University Southern California Trojans
USC To Play First-Ever Basketball Game Against TCU
November 28, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 28, 2010
The USC Trojans (4-3) will play the TCU Horned Frogs (4-2) in Forth Worth, Texas at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum on Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. (CT). The game will be televised by the MountainWest Sports Network and can be found nationally on DirecTV channel 616. USC lost its first road game of the season at Nebraska on Nov. 27 and dating back to last season have lost four consecutive road games and 10 of 12 road contests.
BREAKING DOWN TCU -- TCU is 4-2 after defeating Houston at home 79-63 on Nov. 27. The Horned Frogs are 3-0 at home this season. Junior guard Ronnie Moss leads TCU in scoring with an average of 15.7 points per game. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
TALE OF TWO HALVES AT NEBRASKA -- USC led by as many as 20 points in the 1st half and took a 13-point lead at the break, but host Nebraska responded with a dominating 2nd half to defeat USC 60-58 in Lincoln, Neb. on Nov. 27. The Cornhuskers ended the 1st half on a 9-2 run and continued it into the 2nd half when they outscored USC 34-19. Nebraska went on a 17-3 run early in the 2nd half to make it a game and took it's first lead at 56-55 with 4:47 left. They built the lead to five points, but USC cut it to two points and Maurice Jones was able to lauch a long three at the buzzer which just caught rim. USC shot 56.7 percent from the field in the 1st half and 27.6 percent in the 2nd half. Nebraska hit 58.3 percent of its shots in the 2nd half.
TEXAS ON DECK -- USC will host Texas at the Galen Center on Dec. 5. The Longhorns are 5-1 and will host Lamar on Dec. 1 before traveling to Los Angeles for their first true road game of the season. Texas has been led in scoring by sophomore Jordan Hamilton from Los Angeles, who is averaging 22.7 points per game. Texas is averaging 79.0 points per game with its lone setback a 68-66 loss to Pittsburgh in New York, N.Y. The all-time series is tied 5-5, with Texas winning at home last season 69-50. The game is part of the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series.
NO REST IN SIGHT -- USC is in the midst of playing 8 games in 17 days to start the season, the most in a 17-day stretch or less since playing 8 games in 15 days to start the 1983-84 season.
SUDDEN IMPACT -- In the first seven games USC has relied heavily on freshmen with guards Maurice Jones playing 276 and Bryce Jones playing 212 out of a possible 280 minutes. In seven games, the two Jones and fellow freshman Garrett Jackson have combined to score 44.6 percent of USC's points (217 of 487) and play 40.9 percent of the team's minutes. The Joneses also have 58.4 percent of USC's assists (45 of 77) and 48.8 percent of its 3-point baskets (20 of 41).
I'VE STILL GOT ONE HAND -- Redshirt senior Alex Stepheson scored six points, had three blocks and grabbed 13 rebounds in the season opener vs. UC Irvine on Nov. 13, but also suffered a fracture in his left hand. Since then he wears a cast between games and a brace during games. He had an X-ray on Monday Nov. 22 which showed he is healing well and since scored 12 points and had 11 rebounds, a block and 2 steals in 29 minutes vs. CSUF on Nov. 24 and had a season-high 14 points, 9 rebounds, a block and a steal in 39 minutes at Nebraska on Nov. 27.
SMITH STEPPING UP -- Senior guard Donte Smith is coming off the bench and averaging 8.6 points for USC, fourth-best on the team. He is tied for the team lead with 13 three-pointers made and leads the team with a 90.0 percent success ratefrom the free throw line. Smith scored a career-high 14 points in the loss at Nebraska on Nov. 27.
USC HOPING TO BREAK PATTERN -- USC won its first two games, lost its next two, won its next two and are now coming off a loss at Nebraska.
