Battle 4 Atlantis: USC vs. Villanova Preview, Game Time, Live Stream and Lineups

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

USC Trojans vs. Villanova Wildcats

Imperial Arena | Paradise Island, Bahamas

10:00 am | AXS TV

All-Time Series: USC leads 1-0

Last Meeting: USC 82, Villanova 65 on Dec. 8, 1967

Following a 73-57 win over West Alabama, the USC Trojans improved to 4-1 and have had a week off to prepare for the Villanova Wildcats, who they will face in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament.

The Trojans are led by junior guard Byron Wesley who is averaging 19.8 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game.  The Wildcats are undefeated at 4-0 and three of their wins have been by double-digits.

A trio of upperclassmen power the Wildcats, led by junior forward JayVaughn Pinkston.  Pinkston is averaging 20.3 points per game, and he is followed by senior guard James Bell, who is averaging 18 points per game.

The Trojan defense will be put to the test by a Wildcats team that is averaging over 80 points per game.

In his first season with USC, the Andy Enfield coached offense has produced a bag of mixed results.  The Trojans are averaging 75.2 points per game.

Without J.T. Terrell, who is academically ineligible, the Trojans figure to have an uphill battle against the Wildcats who are allowing an average of 60.5 points.

Omar Oraby has helped filled the offensive void left by Terrell’s absence and he has also excelled as a deterring force on defense.  Oraby has recorded at least one block in every game thus far, including a six-block effort against Cal State Fullerton.

Though the game will be played in a neutral setting, it will be interesting to see how the Trojans respond to being away from the Galen Center for the first time since Nov. 8.

Their lone loss on the season came in their only game played on the road.

The winner of the USC-Villanova matchup will advance to the second round of the tournament to face the winner of the Kansas-Wake Forest game on Nov. 29 at a time to be determined.

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Probable Starters:

Villanova Wildcats:

G #4 Darrun Hilliard 6-6, 215, Jr.G #15 Ryan Arcidiacono 6-3, 195, So.G #32 James Bell 6-6, 220, Sr.F #22 JayVaughn Pinkston 6-7, 240, Jr.*F #23 Daniel Ochefu 6-11, 245, So.

USC Trojans:

G #10 Pe’Shon Howard 6-3, 190, Sr.G #12 Julian Jacobs 6-3, 180, Fr.G #22 Byron Wesley 6-5, 210, Jr.F #32 Nikola Jovanovic 6-10, 220, Fr.C #55 Omar Oraby 7-2, 270, Sr.

*utilized redshirt season

Channel Listings:

DirecTV: 340Verizon FiOS: 569Google Fiber: –Dish: 167AT&T U-Verse: 1106Time Warner Cable: –

Live Stream: AXS TV on demand