Following a split of its first two Big Ten Conference games last week, No. 24 Southern California returns to nonconference play on Tuesday when it visits the University of San Diego.
The Trojans (8-1) dropped their first decision of the season their last time out, squandering an 18-point halftime lead in an 84-76 loss to Washington on Saturday in Los Angeles.
USC surrendered a 13-0 to start the second half, which set the tone for the final 20 minutes.
“With no (Rodney) Rice, (Alijah) Arenas or (Amarion) Dickerson, you’ve got to play an A-game,” Trojans coach Eric Musselman said, referencing their three marquee players missing due to injury.
The most notable is Rice, the Trojans’ primary playmaker through the first six games before sustaining a shoulder injury in an 83-81 win over Seton Hall on Nov. 25.
Rice is averaging 20.3 points and six assists per game. His timetable for a return was unclear as of Sunday.
Chad Baker-Mazara has carried the primary scoring load in Rice’s absence, tallying 21 points against Washington on Saturday — right in line with his season average. However, USC is seeking more consistency from other options, including Ezra Ausar (15.9 points per game).
Ausar’s big second half (all of his 13 points) at Oregon helped USC to an 82-77 conference-opening win on Dec. 2, but Musselman said on Saturday that “his performance (was not) worthy of him continuing out there.”
Musselman pointed specifically to rebounding being an issue. At offensive rebounds allowed every 34% of opportunities per KenPom.com, USC ranks No. 273 nationally. They average 37.6 boards per game, to 36.0 for opponents.
The Trojans will look to regroup on the glass and start a new winning streak against a slumping opponent.
San Diego (3-5) returns home for the first time since Nov. 21, which also marked the beginning of the Toreros’ ongoing, four-game skid.
San Diego fell into a 28-point hole on Friday at San Jose State before rallying in the second half. The Toreros could pull no closer than to within 11 points after the initial deluge of an 86-69 setback.
Rebounding is also a concern for the Toreros, who rank 360th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage allowed to opponents. Through eight games, they average 31.5 boards to 36.5 for their opposition.
“(San Jose State was) plus-15 on the boards,” Toreros coach Steve Lavin said. “And with USC coming in … we’ve got to improve in that area of controlling the paint and the backboards; being more competitive in the paint and on the glass.”
Opponents have attacked the interior against San Diego to score more than 51% of their points against the Toreros from inside the 3-point arc. Teams have shot almost 53% on two-point field-goal attempts against San Diego for the season.
USC has an opportunity to bounce back after a woeful shooting performance from inside the arc on Saturday against Washington. The Trojans made just 14 of 37 attempts, which — combined with 8-of-23 shooting from long range — saw a usually prolific offense stagnate at 36.7% accuracy.
The 76 points scored were almost 15 fewer than their 90.6-per game average through the first eight contests.
San Diego, meanwhile, has not scored more than 78 points against a Division I opponent. The Toreros’ offense seeks a consistent spark, with no one averaging more than 10.9 points per game. Juanse Gorosito and Ty-Laur Johnson are co-leaders, just Toneari Lane a hair back at 10.6.
