Courtesy of USC Sports Information Trojans’ forward
David Bluthenthal will challenge UCLA tonight at
Pauley.
By Greg Schain
Daily Bruin Reporter
UCLA and USC used to have a clearly defined role in L.A.
sports.
The Trojans were all football.
And the Bruins would dominate in basketball.
But now, with the emergence of forward David Bluthenthal as a
top collegiate player, USC is quickly becoming a force to be
reckoned with in the Pac-10. In fact, a win over UCLA tonight at
Pauley Pavilion would leave the Trojans in control of their own
destiny to win the conference, with four of their last six to be
played at home.
“If we beat UCLA, we’ll be in real good shape to win
the Pac-10,” Bluthenthal said.
Winning the conference would largely represent a renaissance for
USC basketball, which hasn’t solely won the Pac-10 since
1961. But to do it while sweeping UCLA for the season would be
unprecedented.
“A sweep would be really sweet,” Bluthenthal said.
“It hasn’t been done in a while, and it would be great
for our fan base.”
The last time USC swept UCLA was in 1992, when the first game
went to double overtime and the second went to four OTs. That year,
UCLA and USC finished tied for first in the Pac-10.
A big reason for the program’s turnaround is
Bluthenthal’s poise and leadership on the court. The
senior’s uncanny playmaking ability has carried USC to many
key victories, including an 81-77 victory over UCLA earlier this
season. In that game, Bluthenthal recorded 16 points and 18
rebounds, a season high for USC.
“Bluthenthal can really get it going,” UCLA head
coach Steve Lavin said. “He had 18 rebounds against us, and
he shoots threes but can also penetrate and get inside.”
Bluthenthal attributes his stellar performance to the intense
rivalry he feels with the Bruins. He says the crosstown competition
is important to him, and he circles these games on his calendar
every year.
“Every season I’ve been here, this rivalry has grown
for me,” Bluthenthal said. “I didn’t realize the
extent of it until I got to college. It means a lot to me, and I
really look forward to playing in Pauley for the last
time.”
A preseason Top-50 Wooden Award candidate, Bluthenthal is
averaging a modest 11.0 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game
this year.
But his guidance in helping the younger players adjust to
collegiate basketball and the Pac-10 style of play is invaluable to
helping keep the “Golden Age” of USC basketball
going.
“David has been really good for our program,” USC
coach Henry Bibby said. “He’s had some real big games
for us against UCLA. He’s a great shooter and can do a lot of
things for our team.”
Bluthenthal feels he has a certain rapport with younger players,
and that when he gives advice, it doesn’t fall on deaf
ears.
“I think when I talk to younger players, they listen and
soak in as much as possible,” Bluthenthal said. “Our
freshmen are real talented.”
USC’s freshmen are the future of the Bruin-Trojan rivalry,
a rivalry that has been escalated partially due to
Bluthenthal’s active play against UCLA, and has UCLA players
scared of the new Trojan powerhouse.
“If we lose to USC, we’ll be a class that’ll
be remembered,” said UCLA guard Rico Hines. “Everyone
will remember us as the class that got swept by USC.”