ROSETTE GONZALES Senior forward Matt
Barnes will lead the men’s basketball team against
cross-town rivals USC Trojans tonight at the Forum.
By Greg Schain
Daily Bruin Reporter
USC’s traditionally underprivileged basketball program
came of age last year when it made a magical run to the Elite Eight
of the NCAA Tournament.
The Trojans’ tournament performance was a clear statement
that they belong in the ring with the other heavyweight college
basketball programs in the Pac-10.
And this year, USC is returning four starters. This hasn’t
gone unnoticed by the Bruin players.
“They’re even better than they were last
year,” senior Billy Knight said. “They crash the boards
really hard, and they’re very fast.”
UCLA head coach Steve Lavin was even more complimentary of his
opponent.
“They’re a tough, strong, quick, tenacious,
well-oiled machine,” he said.
UCLA will have to overcome its propensity to lose to speedy
teams that press (i.e. Ball State, Pepperdine) if it wants to have
first place in the Pac-10 all to themselves.
USC and UCLA are tied atop the conference standings, both 4-0 in
Pac-10 play.
Winning won’t be an easy task for the Bruins. USC comes
into the game playing its best basketball of the season.
In the Trojans’ last four games ““ two against
Washington and two against Washington State ““ the Trojans won
each by at least 15 points.
By contrast, UCLA didn’t win a game by more than 12 in
their four games against the Washington schools.
“They blew out two teams that we struggled with,”
Knight said, referring to the Washington schools. “So we
gotta be ready to come out and play hard.”
UCLA will have to be prepared to face a team that is a lot
faster. USC will surely come out using the full court press to try
to take advantage of UCLA’s lack of speed.
But senior guard Rico Hines isn’t worried about facing the
press.
“We practice against the press all the time in practice,
so it’s not a big deal,” Hines said. “So we just
gotta get the ball up the court.”
The Bruins might also use the press to help put defensive
pressure on the Trojans.
“I think they will press. It’s what they’ve
done in the past,” said USC head coach Henry Bibby, who is
1-9 against his alma mater, UCLA. “I think they’re
gonna do it. We’ve been working on it every day in
practice.”
But Lavin denies he will use the press against USC. He said the
Trojans are too quick to try to stay with for the whole length of
the court.
“They’re so quick and athletic. Teams like that are
tough to press,” Lavin said. “All five players can
pass, catch and are tough to defend.”
The game is at the Los Angeles Forum because USC’s home
stadium, the Sports Arena, is currently being occupied by the U.S.
Figure Skating Championship.
Lavin thinks the fact that the game is at the Forum just adds to
the excitement.
“It isn’t just another game,” he said.
“We’re playing a crosstown rival for first place at the
Forum. It makes it an exciting game to be a part of.”
“¢bull; “¢bull; “¢bull;
Senior point guard Rico Hines suffered a mild concussion during
practice on Tuesday and missed Wednesday’s practice. Although
he felt headaches on Wednesday he is considered probable for
today’s game against USC.
“¢bull; “¢bull; “¢bull;
According to Internet reports, Michael Fey earned the required
ACT score to attend UCLA.
Fey a 6-10 center from Olympia, Wash., was expected to join the
team with this year’s freshman class, but he did not have the
mandatory score on his SAT or ACT exams. It has yet to be
determined when he will join the team. He is ineligible to enroll
in school this quarter.
With reports from Scott Schultz, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.