Poll Position Is of No Interest

Thursday’s matchup against the Trojans will be the first time since Feb. 2, 1962 that a ranked USC team takes on an unranked UCLA team. In that game, the Trojans lost to the Bruins, 73-59.

Guard Ray Young doesn’t buy talk that USC is the best team in L.A. this season.

“I don’t think the tables have been turned,” he said.

Senior Jason Flowers, who has started the last three games, said it doesn’t matter what the records or rankings are when it comes to playing USC.

“Being raised in Southern California, USC is USC. Regardless of records and how teams are playing coming in, it’s going to be a battle,” Flowers said. “The letters USC just evoke an emotion that no other school does.”

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Young practiced Monday and Tuesday and said his sprained left foot has improved. He missed the Pacific 10 Conference opener against Washington but returned Saturday to play 18 minutes and score five points against Washington State.

“I feel good,” he said. “My foot feels a lot better.”