Donte Smith's career-night propelled the Trojans past a solid Northern Arizona team...
- The senior captain found his hottest hand when USC needed it the most. Smith went on a personal 14-point run, including four three-pointers to turn a three-point game into a Trojan victory. "Donte really stepped up for us," Kevin O'Neill said. "That's kind of an understatement. What he did tonight won the game for us." Smith finished with a game-high 22 points.
- On the other end, Alex Stepheson and Nikola Vucevic erased an undersized Lumberjacks team any time they stepped in the paint. The "Trojan Towers" combined for eight blocks. "Sometimes, I can't lie, KO tells us to keep them in front, but I let my man go because I know Alex is going to block it," Smith joked. "I love having two 6'10" dudes back there." In the last two games, the Trojans have rediscovered their beastly identity inside.
- When USC walked into the post-game locker room, assistant coach Dieter Horton looked at Jio Fontan and said, "It's on now. Is it on?!? It's on!" After a year sitting on the sidelines, the Fordham transfer is finally eligible and O'Neill stated bluntly that he will start against Kansas next Saturday. Marcus Simmons made a stronger case tonight for the starting wing spot than freshman Bryce Jones, who struggled defensively and was saddled with foul trouble. "If he's on the premier player, he never makes a mistake," O'Neill said about his defensive stopper Simmons. However, Jones is a better finisher on the wing than Simmons, who struggled scoring on the fast break today.
- Here is Donte Smith on the best performance of his USC career...
Leave a comment