University Southern California Trojans
USC Plays At No. 3 Kansas On Saturday
December 14, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 14, 2010
The USC Trojans (6-4) will play at No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks (9-0) at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. on Dec. 18 at 11:00 a.m. (CT). The game will air on ESPN with Dave Pasch and Bobby Knight calling the action. USC is looking for its first three-game winning streak of the season.
BREAKING DOWN KANSAS -- Kansas is coming off a 76-55 win vs. Colorado State on Dec. 11 in Kansas City. Kansas has won a school record-tying 64 consecutive games at Allen Fieldhouse. USC is 5-9 all-time vs. the Jayhawks, losing the last meeting 59-55 at the Galen Center on Dec. 2, 2007. USC has lost five consecutive games to Kansas. Forward Marcus Morris has led Kansas in scoring in its first nine games with a 16.9 points per game average.
SMITH LEADS USC OVER NAU -- Senior guard Donte Smith had 17 of his career-high 22 points in the second half to help lead USC to a 60-52 win over Northern Arizona at the Galen Center on Dec. 11. Smith hit a career-best five three-pointers, four in the second half to help USC hold off NAU which had whittled a 12-point deficit to three. Smith scored 14-straight points for USC at that point to extend the lead back to 14 at 54-40. USC held NAU to a season-low in points and shooting percentage (.364). Nikola Vucevic added 13 points and 10 rebounds.
TRIP TO TENNESSEE NEXT -- USC's next game will be at No. 7 Tennessee (7-0) in Knoxville, Tenn. on Dec. 21. Tennessee is coming of an 83-76 road win at then-No. 3 Pittsburgh on Dec. 11 and will host Oakland on Dec. 14 and play at Charlotte on Dec. 17 before facing USC. The Volunteers' have been led by Scotty Hopson (17.9 ppg) and Tobias Harris (15.3 ppg.) in their first 7 games. USC trails 4-2 in the all-time series, but defeated then-No. 9 Tennessee 77-55 at the Galen Center last season. USC head basketball coach Kevin O'Neill was the Tennessee head coach for the 1995-97 seasons.
DON'T FORGET FONTAN... -- Lost in the hoopla surrounding the collegiate debut of Kansas' fabulous freshman Josh Selby is the Trojan debut of guard Jio Fontan. Fontan transfered to USC from Fordham last January and will be eligible for the first time at Kansas on Dec. 18. Fontan is expected to be a key member of this season's team as he made the A-10 All-Rookie team as a freshman in 2009 (15.3 ppg, 4.7 apg) and averaged 15.0 points per game in five games last season at Fordham.
TOUGH STRETCHES -- USC began the season playing 8 games in 17 days (4-4), its most games in that short of a period since the 1984 season. On Dec. 5 USC began a stretch of 4 games (2-0) against opponents with a combined record of 25-3, with 3 of the them being ranked. USC first defeated a then No. 19 and 6-1 Texas team and followed that up with a win over a then 7-2 NAU team and now must play at No. 3 Kansas (9-0) and at No. 7 Tennessee (7-0).
NO LITTLE ROAD BLOCK -- There are a couple of daunting streaks working against USC as they hit the road, the Trojans have lost five straight road games dating back to last season, while Kansas has won 64 consecutive games at home and Tennesse has won 9 straight home games.
PERFECT TIMING -- USC's trip to play Kansas turns out to be perfect timing as the Trojans will get into Kansas City in time for the team to watch in person the women's volleyball team play California in the a NCAA semifinal match at Sprint Center on Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. (CT).
NOAH WOULD BE PROUD... -- Two by two the wins and losses have been coming for the Trojans in pairs, as USC has alternated winning two and losing two games all season. The Trojans are coming off wins over Texas on Dec. 5 and Northern Arizona on Dec. 11.
SUDDEN IMPACT -- In the first 10 games USC has relied heavily on freshmen with guards Maurice Jones playing 384 and Bryce Jones playing 281 out of a possible 400 minutes. In 10 games, the two Jones and fellow freshman Garrett Jackson have combined to score 40.6 percent of USC's points (280 of 689) and play 39.5 percent of the team's minutes. The Joneses also have 58.4 percent of USC's assists (66 of 113) and 41.1 percent of its 3-point baskets (23 of 56). Maurice Jones and Bryce Jones rank No. 1 and No. 2 respectively among conference freshmen in per game averages in points (12.2 and 11.2), steals (1.7 and 1.5) and minutes (38.4 and 28.1).
SIMMONS IS KRYPTONITE AGAIN - Senior guard Marcus Simmons has frequently been called upon in his career to guard the opponent's top scorer and on Dec. 5 vs. No. 19 Texas was asked to guard Texas' Jordan Hamilton, averaging 21.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Simmons held Hamilton to 12 points on 4-for-13 shooting and limited him to four rebounds. The next game against NAU on Dec. 11, he covered Cameron Jones who was coming off a 27-point performance and had averaged 20.0 points in the previous 5 games. Simmons held Jones to 10 points on 4 of 14 shooting. Simmons has started USC's first 10 games and averaged 6.6 points and 4.1 rebounds.
STEPHESON LENDING A HAND...JUST ONE -- 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 has averaged 11.8 points (59 total) and 10.6 rebounds (53 total) in the five games while hitting 64.4 percent of his shots (29-for-45). He has had a double-double in 3 of the last 5 games.
SMITH'S SCORING SPREE -- Senior guard Donte Smith scored 14 consecutive points for USC in the second half of the victory over NAU after the Lumberjacks had cut the lead to three points. In Smith's second-half barrage was four three-pointers and a layup which put the game away. Smith scored a career-high 22 points in the game and made a career-best five three-pointers. Smith is coming off the bench and averaging 9.1 points for USC, fourth-best on the team. He leads the team lead with 20 three-pointers made and leads the team with a 78.6 percent success rate from the free throw line. Smith's previous career high in points was 14 points in the loss at Nebraska on Nov. 27.
