SB Nation - Alex Stepheson

Trojans Muster Up Comeback; Defeat Western Michigan 55-51

Joey Kaufman — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:11:32 -0000

More photos » by Eugene Tanner - AP

1 day ago: Western Michigan guard Mike Douglas, top, attempts to cut off Southern California guard Mike Gerrity in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, at the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu. USC defeated Western Michigan 55-51. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

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Historically, these are the type of games where victory eludes USC. Coming off a marquee win, playing an inferior opponent, and trailing by nine points at halftime, would usually indicate that the Trojans would be on a collision course with defeat. But something was different on Tuesday afternoon in Hawaii, as ‘SC, instead of folding up like a lawn chair, scored 37 second half points to come from behind and defeat a surprisingly tough Western Michigan team by a score of 55-51.

Once again, the Trojans were led by Mike Gerrity, who largely orchestrated the team's second half comeback by scoring fifteen of his team-leading 17 points over the final 20 minutes. Coming off a double-double against Tennessee (12 points and 10 assists), Gerrity may not have been as impressive on the stat sheet (he had just 3 assists), but his leadership and clutch scoring were instrumental in the Trojans' win. As a senior, that poise and confidence enabled him to make such a strong impact considering that most of USC's starters and key reserves are playing significant minutes for the first time in their careers.

Yet while Tuesday's win and Gerrity's strong performance are certainly enough to appease the fanbase for now, there are still other concerns that must be addressed before anybody starts throwing the words postseason tournament and USC in the same sentence. For one, the play from starting big men Alex Stepheson and Nikola Vucevic proved to be incredibly disappointing. Despite big games last Saturday, Stepheson was even named Pac-10 player of the week, both players struggled mightily against the Broncos - a team not especially known for its defensive prowess. Stepheson had just 2 points on 1-of-6 shooting and collected merely 6 rebounds and no blocks. This was all in 29 minutes of action. Vucevic wasn't too much better, as the sophomore had just one field goal, missing several "gimme" baskets. Luckily, he did get to shoot eleven free throws, enabling him to score ten points in addition to his eight rebounds.

Therefore, both players must step up tomorrow, as the Trojans face a much tougher opponents in St. Mary's that presently holds a 10-1 record with a win already over the Pac-10's Oregon Ducks. The Gaels, who are led by a talented 6'11" center in Omar Samhan, suffered their only defeat at the hands of Vanderbilt by two points so there is no question that ‘SC will be facing a quality basketball team in the next round. If players such as Stepheson, Vucevic, and Dwight Lewis (who had an awful shooting performance) continue to struggle, even Mike Gerrity, who has affectionately become known as the "Baby Nash" by Trojan fans, won't be able to carry the team to a victory.

Trojans Show Potential for Big Season in 77-55 Win Over Tennessee

Joey Kaufman — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:43:14 -0000

More photos » by Mark J. Terrill - AP

4 days ago: Southern California's Mike Gerrity, right, goes up for a shot as Tennessee's Wayne Chism defends during the second half of their NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009, in Los Angeles. USC won the game 77-55. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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About a week or so ago, I wrote that the fact that the Trojans played such stellar defense and held their opponents to incredibly low field goal shooting percentages would enable them to be competitive against some of the nation's toughest opponents. Saturday afternoon's contest against Tennessee proved testament to that philosophy, as USC handed the Volunteers their worst loss of the Bruce Pearl era by a score of 77-55.

While I was emphatic about the idea of USC being competitive against top twenty-five caliber teams, I had no idea that this team, even with Mike Gerrity starting at point guard, was capable of knocking off a top ten ranked foe at home by twenty-two points. It just never crossed my mind.

After all, this was the same team that loss to Loyola Marymount by nearly ten points at home, recorded twenty-five turnovers against Sacramento State, and went on a seven minute scoring drought against Idaho State. How were these Trojans expected to defeat a team that was averaging over eighty points per game and had some calling for them to reach the Final Four? But it did happen Saturday afternoon in what will forever be known as the biggest win this program has seen in recent memory. Yes, past victories over UCLA and wins in the NCAA Tournament were certainly nice, but a twenty-two point home slaughter of the Bruce Pearl-led Volunteers officially puts USC on the map in the rest of the country's eyes and tells recruit that this in fact a legitimate college basketball program.

There were plenty of factors in ‘SC's upset victory, but none as important as the return of senior point guard Mike Gerrity, who starred in his first game of the season. After sitting for the team's first eight games due to eligibility issues, the UNC-Charlotte transfer shocked nearly all fans in attendance and those watching on television across the country with 12 points, 10 assists, and 5 rebounds.

Gerrity, who had not appeared in a game since March of 2008, even surprised Trojan headman Kevin O'Neill, who said he was "shocked at how well he played."

But it is impossible to pinpoint the impact Gerrity made just on the stat sheet alone, as his value can be seen in other aspects of the game as well. All in all, his performance proved to be indicative of the effects a true point guard can have on a team, as he suddenly transformed the Trojans from an average Pac-10 team into a contender for the conference crown overnight. No, I am not exaggerating. Over the course of the 40 minute game, Gerrity did everything a coach wants his point guard to do - direct the offense, distribute the ball to the team's playmakers, and provide leadership to some of the group's more inexperienced players. The 6'1" transfer did all that and more for Kevin O'Neill and company.

