Not the ideal regular-season ending for USC: Takeaways from loss to rival UCLA

It has been over a yr since USC final misplaced two video games in a row and even longer — three years, 5 days, to be actual — because the Trojans had been bested by their rival Bruins. However each streaks got here to a chaotic conclusion Saturday in one other rousing rendition of the crosstown rivalry, one which begs for a Pac-12 event redux Friday in Las Vegas.

For USC, it wasn’t the perfect ending it might need envisioned to an in any other case record-breaking common season. Its streak over UCLA had been a significant level of satisfaction, a vivid neon signal asserting USC’s arrival as an equal Pac-12 contender. Till Saturday, UCLA coach Mick Cronin had by no means bested USC’s Andy Enfield, his crosstown counterpart.

That modified Saturday in a tidal wave of Trojan turnovers and Jaime Jaquez Jr.‘s jumpers. Now, the Trojans will drag a special type of streak to the Vegas Strip this week.

“We all know what’s at stake,” Enfield stated. “We predict we are able to win the Pac-12 event if we play properly. We may additionally lose within the first spherical if we don’t play properly. This workforce had an distinctive yr. We’re 25-6. 25-6. What am I going to say? Set the college report for wins within the common season. Yeah, we misplaced to UCLA and we misplaced two in a row to an excellent Arizona workforce. However we’re 25-6.”

Right here’s what we took away from USC’s 75-68 loss to UCLA:

Turnovers turned the tide.

Thirty-one seconds remained and USC was down solely 4 when Drew Peterson noticed Max Agbonkpolo open within the nook. A 3-pointer would imply a brand new lease on life for USC, which had one way or the other stayed alive this lengthy regardless of its many self-inflicted wounds. However as Agbonkpolo lifted off for a doubtlessly game-changing shot, his heels touched the out-of-bounds line.

USC’s fifteenth turnover of the sport was maybe its most demoralizing, all however ending any hope of stealing a sixth straight win from UCLA. However the different 14 had been simply as consequential on Saturday in that they represented an enormous chasm in turnover margin that USC merely couldn’t overcome.

UCLA dedicated solely a single turnover in its win Saturday, a historic complete that’s tough simply to wrap one’s thoughts round. And though USC was capable of money in a three-pointer off that lone touring violation, UCLA scored 21 factors off Trojan turnovers.

“Turnovers are part of the sport,” Enfield stated, “however it may well’t be 15-1, particularly on the highway.”

These points started early as free balls and errant passes piled up. A punishing few possessions from UCLA’s protection led to 2 shot clock violations over 5 minutes within the first half. Within the second half, USC went 4 minutes with just one shot try due to a collection of turnovers. UCLA went on a 9-0 run from there and by no means regarded again.

USC has loads of close-game expertise. It didn’t matter this time. Nevertheless it may within the NCAA event.

As Isaiah Mobley careened by means of the lane with simply over a minute remaining, ending on the rim by means of contact to chop UCLA’s result in two factors, it was unimaginable to not marvel if we had been about to witness yet one more daring escape from USC in a season stuffed with them.

It didn’t work out that method this time, even because the Bruins gave the Trojans each doable alternative late to increase their win streak to 6. UCLA missed 10 pictures in a row and didn’t rating from the sphere for almost eight minutes, subsisting as a substitute on free throws whereas USC quickly closed the hole.

However USC couldn’t shut the deal. Within the ultimate minute, Mobley missed a bounce hook just a few toes from the basket. Reese Dixon-Waters and Boogie Ellis missed late three-pointers. The one clutch shot late got here from UCLA’s Cody Riley, whose turnaround jumper with 55 seconds left wound up deciding the sport.

“These are essential pictures,” Enfield stated. “You’re not going to win a recreation on the highway in case you’re down three to 4 factors with out making these pictures.”

They’ve made these pictures loads of occasions this season. Within the final month alone, the Trojans made a buzzer beater to beat Washington State, fended off Oregon to win by one, bested Oregon State in double additional time, mounted a comeback to place down Pacific, and held off UCLA at residence.

USC is 9-1 in video games determined by 5 factors or fewer, a mark that may nonetheless matter when the strain is at its highest within the postseason.

Jaquez explodes, and Peterson stays quiet

UCLA heart Myles Johnson tries to knock the ball from the arms of USC guard Drew Peterson throughout the second half on Saturday at Pauley Pavilion.

(Mark J. Terrill / Related Press)

Final month, when these two groups met at Galen Heart, Drew Peterson had the sport of his life, scoring 27 factors and reeling in 12 rebounds, and added 5 blocks and 4 assists.

On Saturday, Jaime Jaquez returned the favor, torching the Trojans together with his personal beautiful stat line. Jaquez carried UCLA’s offense on his again a lot in the identical method Peterson did of their final assembly, scoring 27 to go together with six rebounds and 4 assists.

“He hit open pictures,” USC level guard Boogie Ellis stated of Jaquez. “Final recreation, we had been beneath him and we made every part robust. I really feel like this recreation, he had a variety of simple pictures. We simply need to do a greater job with that. We’ll see them once more, we’ll make it more durable.”

UCLA definitely made life more durable on Peterson, who was swallowed up by a UCLA protection decided to restrict any additional area he may function in. He nonetheless had 13 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, however Peterson additionally led the Trojans with three turnovers.

Both Washington or Utah awaits within the Pac-12 quarterfinals. Is a rematch with UCLA and/or Arizona within the playing cards?

In three video games this season in opposition to their two potential event opponents, USC has received by 10 factors or extra all thrice. Not one of the three video games had been even notably shut.

A victory is hardly assured, however a direct exit can be particularly disastrous for USC, contemplating the be aware its common season ended on. Greater than seemingly, we’ll get a crosstown rubber match to resolve the place the season collection stands.

How USC responds in that situation will say rather a lot about the place it’s headed this postseason. In eight tries beneath Enfield, the Trojans have received two video games within the Pac-12 event just one time. Final March, it took additional time simply to scrape previous Utah, earlier than Colorado beat USC within the semifinals.

“We’re 0-0 now. So none of that issues,” Ellis stated. “We’ve acquired a contemporary begin.”