The final game of the Sweet 16 will be an all-Pac-12 affair in the West region between the no. 6 USC Trojans and the no. 7 Oregon Ducks. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:45 EST on Sunday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Trojans are currently listed as 2-point favorites, with the over/under set at 138.5 points.
USC looked like a boom-or-bust candidate heading into the NCAA Tournament, and the Trojans have been a huge boom thus far. They ran away against Drake in the First Round and were shockingly dominant against Kansas in the Round of 32. Not many teams blowout the Jayhawks by 34 points, giving USC a world of confidence moving forward.
On the contrary, Oregon played just one game last weekend after their First Round game with VCU was a no contest. Of course, the Ducks earned their spot in the Sweet 16 with an emphatic upset of Iowa, dropping 95 points on the Hawkeyes and looking anything but rusty despite the long layoff.
Short and Sweet
The Ducks don’t have a ton of depth right now, barely going to their bench until late in the game against Iowa. But the players that Oregon does use know how to fill it up. Chris Duarte is the star of the show, especially after scoring a team-high 23 points against Iowa. But senior Luis Figueroa has been great down the stretch, while senior forward Eugene Omoruyi provides a versatile scoring option that gives the Ducks 16.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
However, point guard Will Richardson is the straw that stirs the drink for Oregon. He returned in early February and has made all the difference in the world. The Ducks are 12-3 in games that he’s played, and he’s averaged over eight assists per game over his last three games. That’s on top of the junior averaging 16.3 points per game over his last four games.
A Family Affair
The Mobley brothers have been the story for USC in the tournament thus far. As expected, Evan, a seven-foot freshman and a future lottery pick has stood out, registering a double-double in both games last weekend. But his older brother Isaiah has been equally critical to USC’s success. Isaiah scored 15 points against Drake and 17 against Kansas. The brothers also give the Trojans impressive size inside, making it tough for opponents to score around the basket.
The key for the Trojans moving forward will be their guard play. Everyone on USC’s roster averages fewer than three assists per game, so they don’t have a proven playmaker. That means they have to survive with Evan Mobley making plays in the post or guards Tahj Eaddy and Drew Peterson creating their own shot.
Redemption Song
When these teams met in late February, the Trojans won by a 14-point margin after dominating on the boards and getting 24 points from Eaddy. But the Ducks are in a far better place right now and have the guards to expose one of USC’s biggest weaknesses. Bet on Oregon to turn the tide and beat USC in the rematch.
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