Compiled by USCTrojans.com Blog Contributor Ben Weiss...
The Trojans watched a late 11-point lead dwindle down to just two, before two clutch free throws by Donte Smith iced it with ten seconds left. Three takeaways from a good bounce back win against a talented Pac-10 foe...
The Trojans watched a late 11-point lead dwindle down to just two, before two clutch free throws by Donte Smith iced it with ten seconds left. Three takeaways from a good bounce back win against a talented Pac-10 foe...
- Surprise! Defense set the tone for the Trojans, as it has in almost all of USC's wins this season. The Cougars came in averaging 77 points per game and were held to a scant 22 in the first half and finished 21 below their average mark. Marcus Simmons anchored the defensive effort, limiting the Cougars' sharpshooter Klay Thompson to 17 points (five below his season average) on 6-18 shooting. Although allowing 17 points rarely equates to "shut-down defense," Simmons keenly observed that much of Thompson's scoring came off broken plays and offensive rebounds that led to open shots. "(He's) becoming as great of a college defensive stopper as you can
have," O'Neill said of the senior Captain. With only 21 second remaining and USC's lead cut to two, Simmons' smothering defense on Thompson forced the Wazzu guard to pass off his drive. The pressure caused slightly errant delivery, went out of bounds off the hands of Washington State's Abe Lodwick.
- For the second straight game, the Trojans relinquished a big lead down the stretch. Again, missed free throws played a crucial role. Jio Fontan went to the line twice with less than three minutes left, and missed the front end of a one-and-one on both trips. "When you get there, you have to knock those down," O'Neill said. This time, the Trojans got the final stops when they needed it most. The head coach was especially proud of the way his team bounced back after one of its most demoralizing losses this season against Washington two days ago. "For us to put in that kind of performance says a lot about our team."
- After a disappointing 1-7 shooting performance against Washington, Donte Smith bounced back with a solid all-around performance. He connected on four of his eight three-point attempts, three of which helped build the Trojans' second-half lead to 11. Defensively, Smith was influential in all phases - although the stat sheet showed only three rebounds and one steal, he was extremely active on the glass and tipping balls in the Washington State passing lanes. As previously mentioned, Smith hit two big free throws down the stretch to put the game away. "Donte has become a clutch player for us," O'Neill said.
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