Utah Presents a Chance to Impress

USC’s first three games have gone as scripted all victories.

Now comes the first big test.

Utah and USC are dead even in their series with 14 wins apiece. But the Trojans have lost three of the last four games against the Utes. The last meeting, in 1995, was particularly one-sided; Utah thrashed USC, 84-49.

But Saturday’s game, the second in the Wooden Classic doubleheader at the Arrowhead Pond, is more than just an early season yardstick for where the 20th-ranked Trojans are as a team. It’s the kind of game NCAA tournament decision makers pay attention to.

USC hasn’t beaten a ranked nonconference opponent since upsetting No. 18 Missouri in 1995. And after Saturday’s game against the 3-1 Utes, ranked 13th, the Trojans’ next (and last) chance for an impressive nonconference victory will come against Pepperdine Dec. 14.

Coach Henry Bibby would not let the Trojans see any film or think about the Utes until today, making sure their minds were on Loyola Marymount, last Saturday’s opponent. “By Tuesday we’ll have a better read on what Utah is all about,” Bibby said. “Right now I don’t know how good they are. I know we are not where we want to be, but we’re getting better. I can’t say how we match up against Utah; I just don’t know. My concern was Loyola Marymount.”

The LMU game was also the immediate concern of the players. But the Utah game has not been far from their minds.

“I know we’ll have to play better than we have our previous games,” Brandon Granville said. “I haven’t seen any tape on them but I know they’re good since they are in the top 15. We’ll have to be hitting on all cylinders come Saturday.”