Trojan rivalry takes on epic proportions

The epic finish at the Galen Center last month opened up a new chapter in the UCLA-USC basketball rivalry.

The No. 2 Bruins (20-2, 9-2 Pac-10) attempt to sweep the season series with No. 19 USC (18-6, 8-3) in what is one of the most anticipated games between the two teams in years.

“You like big audiences and a lot of attention,” UCLA junior guard Arron Afflalo said. “You see how you rise to the occasion. That is why you play in this rivalry.”

The Bruins are coming off of a rebound week after a crushing loss to Stanford at Maples Pavilion. UCLA played some of its best basketball of the season last week, avenging its earlier loss to Oregon with a convincing 69-57 win and hammering Oregon State 82-35 in the most lopsided Pac-10 game this season.

USC, meanwhile, has continued to enjoy a successful regular season and is in a great position to gain its first NCAA Tournament berth since the 2001-2002 season. After sweeping the Oregon schools, the Trojans jumped back into The Associated Press Top 25, as the No. 19 team in the nation.

“I think that this is a hard road trip for teams now to come in and play in L.A., and also when we go on the road together,” UCLA coach Ben Howland said. “There are some benefits to having each other be good, especially for that second night.”

Since the crushing loss to UCLA, when Arron Afflalo’s clutch shot in the final seconds defeated the Trojans, USC has won five of its last six games and is currently tied with Washington State for second place in the Pac-10, just one game behind UCLA.

“Everyone wants to be the so-called King of L.A.,” UCLA sophomore point guard Darren Collison said. “The thing that makes this rivalry special is that both teams are up there.”

One advantage the Bruins will have against the Trojans that they did not have last time is a healthy Josh Shipp. Shipp, battling with hamstring and ankle issues this season, has missed only one game ““ the previous matchup against USC ““ even though he said he thought he could have played.

Shipp has averaged 10 points per game in six games since returning from injury.

He is eager to get a piece of the Trojans after being forced to sit out against his will the first time around.

“We are playing for first,” Shipp said. “They are our rivals. We hate them. They hate us. It all adds up to a great game.”

“(Having Shipp back) makes everyone’s job easier,” Afflalo said. “You have another scorer that can create that they have to worry about. If he gets off, and they are focusing on me and up by 20, I’ll be very happy.”

In the time since he hit the game-winning shot against USC and Shipp has returned, Afflalo has enjoyed one of the best stretches of his UCLA career. The junior has shot nearly 53 percent and has scored over 20 points in three of the Bruins last six games.

“He’s not anxious out there,” Howland said. “He knows he’s going to get his shots and his opportunities. People will try to defend him different ways. What (USC’s) been doing to the other team’s leading scorer, they just face-guard and don’t even have the other team look at what’s going on anywhere else.”

USC has also gotten some stellar performances out of its top players since the UCLA game. Junior guard Nick Young has been averaging 18.7 points in his last six games. Junior guard Gabe Pruitt and senior forward Lodrick Stewart have both shot above 50 percent in their past three games. And freshman forward/center Taj Gibson, who caused matchup problems in the first game between the Bruins and Trojans, is coming off an 18-point effort against Oregon.

“Nick is so hard to defend because he can get his own shot,” Howland said. “Gibson really creates a lot of problems because he’s hard to double. … They’re such a good perimeter-shooting team. But you leave him one-on-one and it can be a long night for you.”

With reports from Sagar Parikh, Bruin Sports senior staff.

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