Trojans formulate their containment strategy

Inquiring minds wanted to know, and not just those carrying notebooks and tape recorders.

Oregon guard Bryce Taylor sidled up to longtime friend Nick Young on Saturday afternoon in a corridor deep inside Spokane Arena and sought the answer that every reporter gathered around the USC junior swingman had already solicited.

“Who’s guarding Durant?” Taylor asked quietly.

“I don’t know. I might,” Young responded.

In fact, the Trojans weren’t divulging their plan for defending Kevin Durant, the freshman phenom who will lead fourth-seeded Texas (25-9) into its East Regional second-round game this afternoon against fifth-seeded USC (24-11).

About all Trojans players and coaches would say was who would emulate Durant in practice -- freshman forward Kyle Austin, a seldom-used reserve who would try to mimic a 6-foot-9 swingman averaging 25.7 points and 11.2 rebounds.

It’s a role the 6-7 Austin has relished all season: trying to prepare teammates to go up against the likes of UCLA’s Arron Afflalo and now Durant, a national player-of-the-year candidate.

“I try to do the different things that they do,” Austin said of the players he imitates. “Watching Durant, one of the main things he likes to do is get to the free-throw line a lot.”

Durant made 15 of 16 free throws on his way to 27 points Friday during the Longhorns’ 79-67 victory over New Mexico State in the first round, and USC Coach Tim Floyd made it clear that he’d rather see Durant spot up from behind the three-point line than go on regular forays toward the basket in an attempt to draw contact.

“It’s going to be a hard matchup, whoever guards him,” Young said. “We’ll try to do a five-on-one.”

Regardless of which Trojan draws Durant -- Young, freshman forward Taj Gibson, or a combination of the two with help from teammates -- USC players say they realize that Texas wins because of more than one player. Sophomore guard A.J. Abrams has seemingly unlimited shooting range and freshman guard D.J. Augustin rarely takes a bad shot. The duo combines to average 30 points a game.

“We’ve just got to focus on the whole team because it’s not just [Durant] as a standout player, it’s the whole starting five,” USC senior guard Lodrick Stewart said.

Durant has elevated his game since Texas started its run to the Big 12 Conference title game, averaging 29.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks the last four games. He has also made 90.5% (38 of 42) of his free throws over that span.

Texas Coach Rick Barnes said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Trojans tried a triangle-and-two defense, with Floyd doing “what he thinks he has to do to win a game.”

Durant said he’s prepared for almost any approach.

“Coach has said they might double when I get it in the post and they might face-guard, but I’ve been through so much this year with the defense I don’t think it will be anything I haven’t seen before,” he said.

If the Trojans have one edge, it might be experience. Texas has a starting lineup of four freshmen and a sophomore. USC’s starting lineup includes a senior, two juniors and a 21-year-old freshman, Gibson.

“It does give us a little advantage, but they’re playing like they’re older than us,” Young said. “Durant is out there playing his best, Augustin is out there playing great at the point guard position. Those two players could take them to the Final Four.”

Said Barnes: “I don’t know this time of year if it matters. Teams get on a roll and we have played enough basketball now that I would like to think that we’re not that young anymore because we have some guys that have played almost every minute of every game.”

ben.bolch@latimes.com

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USC-Texas matchups

A look at the Trojans’ second-round NCAA game against Texas:

*--* STARTERS USC Ht. Wt. Stats Pos TEXAS Ht. Wt. Stats Nick Young 6-6 200 17.4 ppg G/F Damion 6-7 227 7.2 rpg James Taj Gibson 6-9 210 8.4 rpg F/G Kevin 6-9 225 25.7 ppg Durant Gabe Pruitt 6-4 170 12.5 ppg G/G D.J. 5-11 175 14.6 ppg Augustin Lodrick 6-4 210 13.9 ppg. G/G A.J. Abrams 5-10 155 15.4 ppg Stewart Dwight Lewis 6-5 200 6.0 ppg G/G Justin 6-2 185 7.6 ppg Mason RESERVES RouSean 6-11 217 2.5 ppg F/F Connor 6-9 225 3.9 rpg Cromwell Atchley Abdoulaye 6-11 220 3.2 ppg C/C Dexter 6-10 293 2.6 ppg N’diaye Pittman Daniel Hackett 6-5 205 4.9 ppg G/F Matt Hill 6-9 230 2.3 ppg

HOW THEY MATCH UP

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* INSIDE -- The Trojans might be relieved to face a smallish front line after going up against so many 7-footers recently, but the Longhorns’ big men are plenty skilled and Durant can cause problems from anywhere on the court. Texas’ top three reserves also are 6-9 or taller, so the Longhorns are deceptively deep up front. USC’s Gibson has seemed rejuvenated since the start of the Pacific 10 Conference tournament. He had 18 points, eight rebounds and three blocks during the Trojans’ 77-60 first-round NCAA tournament victory over Arkansas. Anything Cromwell and N’diaye give USC off the bench is a bonus.

* OUTSIDE -- Augustin and Abrams provide Texas with excellent second and third scoring options behind Durant. Primarily viewed as a spot-up shooter coming into the season, Abrams has made a concerted effort recently to take midrange shots and drive to the basket. The Trojans often go the way of the mercurial Stewart, whose hot shooting can lead them to upset victories and whose slumps can lead to big trouble. Pruitt has been a steadying force at point guard, and Young put together a fine first-round effort after shaking off some nerves. Hackett helped make the difference against the Razorbacks with his intensity and poise off the bench.

* COACHING -- Any discussion about the Trojans’ earlier-than-expected success must begin with Floyd, who has taken USC to the brink of its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2001. Floyd has instilled a defense-first mind-set while coaxing tremendous effort from his players. Texas Coach Rick Barnes also is considered one of the best college coaches after guiding the Longhorns to at least the Sweet 16 in four of the last five years. His 2003 team reached the Final Four and last year’s squad made it to the Elite Eight.

* KEYS -- USC faces a delicate balancing act in trying to contain Durant while also giving Augustin and Abrams the attention they deserve defensively. If the Trojans can keep Durant off the foul line and win the rebounding battle, they have an excellent chance at an upset. Texas is 17-1 when out-rebounding its opponent and only 7-6 when losing the battle on the boards.

* PREDICTION -- Texas 82, USC 74.

-- BEN BOLCH