But Saturday's signature win was not solely the product of Gerrity's had work and effort. It can be attributed to a laundry list of other factors such as the team's stifling team defense and efforts on the glass.

The Trojans held a Tennessee team averaging roughly 84 points per game to 55 points, 34.5% shooting from the field, and 9.1% shooting from three-point range. Yes, the Vols certainly missed a few "gimme" baskets, but in general, ‘SC played tough defense and forced the Vols in taking their fair share of low-percentage field goals. By stacking the paint with either a zone or man-to-man defense, the Trojans caused Tennessee to become incredibly impatient and settle for long-range shots, much to the dismay of their head coach Bruce Pearl, whose sideline antics became even more vivid as the game became out of hand.

On the flip side, the Trojans proved to be much more proficient when they were in possession of the ball, attempting just 42 shots but converting 23 of those and making 28-of-35 shots from the foul line (80%). These numbers, which were significant improvements over last week's games against Sacramento State and Idaho State, helped to make up for 18 turnovers - which are still way too high for a supposed conference championship contender. Alex Stepheson and Nikola Vucevic deserve much of the credit for the scoring inside and for that high shooting percentage as well. At the end of the day, Stepheson and Vuecevic shot a combined 13-of-18 from the field and were often the ones on the receiving end of Gerrity's game-high ten assists. By valuing each possession, the team's offensive efficiency enabled for them to maintain a comfortable lead for much of the game and eventually defeat a team particularly known for its prowess on offense.

In addition to offensive efficiency, the Trojans went on to dominate the Volunteers in other aspects of the game. In terms of rebounding, ‘SC out-rebounded the Vols 42-17. When it came to assists, ‘SC also bettered the Vols by recording 16 assists to UT's five. Just by looking at these numbers alone, it makes it incredibly difficult to imagine the Trojans losing to any conference foe provided they maintain a similar level of performance.

But before we get carried away, it is important to remember that after all, this is just one game. It is entirely possible that teams, after being able to finally watch Gerrity on film, make the proper adjustments and become more than capable of stopping ‘SC from scoring anything close to the 77 points again. However, for now, we'll take a step back, relax, and remember that our USC Trojans just recorded one of their biggest victories this decade with a twenty-two point blowout win over the nation's ninth ranked team. Not too shabby...

Fight On!

USC 77 Tennessee 55 - All Questions, No Answers

Will — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:11:56 -0000

More photos » by Mark J. Terrill - AP

This about sums it up.

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The #9 Vols went to Los Angeles and turned in a horrific performance against the Trojans, in a stunning 77-55 loss. There is nothing good to say about what we saw out there today. There's plenty to say otherwise.

The Value of a Point Guard

Mike Gerrity got clearance from the NCAA to play late last week, a transfer from UNC-Charlotte to USC. He hadn't played collegiate basketball in twenty-one months. And in his first game back, he had 12 points, 10 assists, and 5 rebounds. Tennessee had no one who could guard him, no one who could prevent him from going coast-to-coast and either scoring or drawing a foul, and didn't learn to watch for the deep ball leaving his hands on the inbounds pass.

It's not just that Gerrity was the hardest working man on the floor; you expect that in part when someone hasn't played in so long and then returns. It's that you saw what a true point guard brings to an offense - something the Vols haven't had since CJ Watson. It wasn't just Gerrity's scoring, it was his poise and leadership. He directed the Trojan offense, distributed the ball well, and provided leadership to the entire team.

This is what Bruce Pearl needs, and has been unable to find. Bobby Maze and Melvin Goins have good qualities, but they're not pure point guards, and they don't bring stability and poise to the offense - they're not leaders. Which raises a much bigger question for the Vols:

Who is the leader of this team?

There is both a personality component and an on-the-floor component to this question, but it's very valid. When the Vols need a bucket, who do they go to? And when the team is in a funk and falling behind, who will pick this team up? Who will put them on their shoulders and turn the tide? Who will carry that responsibility?

Right now, the best-case answer is we don't know yet. And the worst-case answer is no one, because most of these guys faced this question last year.

Is it Tyler Smith? He was nonexistent in the first half and not much better in the second, finishing with 3 points on 1-6 shooting. Is it Wayne Chism? Chism has no problem taking shots, and I'm not even upset about his performance today (3 of 11, 1 of 7 from three)...but the fact that 7 of his 11 shots were threes tells a more troubling story: the Vols got no post game today, in part because USC clogged the lane the whole game, but in part because it's just not there. How often does this team run plays for Chism or Smith on the block? How often did we last year?

Who on this team plays with authority at the rim? Who is the physical presence that can prevent a rebounding performance like today, where the Trojans treated the Vols like children on the block and picked up an inexplicable 43-17 rebounding advantage? I understand lots of things and know we're not always going to play our best game, but I will never understand not boxing out and standing around waiting for the rebound to come to you. While the Vols were standing around, two Trojans recorded double-doubles: Alex Stepheson (19-16) and Nikola Vucevic (15-10).

Who will lead this team?

