Little in regards to the first month of his first season at USC had gone as Eric Musselman hoped. His USC offense had struggled to attain. His protection struggled to get stops. And on the glass, just a few of school basketball’s 355 groups had been worse than the Trojans, who struggled with dispatching the likes of Grambling and Texas Arlington.
However after stumbling its means via the primary eight video games of the Muss period, right here was an opportunity, in its Large Ten debut, for USC to stem the tide of these early-season struggles.
Till late Wednesday, the Trojans appeared properly on their solution to seizing that chance in opposition to Oregon, which sat atop the convention after a spotless 8-0 begin. Then, within the last minutes, the whole lot unraveled for USC in a 68-60 loss to No. 12 Oregon.
A protection that, for many of the recreation, appeared reworked from its early-season iteration was rolled over within the last minutes. Three completely different Geese hit three-pointers in a stretch of some possessions. One USC turnover became one other … and one other.
In a matter of 5 minutes, Oregon had turned a five-point deficit right into a five-point lead. And the Geese didn’t look again.
It was an particularly disappointing end given how spectacular USC (5-4) had appeared out of the gate. The Trojans appeared like a very completely different staff throughout their Large Ten debut, clamping down on protection and outmuscling Oregon on the boards.
USC ahead Terrance Williams II, left, and guard Wesley Yates III, proper, attempt to steal the ball away from Oregon guard Jadrian Tracey within the first half Wednesday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
Till the Geese bought sizzling late, USC had held them to a meager 30% from the sphere via 32 minutes. However the last eight would show to be the problem.
Level guard Desmond Claude did his greatest to hold the Trojans throughout the end line with a season-high 22 factors. Exterior of Claude, although, few of USC’s shooters managed to search out their stroke. The remainder of the roster shot simply 10 of 35.
Oregon opened the sport taking pictures only one for eight from the ground, as USC swarmed the Geese on protection in a means it hadn’t but this season. With a renewed effort on that finish, the Trojans pressured 9 turnovers within the first half, almost matching Oregon’s per-game common earlier than halftime, whereas limiting Oregon to only 23 factors.
Oregon guard Jackson Shelstad celebrates after making a three-pointer in opposition to USC with 4:08 left within the recreation.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
USC would want its protection to proceed doing the heavy lifting from there. With each offenses grinding to a half, the Trojans clung tightly to a lead all through the second half, relying totally on Claude to orchestrate no matter offense he might handle.
Finally, that grip loosened. Via one five-minute stretch, as Oregon sped previous USC, the Geese hit 5 straight from the sphere, together with three from deep. The barrage turned the sport on its head on the worst time for USC, which dropped its third straight recreation.
