Mar 18, 2007, 15:35 GMT
Spokane, WA - The fourth-seeded Texas Longhorns and the fifth-seeded USC Trojans will collide in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Spokane Arena. The winner of this game will advance to the 'Sweet 16'.
USC put forth a tremendous effort en route to a 77-60 decision over 12th-seeded Arkansas in the first round on Friday. That victory was the 24th of the season for the team, tying a school record. The Trojans are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002 and 13th overall. The club is 10-14 all-time in this event, and while the Trojans did reach the semifinal round in 1940 and 1954, their most recent showings have not been nearly as successful.
Texas was pushed a bit by 13th-seeded New Mexico State on Friday, but the better team pulled away in the closing minutes for a 79-67 victory. The Longhorns are making their 25th showing at the 'Big Dance', including an active streak of nine straight appearances. They are 29-27 all-time in college basketball's biggest event, and they hope that their young starting lineup of four freshmen and one sophomore will defy the odds and win the national championship.
USC and Texas have split their eight previous meetings, and it has been over 20 years since the teams last squared off.
Nick Young scored 20 points and pulled down seven rebounds for USC in the victory over Arkansas on Friday. Freshman forward Taj Gibson added 18 points and eight boards, while Gabe Pruitt netted 11 points. The Trojans connected on 50 percent of their field goal attempts in the contest while limiting Arkansas to 36.8 percent shooting. It also helped matters the USC finished with a 39-26 rebounding advantage and a 23-15 edge in points from the foul line. Heading into this tournament, Young was averaging a team-high 17.4 ppg on 52.9 percent shooting from the floor. At 6-6, he has the size to score in the paint, and his 45.5 percent shooting from three-point range makes Young tremendously difficult to guard. Four players for USC carried double- digit scoring averages into the first round, and Gibson is tops in both rebounding and blocked shots. Keep an eye on Lodrick Stewart, the all-time three-point shooter for the Trojans.
It is hard to believe that a freshman can be the most dominant player in college basketball, but that has certainly been the case this season. Kevin Durant of Texas has been named the Big 12 Player of the Year and is on every All-America list. He entered the tournament averaging 25.6 ppg and 11.3 rpg, and the fact that Durant can shoot the three-pointer with efficiency, drive to the hoop or score in the post makes him a nightmare for opponents to defend. Durant has hit the 30-point mark a school-record 10 times and has posted 20 double-doubles. While the standout forward was limited to six field goals by New Mexico State, Durant hit 15-of-16 free throws to finish Friday's game with 27 points and eight rebounds. Freshman point guard D.J. Augustin had 19 points and seven assists for the Longhorns, who got 16 points from A.J. Abrams. Texas was outrebounded by four boards and finished with four more turnovers than assists, but a 25-of-26 showing from the foul line was the difference in the game.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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