Playing with poise on offense

Pearl said it before the game: you'd better value possessions against USC, or you're going to lose. The Trojans stacked the lane and dared the Vols to take bad shots, and the Vols were more than happy to oblige:

20 of 58 from the floor, 34.5%
2 of 22 from the arc, 9.1%
13 of 25 from the line, 52%

Tennessee got impatient, tried to play one-on-one, and didn't take advantage of trips to the free throw line. The Vols settled for threes that weren't going down, and had no better option. At no point did we use the phrase "good ball movement" or even "great pass" watching the game today - the Vols played like five individuals instead of one team on offense. In the first half, the Vols went the final 4:30 without making a shot. In the second half, the Vols went another 7:00 without a made basket, and USC put the game away.

Meanwhile, USC was patient and incredibly efficient: the Trojans took only 42 shots, but made 23 of them (54.8%). 3 of 7 from the arc. A merciless 28 of 35 from the line (80.0%). Even though the Trojans turned the ball over 18 times - a number you would've felt good about as a Tennessee fan coming in - their efficiency more than made up for it. Despite playing a seven man rotation, the Trojans didn't tire, they just kept playing their pace, and it worked brilliantly - this is a team that averaged 59 points per game coming in, and thanks to Gerrity and poise, scored almost 80 today. USC beat the Vols in every phase - and that includes the fact that Bruce Pearl got outcoached by Kevin O'Neill.

Where do we go from here?

Well, we go to Wednesday, where the 8-2 Vols will host North Carolina A&T. Then we go to Memphis on New Year's Eve, where these questions will almost certainly present themselves again. And if the Vols don't get answers soon, they're going to keep coming up short.

Tennessee has a bunch of good, talented players. But playing like this, we are not a good team. Who will take charge and show some authority with this team? And who will become the guy or group of guys we can count on when we need points? Until we find the answers to those questions, Tennessee will not be as good as they want to be. If they thought they were already, they got a dose of reality today.

GameDay Open Thread: USC vs. Tennessee

Joey Kaufman — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:22:26 -0000

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

12 days ago: Southern California guard Dwight Lewis, left, is fouled by Idaho State guard Austin Kilpatrick during the second half of a NCAA basketball game in Los Angeles, Friday, Dec. 11, 2009. USC won 59-53. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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USC Trojans vs. Tennessee, December 19, 2009 1:30 PM PST, Fox Sports West

For the first time since a December 3^rd matchup against Texas in Austin, a USC basketball game will be televised - this time on Fox Sports West. However, the Trojans may not like too many people to tune, as they take on 9^th ranked Tennessee, causing many pundits nationwide to predict a blowout in favor of the Volunteers. But still, there is a chance, albeit a small one, for Kevin O'Neill's bunch to earn an upset after the group was competitive against the second-ranked Longhorns earlier this month. Here's a short preview from the Los Angeles Times:

Update: USC has won two straight games since consecutive defeats to ranked teams on the road. Tennessee has won four straight since its only loss of the season, a 73-72 defeat to then-No. 5 Purdue in the final of the Paradise Jam. The Volunteers return five starters from a 21-win team a year ago and lead the Southeastern Conference in scoring (84.1) and scoring margin (23.9).

It has been eight days since the Trojans last suited up for a game, so as a result, there have been a few minor changes to the lineup

Senior point guard Mike Gerrity, who transferred from Charlotte and played at Pepperdine earlier in his career, will finally be eligible after the NCAA granted him a "progress towards degree" waiver. Highly-regarded for his excellent ball handling skills, the Mater Dei product will take over the starting point guard position from Donte Smith, who has started all eight games so far.
Freshman forward Evan Smith, who has become a valuable contributor off the bench, will miss this afternoon's game after suffering a mild concussion during practice last Tuesday. He also missed the Sacramento State game a week ago after contracting bronchitis.
Sophomore point guard Percy Miller, who was serving as the backup to Smith during Gerrity's absence, is questionable for the game because of an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder that was aggravated about a week ago.
While Gerrity is now eligible to play, the Trojans are still waiting for sophomore Leonard Washington to become elgible as well, but unlike the senior point guard, he was not granted a waiver and must wait until the team's December 31^st matchup against Arizona to finally take the court.

So tonight's starting 5 should look something like this:

C-Alex Stepheson

F-Nikola Vucevic

F-Marcus Johnson

G-Dwight Lewis

G-Mike Gerrity

Much like the games against Texas and Georgia Tech, today's matchup will provide this group with a learning experience and opportunity to grow as a unit against tough competition. But still, the goal is clearly to come away with a victory, and there a few things the Trojans can do to put themselves in a position to do just that.

Take care of the ball. There is no question that the Achilles heel of this team has been their knack for turnovers. So far, they rank last in the Pac-10 in this department, but with the return of Gerrity, there is reason to believe that progress could be made.
Slow the game down. This is extremely important for two main reasons. One, the Trojans don't have a ton of depth so if they're forced to play a high energy, up-and-down contest than it's certainly foreseeable for their players to get sluggish during the second half. Two, Tennessee is one of the highest scoring teams in the country and excels in transition. The Trojans fail in both categories, as they are not known for their scoring and are far more half court-oriented team. Playing at that pace, would be the quickest way for them to put themselves out of the game.
Stay out of foul trouble. The Trojans will need their two big men, Alex Stepheson and Nikola Vucevic, to play close to 40 minutes, as Tennessee relies on an athletic front line for a lot of their scoring. Once again, the Trojans have a thin bench so if either Stepheson or Vucevic get in foul trouble early, it could be a long afternoon for O'Neill's crew.

