The USC Trojans look for their third straight win in conference Thursday night, as they travel to Eugene, Oregon to face the Oregon Ducks. The Ducks are opening their new home, Matthew Knight Arena, playing their first game on what is probably the ugliest court in basketball history. The Ducks are winless so far in Pac-10 conference play.
USC lost both games to Oregon last season, including one in Eugene, which snapped a four-game Trojan winning streak at Oregon. The Trojans look to continue their solid defensive play that has seen them go 6-2 in their last eight games, with their losses coming at Kansas by two points and in overtime to Washington, the best team in the conference. In those eight games, USC has held opponents to 36.6% shooting from the field, with only Washington shooting 40% (and the Huskies shot exactly 40% in their win in Los Angeles).
The Ducks have struggled this season, dropping their last six games to fall to 7-9 on the season, including 0-4 in conference. They are led in scoring and rebounding by senior forward Joevan Catron, who is averaging 15.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. USC should have a distinct height advantage in the middle, with the two 6-foot-10 boys Nikola Vucevic and Alex Stephenson.
Here are tonight's probable starters:
USC (10-6, 2-1)
- Guard: Jio Fontan
- Guard: Maurice Jones
- Guard: Marcus Simmons
- Forward: Alex Stephenson
- Forward: Nikola Vucevic
Oregon (7-9, 0-4)
- Guard: Jonathan Lloyd
- Guard: Garrett Sim
- Forward: Jeremy Jacob
- Forward: E.J. Singler
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Forward: Joevan Catron
Tonight's 7:30 p.m. PST contest will be televised by Prime Ticket, with , Steve Physioc, Marques Johnson, and Rebecca Haarlow on the call.
For more news and information on tonight's game, be sure to follow Conquest Chronicles.