No. 3 ARIZONA vs. No. 6 USC

Season results: Arizona 19-8 overall, 11-7 in Pac-10; USC 13-14, 8-10 in Pac-10. They split their regular-season meetings: The Trojans won, 99-90, at the Sports Arena behind 40 points by Desmon Farmer, and the Wildcats won, 97-70, in Tucson.

How they match up: Two of the most athletic teams in the Pac-10, the Wildcats and Trojans mirror each other in transition. Arizona, though, is more of a perimeter threat and while it is more skilled, USC is much deeper and bigger in the post. Given the Wildcats’ reluctance to play in the tournament and the Trojans’ recent success in it, USC has confidence it can pull off an upset.

*--* STARTERS Arizona Ht Wt Stat Pos USC Ht Wt Stat Hassan Adams 6-4 201 7.1 RPG F Jeff McMillan 6-8 260 8.5 RPG Andre 6-6 207 8.8 RPG F Desmon Farmer 6-5 220 20 PPG Iguodala Channing 6-11 260 54.6% FG C Rory O’Neil 6-11 240 36.1% 3PT Frye Mustafa 6-3 178 4.6 APG G Derrick 6-2 215 2.8 APG Shakur Craven Salim 6-1 177 17.1 PPG G Errick Craven 6-2 205 61 Stl Stoudamire KEY RESERVES Chris 6-7 205 9.3 PPG Lodrick 6-4 210 8.3 PPG Rodgers, G Stewart, G Ivan 5-10 175 6.4 PPG Rodrick 6-4 200 2.2 APG Radenovic, Stewart, G F Kirk 6-10 212 82.4% FT Gregg 6-8 245 4.4 RPG Walters, C Guenther, F

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Keys to the game: Arizona doesn’t want to be here, and the Trojans would like nothing more than to oblige and send the Wildcats home early. Egos are sure to surface, though, and Arizona won’t go easily. Then again, if USC gets a lead, it has to hold on to it, something the Trojans have had trouble doing. The Trojans have to get their big men involved early to open up the outside.

Paul Gutierrez