Make no mistake about it.
When it comes down to UCLA vs. USC tonight at Pauley Pavilion, there will be no love lost.
“It’s completely different,” freshman guard Jrue Holiday said. “This is a rivalry.”
On top of the rivalry, add that a place at the top of the Pac-10 standings is on the line, and suddenly this game’s importance cannot be overstated.
After last season’s home loss to the Trojans, UCLA is determined not to allow history to repeat itself. However, it will be no small feat to knock off USC for the second time this season, even with the Bruins’ home-court advantage.
The Trojans have won six of their past seven conference games and have a healthy Leonard Washington back in the lineup.
“They’re the hottest team in our league,” coach Ben Howland said.
Washington was out with an ankle sprain when the Bruins visited the Galen Center last month and fortifies the Trojans’ depth at the post position. In five conference games, Washington has played an average of 17 minutes, posting five points and three boards per contest.
“He’s very physical and an outstanding rebounder,” Howland said.
In their first matchup, a 64-60 UCLA win, the Trojans outboarded UCLA 23-18 even with Taj Gibson on the bench in foul trouble for most of the first half. Gibson’s athletic ability in the paint will be something the Bruins must curb if they are to expect the same result.
“He changes the way you approach the game,” senior center Alfred Aboya said. “Every time somebody gets the ball in the paint, he has to shot-fake. Everybody has to be aware of him. That’s the kind of impact he has on the USC defense.”
For freshman Drew Gordon, who’s seen his minutes steadily increase over the past five games, facing Gibson again will be a challenge. Gordon was limited to two points and two rebounds in their first meeting.
“He’s real talented, real hard-nosed, goes to the glass hard,” Gordon said. “(Our first game) was a good matchup and it was a good way for me to test my skills.”
Dealing with Gibson’s shot-blocking and rebounding prowess is one thing, but the larger issue will be dealing with USC’s defense, which has a tendency to switch from man-to-man to various types of zones.
For a Bruin offense which had struggled against the zone until recently, it will be a challenge ““ but one that Holiday will relish. In high school, Holiday was the target of opponents’ box-and-one defenses while tonight, senior Darren Collison will most likely enjoy that honor.
“This time, I think it’s going to be more fun,” Holiday said. “I think I’m going to have a lot more time to do my thing. I’m going to have the ball more, and I’ll have more shot opportunities.”
Another factor for the Bruins will be the play of highly-touted Trojan freshman DeMar DeRozan. The 6-foot-7-inch forward plays like a guard and was lighting UCLA up at the Galen Center, until Jrue Holiday switched onto him defensively. From that point on, he was a non-factor as the Bruins took control late in the game.
The problem for Howland will be the Trojans’ balanced scoring attack. With four players averaging 13 points per game in conference play, Holiday will likely find himself guarding whoever’s hot.
Though Howland did not say on Tuesday who he would put on DeRozan, expect DeRozan to be senior guard Josh Shipp’s assignment for at least some of the night.
“Josh has played against DeMar enough to know his tendencies,” Holiday said.
Howland knows no matter who he puts on DeRozan, shutting down the rest of the Trojans’ playmakers will be a tall order.
“Before we played them the first time, I said they were an NCAA Tournament team,” Howland said. “I still have no doubts about that.”