Ten is not enough
Similar traits can either hinder or help the UCLA and USC
basketball teams
STARTING LINEUP COMPARISON
Point Guard:
Baron Davis-UCLA
Brandon Granville-USC
Advantage
Davis, a finalist for the Oscar Robertson Award, has played with
All-American prowess since his return to the lineup from injury.
His excellent play and and desire to improve are reflected in his
floor leadership and UCLA’s success. The Bruins are 14-5 when Davis
is in the starting lineup.
Granville, a freshman from Westchester, continues to give
consistent and hard working minutes on both ends of the floor for
head coach Henry Bibby. The energy he brings to the floor gives him
the advantage in any matchup, except when going to head-to-head
with Davis.
1998-99 season averages (Pac-10 rank in parentheses)
Baron Davis  15.2 ppg (8th), 2.63 spg (1st), 5.11 apg
(2nd)
Brandon Granville  7.9 ppg, 1.9 spg (6th), 4.9 apg
(3rd)
Shooting Guard:
Earl Watson-UCLA
Elias Ayuso-USC
Advantage
Watson, an integral member of UCLA’s royal backcourt, comes day
in and day out, giving 110 percent to the squad, regardless of
injury or illness. His floor vision and decision making in
transition and half-court offense make him one of the most athletic
and smartest players in the Pac-10 and NCAA ranks.
Ayuso, a senior from New Mexico, nicknamed "The Rifle", is a
lethal outside shooter for the Trojans with impressive defensive
footwork and quickness. His experience and desire to win one game
against UCLA in his collegiate career will make for a tough
matchup.
1998-99 season averages (Pac-10 rank in parentheses)
Earl Watson  13.5 ppg (18th), 1.86 spg (9th), 4.82 apg
(6th)
Elias Ayuso  11.7 ppg, 1.2 apg , .391 3-pt percentage
(6th)
Small Forward:
JaRon Rush-UCLA
Jeff Trepagnier-USC
Advantage
Rush, a freshman from Kansas City, has been shuffled in and out
of the starting lineup as of late. But his effort cannot be
overshadowed. Regardless of shooting performance, Rush hits the
boards and plays stagnant defense.
Trepagnier, a sophomore from Compton, has developed into one of
the most athletic swingmen in the conference. He has terrific
dribble penetration and has shown an improvement in his shooting
from the perimeter. He played well in this season’s previous
contest.
1998-99 season averages (Pac-10 rank in parentheses)
JaRon Rush  10.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg (13th), 0.9 apg
Jeff Trepagnier  10.8 ppg, 1.85 spg (10th), 1.35 bpg
(T-4th
Power Forward:
Jerome Moiso-UCLA
Sam Clancy-USC
AdvantagePUSH
Moiso, a freshman from the West Indies, has quick, fluid moves
that allows him to slither to the basket faster than his defenders.
He has exceptional outside touch for a player of his size, or any
sized player for that matter. The referee’s whistle, however, has
limited his play as of late.
Clancy, a 6-foot-7-inch, 240 pound player from Ohio, has quickly
emerged as a frontrunner for the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team. He is
tenacious on the glass, and has good hands and a soft scoring
touch. He has the build of a Trojan defensive lineman, similar to
his NFL father, Sam Clancy Sr.
1998-99 season averages (Pac-10 rank in parentheses)
Jerome Moiso  12.4 pg (20th), 6.0 rpg (14th), 0.91 bpg
(8th)
Sam Clancy  6.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg (17th), 1.47 bpg (2nd)
Center:
Dan Gadzurick-UCLA
Brian Scalabrine-USC
Advantage
Gadzuric, a freshman from the Netherlands, brings a huge body
and heart to the Bruin table. He refuses to passively let his
defender post up on him. He has an intense desire to block an
opposing player’s shot and loves to bring the crowd into a frenzy
with thunderous dunks.
