It’s Not Only a Rivalry, It’s Pivotal in the Pac-10

Expect both USC and UCLA to bring a strong sense of urgency to their rematch Wednesday at Pauley Pavilion.

Both teams are in ruts. USC has lost consecutive games for the first time since November, and has dropped three of it last four to fall from first to fourth in the Pacific 10 Conference. The inconsistent Bruins have slid to seventh in conference and are in danger of missing the NCAA tournament.

With both teams having to travel to Arizona next week, both USC and UCLA are desperate to restore some momentum. And this time the Bruins have the added incentive of wanting revenge for a 91-79 loss at the Sports Arena last month.

The Trojans are still on target for the 10 or 11 conference wins it will probably take for them to get an at-large NCAA bid. But they are entering perhaps the most crucial stage of the conference season, with the next five games being UCLA, the Arizona schools on the road, and the Oregon schools at home.

USC needs to return to getting contributions from its top four players. Brian Scalabrine did his part against California and Stanford, scoring 45 points and making 18 of 36 shots. However, David Bluthenthal was five of 19, Brandon Granville was six of 22 and Jeff Trepagnier was nine of 24.

One break: After the UCLA game, the Trojans have seven days to prepare for the Arizona schools.