Prediction: As much as I'd like to see, I simply can't envision a scenario in which USC is able to pull off the upset, primarily because Tennessee is such a quality basketball team that is more than deserving of their top ten ranking. I think this will be similar to the Texas game, in which the Trojans are competitive for the first half, until the Volunteers blow it open with a strong second half. So in the end, I think Tennessee rolls 73-57.

Tennessee at USC Preview with Conquest Chronicles

Will — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:00:23 -0000

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

12 days ago: Southern California forward Alex Stepheson dunks against Idaho State during the first half of an NCAA basketball game in Los Angeles, Friday, Dec. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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We traded questions with the fine folks at Conquest Chronicles for Saturday's game between the Vols and Trojans - Joey Kaufman was kind enough to answer for us, and you can find our responses at their site.

1.) How well is this team adjusting to Kevin O'Neill's style and tempo?
So far this season, the Trojans appear to be fully on board with Kevin O’Neill's style of play, which carries both positives and negatives. Traditionally, O’Neill’s team’s are extremely tough defensively so the fact that the Trojans are holding opponents to 58 points per game and 38.5% shooting this early in the season are certainly good signs. No team has scored over 80 points on them despite the fact that they played both Texas and Georgia Tech on the road. However, while the team has bought into O’Neill's defensive-oriented philosophy, they unfortunately have adopted his offensive plan as well. After eight games, the Trojans rank last in the Pac-10 and 255th nationally in points per game with 59. Not only are the Trojans slowing the game down, but they continue to shoot poorly from the field. So far, they have posted a field goal shooting percentage of just 42% and a 3-point shooting percentage of 30%. That isn’t exactly indicative of a great offensive team. Unfortunately, nothing in O’Neill’s past seems to suggest the poor offensive showing this season is anything of an aberration so it remains to be seen how much they will or even can improve.

2.) What did USC learn from losses to other ranked teams in Texas and Georgia Tech? How well did they play in those games?

The road games against Texas and Georgia Tech were real tests for the Trojans, but unfortunately, they failed both miserably. Against the Longhorns, O’Neill’s bunch was somewhat competitive, as they trailed by just six at halftime and even four at the 9-minute mark in the second half. But Nikola Vucevic, who had 18 points on the game, soon fouled out, and Texas was able to finish strongly and win by a score of 69-50. While the game in Austin did feature at least some positives, the matchup against Georgia Tech was an utter disaster. Dwight Lewis was benched six minutes into the game, the team turned the ball over 19 times, and eventually lost by 26 points.

And to be perfectly honest, I’m not sure exactly what this team learned from the either game. One of the common denominators in both losses was their tendency to turn the ball over and allow the opposition to go on multiple scoring runs. You would think in the contests following they would try and shore up the problem, but turnovers continued to haunt the Trojans in home games against Sacramento State and Idaho State – 25 against SSU and 17 against ISU. Something clearly needs to change.

3.)   Who are the players the Vols should watch out for on Saturday?

The Vols really need to keep an eye on two guys in particular – Dwight Lewis and Alex Stepheson. By all accounts, Lewis is the Trojans’ best scorer and has the capability of scoring fifteen-to-twenty points on any given night provided he gets enough attempts. Against UC Riverside, he scored 22 points, and most recently had 19 against Idaho State. He is a shooter first and foremost, so Tennessee must make sure he doesn’t get too many open looks. Stepheson is the Trojans’ starting center and has been a force on the defensive so far this season, as he averages 3 blocks and nearly 10 rebounds per game. Most recently, he recorded double-doubles against Sacramento State and Idaho State, as well as 7 and 4 blocked shots.

4.)   In an obvious down year for the Pac-10, what are the expectations for the Trojans? How far can they go?

The Pac-10 is so awful this year that many Trojan fans actually believe that ‘SC has an outside chance to take home the conference crown and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament once again. While certainly an unlikely scenario, their estimations are not too far off either. Cal and Washington are the only legitimate threats to win the title, and even both teams have looked vulnerable this season (Cal lost to New Mexico and Washington lost to Texas Tech). So theoretically, the Trojans could end up earning an automatic bid to the Big Dance simply because they have the chance of winning the conference’s postseason tournament this March – which fortunately takes place about 5-10 minutes away from USC at Staples Center. I certainly don’t think they end up finishing first, but a top half finish and trip to the NIT are certainly viable possibilities.

5.)   Through his first eight games, how much have people bought into what O'Neill is doing? Is USC on board with O'Neill or are people still skeptical?

So far Trojan fans have been very reasonable with Kevin O’Neill, especially considering the circumstances surrounding the program right now. Even when he was hired, O’Neill, who has sub-500 career record, did not receive an inordinate amount of criticism, as most fans realized that USC was not in the position to hire a top-notch coach. The best term to describe the outlook most fans have toward O’Neill right now is "cautiously optimistic," as he has already proven to be a capable recruiter in his short stint as the Trojans’ head man. So far, ESPNU ranked the Trojans’ Class of 2010 in their top twenty and the jewel of the group is 6’4" wingman Bryce Jones, who is regarded by some to be the best perimeter player coming out of Southern California this year. So through recruiting alone, many Trojan fans have become believers in O’Neill. In terms of the on-the-court product this year, most are willing to give O’Neill a break considering this team’s lack of depth due to the Tim Floyd/O.J. Mayo fiasco that occurred in June, and are taking on the "wait and see" approach.