Scalabrine, a 6-foot-9-inch freshman from Washington, brings
many facets to the USC game plan. He has the ability to work
inside, or take the outside shot. He runs the floor well and has
worked hard to refine his fundamentals. "Redd" made an impact in
the previous game at the Sports Arena.1998-99 season averages
(Pac-10 rank in parentheses)
Dan Gadzuric  8.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg (16th) 1.30 bpg (6th)
Brian Scalabrine  14.8 ppg (10th), 6.7 rpg (10th), .800 FT
(6th)
Coaches:
Steve Lavin-UCLA
Henry Bibby-USC
Advantage
Lavin has taken an inexperienced group of 12 underclassmen, a
junior and a senior to a 17-5 overall record and tied for second in
the conference at 8-3 with Arizona. He has defended the home floor
of Pauley Pavilion well, having gone 11-1 thus far. The leader of
No. 9 ranked Bruins also has history on his side: he is a perfect
5-0 against USC.
Bibby, a Bruin alumnus who led UCLA to the 1973 title, brought
in a quality group of freshmen to Southern Cal in hopes of the
program’s resurgence in the near future. The Trojans started the
year off strong, only to falter during the Pac-10 schedule, having
gone 3-8. The last time Bibby won a big game was March 25, 1972,
when he helped win the national title for UCLA at the Sports
Arena.Projected Final Score:
UCLA 92, USC 77
TOP FIVE GREATEST CONTESTS IN UCLA-USC BASKETBALL HISTORY
5
1928 – The first meeting between the two schools. The Trojans
handed the Bruins a 45-35 loss at Olympic Auditorium, UCLA’s home
floor at the time. Coach Caddy Works hoped to continue the series
against the crosstown school. One year later, the football rivalry
would begin, with UCLA losing to Southern Cal 76-0 in the inaugural
classic.
4
1971 – A close call in a season that saw only one defeat at the
hands of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the Bruins trailed the
Trojans by nine points at halftime at the Sports Arena. They would
rally to preserve a 64-60 victory en route to the national title.
This was their second win in the longest winning streak in all of
major sports: 88 straight wins.
3
1969 – The Trojans held the Bruins to the lowest point total
ever scored by UCLA. The 46-44 defeat by USC was the first loss
ever in Pauley Pavilion and the second and last loss of the Lew
Alcindor era.
2
1985 – UCLA finished with an a mediocre 21-12 record. After a
double overtime loss USC dropped its record to 9-11, the two teams
battled again at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA lost by two points 80-78 in
the fourth overtime in the longest UCLA men’s basketball game ever
played.
1
1966 – UCLA cruises to a 105-90 victory over the Trojans. Lew
Alcindor dropped 56 points against USC, his second highest
collegiate total ever. He set school records in points (32) and
field goals (13) in a half at Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins would
finish the season 30-0 and claim their third national title and
first with Alcindor.
UCLA-USC BASKETBALL RIVALRY HISTORY
Current streak: UCLA – Nine straight victories dating back to
the 1994-95 campaign.Longest winning streak: USC defeated the
Bruins in 42 consecutive contests in over a decade span from
1931-32 to 1942-43.UCLA’s coaching history against USC:
“¢bull;Wilbur Johns – Held a 12-24 record against the Trojans.
Credited for first Bruin sweep of USC during the 1946-47
season.
“¢bull;John Wooden – In 27 years, the Wizard of Westwood posted
a 61-20 mark vs. USC. He won 17 straight rivalry battles between
1963-64 and 1968-69, and UCLA defeated the Trojans the last 11
times he faced them.
“¢bull;Gene Bartow (4-0)
“¢bull;Gary Cunningham (4-0)
“¢bull; Larry Brown (2-2)
“¢bull; Larry Farmer (4-2)
“¢bull; Walt Hazzard (5-3)
“¢bull; Jim Harrick (10-6)
“¢bull; Steve Lavin (5-0, entering tonight’s contest)
Ңbull; UCLA leads the series over USC 113-93.Ӣbull; Southern
Cal holds the best record against UCLA by any Pac-10 conference
team in history.Ӣbull; Former UCLA head coach Caddy Works, who
holds the second longest tenure at the Bruin helm in the school’s
history at 18 years, had a 7-35 record against Southern Cal. He
initiated the series against the crosstown rival to provide for
more competition than the likes of Oregon Agricultural College and
the Hollywood Athletic Club, as well as to hopefully garner
victories.
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