No. 18 USC lifts lid on new season against UC-Irvine
Sports Network | November 15, 2008
Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - In-state foes meet at the Galen Center today, as the UC-Irvine Anteaters do battle with the 18th-ranked USC Trojans in the season-opener for each program.
The Anteaters posted an 18-16 record under head coach Pat Douglass last season and they even advanced to the Big West Tournament title game for the first time in 14 years. The team's hopes of an NCAA Tournament appearance however, were cut short following a loss to Cal State Fullerton in the championship game. Only two starters are welcomed back from that club, so Douglass and UCI have some rebuilding to do this season.
As for USC, it logged a 21-12 record last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year under head coach Tim Floyd. It was a solid showing, but a somewhat disappointing finish for a talented Trojans club that failed to make it past the first round of the Big Dance. A couple key players are now gone from that club, but USC still has plenty to work with and should once again contend for the postseason.
The Trojans hold a 4-1 edge in the head-to-head series with UCI and that includes a 90-70 victory in the last meeting in 2004. Ironically, that was the last time USC won a season opener.
The Anteaters lost three of their top four scorers from a year ago and finding players to fill that void won't be easy. Michael Hunter, a 5-10 guard, is the team's top returning scorer after averaging 8.8 ppg a season ago. He however, may have to do damage coming off the bench, as Patrick Rembert and Darren Moore are the likely candidates to start at the perimeter. The 6-0 Rembert saw some decent playing time as a freshman last season and displayed a lot of potential, while the 6-2 Moore is a talent in his own right and expected to make a big splash after coming over from the juco ranks. Down low, Chad DeCasas (6-5) and Kevin Bland (6-8) are experienced and they combined for 10.7 ppg and 7.2 rpg a season ago.
The Trojans lost their top two scorers, including freshman standout O.J. Mayo (20.7 ppg), but the program has plenty of talent to make up for those losses. Taj Gibson, a 6-9 forward, will be counted on to provide more scoring and he has the potential to be a double-double threat after notching 10.8 ppg and a team-best 7.8 rpg a season ago. He will also be counted on to provide leadership for 6-7 DeMar DeRozan, who is one of the most highly touted freshman in the nation. DeRozan has the talent to jump right in and make an immediate impact just like Mayo did a season ago. In the backcourt, Dwight Lewis and Daniel Hackett form a solid one-two punch. The 6-5 Lewis is a little better scorer, averaging 10.8 ppg last season, while the 6-5 Hackett is the engineer of the offense, dishing out 3.3 apg.