Know Thy Enemy (Tennessee) - Q & A with Rocky Top Talk

Joey Kaufman — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:05:32 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

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While most Trojan fans right now are likely hung up on the December 26th Emerald Bowl against Boston College and SI.com's exclusion of Matt Leinart and Troy Polamalu from their All-Decade team, it is important to note that the USC men's basketball team (4-4) faces top ten ranked Tennessee this Saturday at the Galen Center. After being embarrassed on the road by two notable ranked teams, Texas and Georgia Tech, Saturday's matchup with the Volunteers should provide an interesting test for the Trojans, who are coming off two solid home victories over Sacramento State and Idaho State.

So, with the game just under two days away, I had the chance to ask Will Shelton, of Rocky Top Talk, some questions about the current Tennessee team and Saturday's upcoming contest

1.) Tell us how confident most Tennessee fans are regarding this year team, especially after their 8-1 start (the only loss was to Purdue by one point in the Virgin Islands).

I think most fans are excited about the potential with this team - the vast majority of these guys played together last year on the team that was bounced in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, but with a year of growth and greater consistency, we think the talent is there for this team to get into the second weekend and beyond. The Vols have just enough talent with their best players, combined with a ton of depth (currently using an 11 man rotation), that this team is capable of hurting the opposition in so many different ways. We won't know for sure for another week or so, when the Vols play Memphis, Kansas, and then start the SEC season, but we like where we are right now.

2.) This is now year 5 of the Bruce Pearl era so the folks in Knoxville have certainly grown more accustomed to the former UW-Milwaukee head coach. What about this Tennessee team is distinctly Pearl-like?

The tempo is definitely where Pearl wants it - the Vols are always at the top of the SEC in scoring, and so far it's been no different this year, averaging 84 points per game. Tennessee will utilize a full court press some, and Pearl's teams are always great at defending the inbounds pass. All of those qualities are there. The Vols have been more disciplined in shooting the three this year; it remains to be seen if this team can rely on the three to help them win games like Pearl's first Tennessee teams did.

3.) How does UT matchup against the Trojans' big men Alex Stepheson and Nikola Vucevic?

The Vols will start with seniors Tyler Smith (6'7") and Wayne Chism (6'9") in the post; Chism is a very good post defender and leads the team in rebounds and blocked shots. Brian Williams (6'10" and a banger at 278 lbs) has also played a lot of minutes. Chism is very prone to early foul trouble; if the Trojans can get him on the bench early, their chances for inside success increase dramatically.

4.) So far this season the Trojans have struggled immensely on offense, but have proven to be quite effective on the defensive end. What are their chances of slowing down 6'7" forward Tyler Smith, who is regarded by many as the Vols' top offensive player while averaging 12.2 points and 4.6 assists.

The assists stat you mentioned is one of the biggest signs that Tyler has become a complete player - he's dangerous in almost every way offensively, capable of knocking down the outside shot, slashing to the hole, scoring from the post, getting to the free throw line...but at times he also operates like a point guard and distributes very well to his teammates. Smith hasn't really gone off in a game this season, in part because the Vols are so deep - if you make a concentrated effort to stop Tyler, the Vols can hurt you inside with Chism, or outside with Scotty Hopson or Cameron Tatum. Having said that, I watched Kevin O'Neill put on some defensive clinics in Knoxville back in the mid-90s, he'll come up with a great gameplan to take away what he perceives to be the Vols' biggest strength. Tyler and Wayne are almost always going to get theirs - the bigger question is how well USC can take away the Vols' other options. If the Trojans make the Vols play their pace, the odds of taking away the other options goes up.

5.) How much does Bruce Pearl and Tennessee care about this game? Do they view as just another non-conference game, or is it an opportunity to establish a greater presence on the west coast and California in terms of recruiting?

Since O'Neill coached the Vols from 94-97, it adds an extra level of interest to this game, even though that was long before Pearl or any of these players came to Knoxville. Tennessee does have a contributor from California in sophomore Renaldo Woolridge (Orlando's son), but most recently the Vols have been working on the Atlanta and NYC areas in recruiting the most. This is Tennessee's first true road game, after playing four neutral site games, and last year the Vols really struggled in the non-conference road games, getting blown out at Temple and giving up 92 points at Kansas. We want to see this team go into another team's building and get it done sooner instead of later.

6.) What is your prediction for Saturday's contest?

I think this game will be similar to the USC/Texas game, and several that the Vols have played this year: close in the first half, with the Vols depth making a difference in the second half. If Tennessee pushes the lead in the second half, I'm not sure if USC has enough firepower to fight their way back. I have great respect for Kevin O'Neill and the defense his teams play, I just think Tennessee has too much quantity and quality this time around. I like the Vols 67-60.

Trojans' Return to .500 Incredibly Painful

Joey Kaufman — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 07:08:20 -0000

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

12 days ago: Southern California guard Dwight Lewis, left, blocks a shot by Idaho State guard Donnie Carson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Los Angeles, Friday, Dec. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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While it may be cliché to say, each athletic competition provides teams with the opportunity to either improve upon their previous performance or instead continue to develop poor tendencies. Unfortunately, the latter was the case during the Trojans' 59-53 victory over Idaho State on Friday night.

