USC basketball: Arizona pregame

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One more time...Greetings and salutations!

Coming to you from the McKale Center in Tucson, where USC’s season ends as soon as the buzzer sounds following this morning’s game against Arizona.

Before we get to that (and before I get to my coffee; thanks Pacific 10 Conference for this morning tipoff), I’m told Arizona Sen. John McCain and Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown (both Republicans) are sitting courtside at today’s game.

For the political junkies, here’s the background: Brown was in Phoenix Friday to help McCain bolster support from conservatives who say the former GOP presidential nominee is too liberal, a claim made by McCain’s chief opponent in the upcoming Republican primary, J.D. Hayworth. McCain needs the help for his reelection campaign, which is expected to be tough.

But I digress.... If you want politics, go to the Times’ fabulous Top of the Ticket blog edited by the prolific and wise duo of Andrew Malcolm and Johanna Neuman.


Here are some facts and stats to get you ready for this morning’s game, which began at 10:30 a.m. PST (radio on 710) between the Trojans (16-13 overall, 8-9 in Pacific 10 Conference play) and the Wildcats (15-14, 9-8):

USC player to watch: Dwight Lewis

Why not? It’s his 133rd and final game for USC (the most ever for a Trojan hoopster) and he’ll probably play like it, since his professional prospects are less than grand. He tied for a team-high 14 points when these teams last met on six-of-15 shooting from the floor. He’ll probably put up at least 20 attempts today.

Arizona player to watch: Nic Wise

It’s Senior Day and the elder Wise’s last game on Olson Court. He’s second on the team in scoring (14.3) but when he gets hot, the 5-feet-10 Houston native that’s quick with a quick release can be tough to stop. He has scored 30 twice this year, first at Colorado and most recently against California. Arizona won both games.

Key to the game: Emotion

It’s USC’s final game of the year, and it’s Senior Day for Arizona. Either team, or both, could be amped up or deflated for both those reasons. Not to mention the revenge factor for the Trojans against this team, which has three former USC recruits on its roster and that USC Coach Kevin O’Neill was forced out from his post as an Arizona assistant after being pegged as the successor to longtime coach Lute Olson.

-- Baxter Holmes in Tucson