USC Men’s Basketball Hosts Stanford

The Stanford Cardinal come into the Galen Center today in the middle of the Pac-12, with a 6-6 record and having lost five of six games. Normally, you’d have to think that the Trojans would be licking their chops. Yet, with the Trojans fielding just six scholarship players and only one regular starter, in 2012 you’d have to imagine that the Cardinal are still heavy favorites.

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Stanford is led by a solid trio of players, including center Josh Owens who leads the team in scoring. While Owens, along with guards Chasson Randal and Aaron Bright average around 12 points per game, you don’t expect the Cardinal to run you off the floor with their offense, averaging a middle of the pack 70.2 points per game. But, what makes beating Stanford such a monumental task, is their strength on the glass, where Stanford averages just under 37 rebounds per game, while the Trojans are 343rd of 344 NCAA teams, with just 27.

James Blasczyk had six rebounds for just the third time all season on Thursday against Cal, and if the Trojans are going to have any chance at controlling the ball and the glass, he’ll have to step up and match not only Josh Owens, but Stanford’s three, Josh Huestis. The Trojans have been out-rebounded 120 to 60 in the last three games, all losses since winning at home to Utah back on January 28th.

If the Trojans can get some rebounds and solid play from Garrett Jackson and Maurice Jones, they’ll have a chance to steal one from the struggling Cardinal. But, USC hasn’t had 30 rebounds in game since January 8th, and have only out-rebounded one opponent in conference play, which oddly enough was Cal in the Pac-12 opener.

We’re that the Trojans keep it close for a while, but can’t finish. Stanford 58, USC 48

vs. Stanford CardinalLocation: Los Angeles, CaliforniaArena: Galen CenterTime: 4:30pmRecords: Stanford 16-8 (6-6 in the Pac-12, 7th)USC 6-19 (1-11 in the Pac-12, 12th)

Tale of the TapeTeam Points per game: Stanford 70.2, USC 53.6Team Rebounds per game: Stanford 36.9, USC 27.6Team shooting percentage: Stanford .437, USC .394Stanford Leading Scorer: Josh Owens, 12.3 PPGStanford Leading Rebounder: Josh Owens, 5.9 RPGUSC Leading Scorer: Maurice Jones, 14.1 PPGUSC Leading Rebounder: Aaron Fuller, 5.9 RPG