Despite a seemingly more talented starting five, USC struggled immensely during the second half of the game when Idaho State reverted to a stifling zone defense that made it increasingly difficult for the Trojans' offense to find any success. ‘SC, which started off the game firing on all cylinders, held a commanding 25-6 lead at the 10:36 mark. Using a fluid offense, placing an emphasis on feeding the ball to big men Alex Stepheson and Nikola Vucevic while allowing Dwight Lewis to see open looks from the outside, the Trojans appeared poised to cruise to a relatively easy home victory.

However, over the next thirty minutes, the Trojans' shooting suddenly went stone cold, especially when facing a tough Idaho State 2-3 defense, and as a result, the Trojans were outscored by the Bengals 47-34 over the remaining portion of the game. Not exactly a pretty showing.

Yes, there were some positives, but Friday night's performance summed up everything that is presently wrong with this basketball team. Despite the fact they have already played in eight games, the Trojans continue to be hindered by some bad tendencies.

1.) Turnovers: Coming into tonight's game the Trojans were second to last in the Pac-10 in turnovers per-game average, and dead last in assist-to-turnover ratio. Despite two additional days of practice, nothing appeared drastically different against Idaho State. No, there weren't 26 turnovers, but an assist to turnover ratio of 13:17 is not a particularly comforting sign either. At one point, they even had a turnover on seven consecutive possessions, which clearly indicates that this is a lingering issue for this team.

2.) Free Throwing: The problem with the Trojans' dismal shooting from the charity stripe is the fact that it isn't just one player holding down the team's free throw shooting percentage. Alex Stepheson went 0-for-3 from the foul line, Marcus Johnson went 2-for-6, and Nikola Vucevic 2-for-4. A night where they shoot 56% collectively on 25 free throw attempts can be rather frustrating.

3.) Vucevic's lack of shot attempts: Despite the fact that he is presently the team's leading scorer, I find it incredibly strange that this team does not get their starting power forward the ball more often in the low post. Kid Euro, who is shooting 55% from the field, had just six shot attempts, which is incredibly low especially when compared to Marcus Johnson's 12 shots. Not only did he have so few field goal attempts, but he rarely touched the ball even when Idaho State utilized a zone defense. There is no reason this should occur, especially when you have a player with his skill set.

4.) Depth or lack thereof: At the end of the day, the Trojans' lack of depth will eventually serve as their Achilles' heel. Using just eight players (2 of whom, Davis Rozitis and Evan Smith, played a combined total of 4 minutes) makes it incredibly tough down the stretch. Lewis, Stepheson, and Vucevic, were all visibly tired during the winding minutes of the second half, and the mere fact that they were able to finish the game is testament to a good offseason conditioning program and overall effort.

Yet, while these remain crucial problems for the Trojans, Kevin O'Neill's emphasis on tough defense gives Trojan fans such as myself hope for the future. Once again the Trojans held a team to a field goal shooting percentage that was less than their season average. Idaho State shot just 35% on the night, when they are accustomed to shooting around 43%. The mere fact that they make it incredibly challenging for the opposition to score or receive second chance scoring opportunities keeps the team in the game even when the offense struggles - which is happening quite frequently. If they can possibly shore up some of the lingering problems, then it remains possible that they won't just be a .500 team this season.

GameDay Open Thread: USC vs. Idaho State

Joey Kaufman — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:11:29 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Lewis - AP

about 1 month ago: Southern California's Marcus Simmins and UC Riverside's Larry Gurganious fight for a loose ball during the second half of their NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, in Los Angeles. USC won 77-67. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)

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USC Trojans vs. Idaho State, December 11, 2009 7:30 PST

Yet again, tonight's contest won't be televised so the only way you're going to watch ‘SC hoops is if you subscribe to Trojans all-access or head down to Jefferson and Figueroa for some live action. Despite the fact that five of the first seven games so far have been at home, the Trojans have yet to win consecutive games so tonight's matchup with the Bengals should provide an interesting test. Here's the preview from the official team site:

The USC Trojans (3-4) will face the Idaho State Bengals (2-7) on Dec. 11 in the Galen Center at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on USCTrojans.com. It will also air live on USC radio flagship sister station KGIL 1260 AM with Rory Markas and Jim Hefner calling the action.

SCOUTING THE BENGALS -- The Idaho State Bengals are 2-7 this season after falling 79-67 at home to Boise State on Dec. 9. ISU was 13-19 last season, but return 4 starters and 8 lettermen. They have wins this season vs. Colorado Christian and at UMKC. ISU's leading scorers through 9 games are Amorrow Morgan (15.3), Broderick Gilchrest (13.1) and Demetrius Monroe (11.7). USC leads the all-time series 4-0, winning the last meeting 77-68 on Nov. 28, 1980.

USC DEFEATS SACRAMENTO STATE -- USC defeated Sacramento State 51-36 at the Galen Center on Dec. 8 to snap a three-game losing streak. The Trojans committed a season-high 25 turnovers, but held the Hornets to 23.0 percent shooting to secure the victory. USC recorded 12 blocks in the game, tying the school record set in 1982. Nikola Vucevic (14 points/15 rebounds) and Alex Stepheson (10 points/10 rebounds) both registered double-doubles.

