZONA -- The Arizona Wildcats (15-6, 5-3) are coming off a road sweep at the Washington schools, defeating Washington State 66-49 on Feb. 1 and Washington 75-72 on Jan. 30. The Wildcats are 10-1 at home with its only setback being to No. 2 Gonzaga on Dec. 14 (84-80). A trio of freshmen lead Arizona in scoring: Zeke Nnaji (16.2), Nico Mannion (14.2) and Josh Green (11.7). USC defeated Arizona 80-57 at home and 78-65 at the Pac-12 Tournament last season, but Arizona leads the all-time series 67-43* (1 win by both teams vacated due to NCAA penalty, original record 68-44). USC has lost nine consecutive games at Arizona, last winning in 2008 (later vacated, so last win in Arizona was in 2007).
USC FALLS AT HOME TO No. 20/21 COLORADO -- USC allowed an opponent to shoot over 50 percent for the first time this season and lost 78-57 to No. 20/21 Colorado on Feb. 1, losing out on a chance to take over sole possession of first place in the Pac-12. USC led 14-13 seven minutes into the game, but Colorado went on a 13-3 run to take a 26-17 lead and never looked back. USC trailed 33-24 at halftime and after Colorado began the second half on a 17-4 run to make it a 22-point deficit at 50-28, USC got no closer than 18 points the rest of the way. USC made 37.9 percent of its shots in the game, while Colorado made 51.9 percent, including 62.5 percent in the second half. The Buffaloes were also hot from beyond the arc, making 47.4 percent of its shots (9-for-19). Isaiah Mobley led USC with 12 points and Onyeka Okongwu had a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. USC did not record a block in the game for the first time this season and first time since Dec. 29, 2017 vs. Washington. USC had its five-game home winning streak snapped. The 21-point loss was the biggest margin in a home loss since falling 67-39 vs. Utah on Feb. 1, 2015.
ARIZONA STATE ON DECK -- The Arizona State Sun Devils (13-8, 4-4) are coming off an 87-83 win at Washington on Feb. 1. ASU has won three of its last four games, with three of those games decided by four points for less. Junior point guard Remy Martin leads ASU in scoring with a 19.3 average and leads all players in Pac-12 play with a 21.6 average. USC defeated Arizona State 69-67 at home in the only meeting between the two school last season. USC leads the all-time series 54-41 (2 USC wins vacated due to NCAA penalty, original record 56-41). USC has lost its last six games at ASU, last winning 63-61 on Jan. 27, 2011.
THE MAGICAL MARKER -- USC held Utah to 52 points on Jan. 30 to improve to 13-0 this season when holding the opposition to under 70 points scored. In fact, USC is 66-2 in its last 68 games when holding the opposition to 69 points or less and is 81-8 in such games during the Andy Enfield Era.
ROAD WARRIORS -- USC is 5-2 on the road this season, after going 2-9 on the road during the 2018-19 season. Through Feb. 3, only 9 of the 87 schools among the ACC, AAC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC and Pac-12 have 5 or more true road wins this season. Also, only 25.3 percent (22) of the 87 schools are over .500 in road games . In six of the last 11 seasons, USC won 2 or less road games for an overall record of 34-90 (27.4 percent). USC finished over .500 on the road (6-5) during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, the only two seasons in the past 11 with a winning road record.
BOARD BROTHERS -- USC forwards Nick Rakocevic (8.5) and Onyeka Okongwu (9.1) are one of five pairs of teammates in Division I averaging 8.5 rebounds or more per game. The other schools with a tandem of rebounders averaging 8.5 rebounds or more per game are Eastern Washington, Saint Louis, West Virginia and William and Mary.
OKONGWU NEAR THE TOP OF THE CLASS -- Through his first 21 career games, Okongwu is averaging 16.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game, while shooting 60.6 percent from the field. His 63 total blocks already rank second on USC's all-time freshman blocks list, trailing only Taj Gibson's 69 in 2007. Among all freshmen nationally, he ranks tied for first in blocks per game (3.00) and in total blocks (63), second in field goal percentage (60.6 percent), tied for third in double-doubles (9), fourth and in offensive rebounds per game (3.24) and in rebounds per game (9.1), sixth in points per game (16.7), seventh in total points (350) and eighth in total field goals (134) and free throws made (82).
SENIOR'S SEVEN-GAME SURGE -- Senior guard Jonah Mathews has scored in double figures in each of the last seven games, the second longest such streak in his career (9 games last season). In the last seven games Mathews has averaged 15.3 points (107 points). Mathews has also made 41.0 percent of his three-point shots in that stretch (16-for-39) and 87.1 percent of his free throws (27-for-31).
ANDERSON MOVING UP THE USC FRESHMAN TOP 10 ASSIST LIST -- Freshman point guard Ethan Anderson had 4 assists vs. Colorado on Feb. 1 and now has 104 assists, passing Jordan McLaughlin (100) and Daniel Hackett (103) to move into 8th on USC's all-time freshman assist list. At his current pace of 4.85 assists per game he would break the school freshman record of 143 set by Burt Harris in 1993. Anderson ranks fourth in the Pac-12 in total assists and fifth nationally among freshmen (104).
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