Up next for USC: Saturday at UCLA

USC up next AT UCLA Saturday, 4:30 p.m., Pauley Pavilion, Prime Ticket: Before the season started, it seemed reasonable to think that the Trojans would be hovering around .500 and UCLA would be rounding into form going into the first meeting between the crosstown rivals. But just the opposite has occurred, with the Bruins struggling to overcome recent early defections to the NBA and USC establishing itself as one of the biggest surprises in the Pacific 10 Conference. Not that a victory over UCLA would do much for the Trojans’ postseason chances.-- Ben Bolch