Just a few more things to keep in mind before you all get carried away in the comments section:

1.) Idaho State isn't the typical 2-7 team. Despite a rather pedestrian record, the Bengals have played a tough schedule so far that has included the likes of Bradley, BYU, Notre Dame, and Utah. As a result, their experience against some of the nation's tougher foes should make their matchup with the Trojans all the more competitive.

2.) The Trojans must protect the ball. According to an article in yesterday's Los Angeles Times, the Trojans have committed 61 turnovers in the past three games alone, and they presently rank second to last in the Pac-10 in turnovers per-game average with 16.9. These numbers need to drastically improve if ‘SC is to be competitive in the conference so it would certainly be refreshing to see the Trojans significantly improve in the taking care of the ball, especially after their 25-turnover game against Sacramento State on Tuesday.

3.) They must continue to dominate the glass. Since the return of Alex Stepheson two weeks ago, the Trojans have out-rebounded all of their opponents, including second ranked Texas and twenty-third ranked Georgia Tech. If the trend continues, it's hard to imagine the Trojans losing to less talented foes such as Idaho State.

4.) Dwight Lewis needs another big game. I said this in my last post, but just to reiterate - if the Trojans intend on maximizing their potential as a team this year and finish in the top half of the Pac-10, than they will need Dwight Lewis to become a legitimate number one scoring threat. This team needs an individual with Lewis's talent and ability to create his own shot and lift the team on offense down the stretch. The Georgia Tech game in which Lewis played six minutes and failed to score a single point raised question marks regarding Lewis, but if he can bounce back with another solid couple of games (i.e. scoring close to 20 points), then there is reason for ‘SC fans to be confident in his abilities once again.

Leave your thoughts on tonight's matchup below.

Fight On! Beat the Bengals!

Trojans Return to Comfort of Galen With Encouraging Victory

Joey Kaufman — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 07:21:57 -0000

More photos » by Jason Redmond - AP

15 days ago: Southern California guard Dwight Lewis (21) goes up for a shot against Sacramento State in the second half of their NCAA college basketball game in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009. Southern California won 51-36. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

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After a frustrating road trip in which the Trojans suffered embarrassing defeats at the hands of both Texas and Georgia Tech, the concept of returning to Los Angeles to face a sub-.500 team from the Big Sky conference seemed more than appealing. Placed in an ideal setting, this was the type of game in which ‘SC needed to come out with a bang, showcasing its offensive prowess as well as its defensive toughness. Unfortunately, only one of those was accomplished in the team's 51-36 victory over the visiting Sacramento State Hornets.

While the drawbacks of Tuesday night's performance were quite noticeable, it remains incredibly important to note that this inexperienced team took some small, yet significant steps in the right direction. Most importantly, their senior leader and team captain Dwight Lewis bounced back from a dismal outing against Georgia Tech (0 points in 6 minutes) by scoring 16 points on 5-for-12 shooting in 38 minutes of action. It wasn't his best game by a long shot, but after being benched by head coach Kevin O'Neill on Saturday, it was more than refreshing to see Lewis playing like his usual self.

If Lewis is incapable of scoring in double figures on a consistent basis, then this team has absolutely no chance of finishing in the upper half of the Pac-10 this winter. It's tough to put so much pressure on one guy, but when you lose half your team to the professional ranks and your recruiting class vanishes out of thin air, there is only so much you can do. With a rotation of just 7 or 8 guys, somebody has to provide a significant percentage of the scoring output, and that guy has to be Lewis.

But what will make most ‘SC fans enthusiastic about the 2009-2010 Trojans was the team's strong inside presence, which completely dominated a physically inferior Hornets team. But don't get me wrong - Sacramento State is certainly a respectable opponent. They aren't an intimidating foe (see: losses to Idaho, UC Riverside, and Weber State). But they did defeat the Pac-10's Oregon State Beavers after leading by 22 points at halftime so they aren't a total pushover either. Still, the Trojans made them look like a division-two team with their dominating interior defense. When the final whistle blew, the Trojans had 12 blocks (7 by starting center Alex Stepheson) and 49 total rebounds. In comparison Sacramento State grabbed just 29 boards and had 0 blocked shots.

The combination of Stepheson and sophomore forward Nikola Vucevic made it nearly impossible on the Hornets' starting big men, Justin Eller and Michael Selling, who combined for just 3 points on 0-for-9 shooting. That isn't going to beat anybody, much less a team from the Pac-10.

But Eller and Selling weren't the only ones to struggle when it came to scoring. Collectively Sac State shot just 23% from the field and went 3-for-16 from behind the arc. But it wasn't just an "off night" for the Hornets, as much credit deserves to be doled out to the Trojan defense, which held them to far below their season averages (41% from the field and 31% from 3-point land).

While the defensive capabilities of O'Neill's bunch were certainly a site to see, the offense proved to be another story. Playing with just seven players, the Trojans continued to experience some of the same problems, which plagued them on their three-game slide last week. Free throw shooting was abysmal, as the team shot just 60% from the charity stripe. The assists were astoundingly low yet again (13), while they finished with a season high 26 turnovers. The Trojans aren't going anywhere if they collectively post an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1:2. But on a positive note, most of the blame for the low ratio doesn't need to be placed on the shoulders of junior point guard Donte Smith, who had five assists compared to just 2 turnovers - a significant improvement from a player who was averaging three turnovers per assist prior to tonight's contest.

Provided this team can shore up its lingering turnover problem and dismal free throw shooting, then it remains quite possible that they could make last week's disastrous road trip a distant memory.

Six Games In, USC Hoops Providing Only a Few Answers

Joey Kaufman — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:09:46 -0000

More photos » by Mark J. Terrill - AP

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Just six games into the 2009-2010 college basketball season, there are still plenty of questions surrounding Kevin O'Neill's rag-tag Trojan bunch. USC, which presently holds a rather pedestrian 2-4 record, has proven capable of competing with some of the nation's top teams (see: Thursday's game at Texas), while at the same time, they have also showed a tendency to lose to inferior opponents (see: a November 21^st home loss to LMU). Based solely on these games, it can be rather difficult to evaluate these Trojans, who continue to raise numerous question marks that make in nearly impossible for ‘SC fans and casual observers to form any conclusions regarding this year's squad. However, even with that said, there are still a few things that the early part of the season has taught us:

1.) Nikola Vucevic is a budding star

After just six games, one thing is absolutely clear: Nikola Vucevic is the most skilled big man in the Pac-10 conference. I don't mean to suggest that he is the most complete player or the most physically dominant. In fact, I strongly believe his shot-blocking, defensive positioning, and ability to run a pick-and-roll could all use some work, especially at this stage in his career. However, I do mean to suggest that the true sophomore is the most complete big man that the conference has to offer in terms of offensive skills and fundamentals. He is capable of scoring in numerous ways, either down at the block or 10-15 feet away from the basket. So far this year, "Kid Euro," as the message board geeks frequently call him, has averaged a double-double with 14.5 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per game despite attempting just 11.5 field goals per game. As the season progresses, expect Vucevic's offensive efficiency to continue to grow.

2.) Donte Smith is not an adequate Pac-10 point guard

Personally, I really like Donte Smith. The guy is a hard worker, and he lost a ton of weight this past offseason in order to better serve a depleted Trojan team this year. However, despite his efforts, there is still very little reason to believe that the Pomona, California native can actually serve as an effective point guard for the Trojans. Early results indicate that Smith is incapable of distributing the ball to the team's scorers efficiently, as he presently posts a sub-par assist-to-turnover ratio of 2:5. That isn't going to cut in the Pac-10, even if it's a down year for the conference.

3.) Free throw shooting is still an issue

Under Tim Floyd, free throw shooting served as the team's Achilles' heel, as poor shooting down the stretch often proved extremely detrimental to the team's chances of success. It doesn't appear any different in 2009, as the team collectively holds a free throw shooting percentage of 67%. That just isn't going to win games. As the 2007-2008 Memphis Tigers proved, free throw shooting can often determine results and when a team is shooting this poorly from the charity stripe, it's tough to imagine them winning any close games.

4.) Dwight Lewis should not be your best player

Being one of the few holdovers from the Tim Floyd era, it is understandable as to why so many fans and media members were prepared to anoint Dwight Lewis as the savior for the 2009-2010 USC basketball season. But early results indicate that Lewis is not prepared to shoulder the burden as the team's leader. Through six games, the Louisiana native, who averaged 14.4 points per game last season, has posted an average of just 10.7 points per game. That won't satisfy too many people, especially after the senior captain was expected to shoulder much of the offensive burden with the departures of DeMar DeRozan, Taj Gibson, and Daniel Hackett. What has been the most disturbing aspect of Lewis's season thus far has been his tendency to be a complete non-factor in some games. After scoring a season-high 22 points in the opener against UC Riverside, he scored just 11 and 6 in the following two games against Loyola Marymount and Coppin State. In Saturday's debacle at Georgia Tech, in which the Trojans lost by 26 points, Lewis scored zero points while playing just six minutes. It's a bad sign when your supposedly top player can score over 20 points in one game yet fail to score at all in another.

5.) Reinforcements are needed

In the season opener against UCR, Kevin O'Neill played just seven players - a clear indication of the team's severe lack of depth at this point in the season. Luckily, help is on the way. North Carolina transfer, Alex Stepheson, who missed the first two games of the season, has come on strong as of late. Against Texas, Stepheson was a severe disappointment after going 0-for-8 from the field, while scoring just 1 point. Yes, he did grab eight rebounds, which was a much needed boost for the team, but his offensive capabilities were severely limited. However, against Georgia Tech, it looked as if the 6'9" center had finally turned the corner by scoring 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting and grabbing 7 rebounds. If he can be that productive on the offensive end, then the Trojans will have a nice inside combination of Stepheson and Vucevic. Yet, even the return of Stepheson to form won't be enough to catapult the Trojans into the upper-echelon of the conference. They will need Mike Gerrity, a transfer from Charlotte who is eligible to play in January, to be capable of taking over the point from Smith, and Leonard Washington to continue to build upon a solid freshman season from a year ago when he returns in late December. Provided, these players can be productive, the Trojans will suddenly have a much deeper, talented roster for Pac-10 play.