Post-Game Thread: Arizona State 59 USC 54
by Joey Kaufman on Mar 4, 2010 10:16 PM PST
in USC Basketball
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PrintThursday night served as yet another frustrating moment for USC basketball, as the Trojans fell in rather heartbreaking fashion to Arizona State by a score of 59-54. The loss marked the fourth straight loss for 'SC, as it once against had difficulty breaking down a tough zone defense. New story, huh?
But even in defeat, the Trojans certainly had a chance to leave Wells Fargo Arena with a victory in hand.
With 18 seconds left, Marcus Johnson made a three pointer to cut the deficit to just one point. Subsequently, the Trojans were forced to foul on the opposite end, resulting in to made free throws from Rihards Kuksiks. In the moments following, Dwight Lewis, for reasons unknown, attempted a ten footer in the lane only to see it blocked by Arizona State center Eric Boateng. Still trailing by three, the team then watched Derek Glasser sink two free throws to seal the win with about 8 seconds left on the clock.
Kuksiks was tough for the Trojans to slow down, as he ended up scoring 16 points in the second half (24 points on the evening).
There isn't much to this in the end. USC isn't going anywhere, and Saturday will be the final game in what has been a rather long season. Their matchup with Arizona is still intriguing nonetheless, as the Trojans will look to avoid ending the season on a 5-game winning streak and salvage a .500 record in Pac-10 play.
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The heartbreak of letting this one slip away was also amplified when Marcus Johnson’s acrobatic lay-up late in the game was nullified by an offensive goaltending when Leonard Washington flew in to clean up the offensive rebound that wasn’t there. Couple that with making ASU call THREE consecutive time outs on the same in bounds play because of suffocating D and then bail them out by fouling their 90% free throw shooter before they even got the ball in on the 4th try. I mean, when you do all those things right and still make stupid little mistakes that completely wipe out all that effort, it’s pretty emotionally draining. Credit to these guys for being in every game until the end, but it almost appears to be a psychological thing now.
Jamie Dixon
STILL LOCO AFTER ALL THESE YEARS!
NOW CELEBRATING THE DAWN OF THE AGE OF AUGUSTUS
M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT
FUCK! SHIT! DAMN, DAMN, DAMN!
How I’m feeling right now, is of absolutely no consequence and is not directed at our bball team. Coach K is a man for all seasons, I mean- he came to ‘SC ready to work and started firing on all cylinders. If he were a motorcycle, he’d be Harley Hardtail. He cobbled together the remnants of a clusterfuck trapped in a tornado and made some men out of those shiny-faces in shorts.
But I will admit, it’s kinda weird owning my thoughts right now. Because at this point, I’m no longer “selfish” in wanting the Trojans to taste victory each and every time they go out and compete on the basketball floor. It’s true! “I” don’t want “them” to win their games for “me” any longer- for the past 2 games, I’ve wanted them to win “for themselves”.
Weird hah? The fact of the matter is, THEY ALWAYS win for themselves- when you get right down to it. But as fans, we “think” they win for us? Like I said, I was hoping they’d get a win tonight because there’s not many more things in life that taste better than to savor victory through competition.
Tangent, coming up: I’m beginning to really hate those Arizona schools! It’s just that I know a ton of people who attend ASU, U of Ariz, and ERAU.
I think USC hired the right coach. I’m not gonna blame him for our end of season slump. This year’s basketball team brought so much joy to me this year, that even if they choke the massive chubby next year- they practically earned “double-death” points with some of the crazy stunts they pulled this year.
Coach K is at least a 2 – 3-year keeper. He’s honest, totally up-front, and is as tough as a $2 steak!
I somehow feel the urge to end this verbosity with another: FUCK! SHIT! DAMN, DAMN, DAMMIT TO NOTHING IN PARTICULAR!
"As for being a Raiders fan, I wouldn't wish that fucking shit on anybody." [the venerable OTS at Roll Bama Roll}
Heartfelt sentiments muchacho, I’m with you down to paragraph 5. I agree KO was the right coach for the moment, but for the future? No. Two buck steaks are fine when you’re starving, but once the NCAA ‘thing" gets cleared up we need to bring in a top tier coach. I’ll take it a step further, the kids DESERVE a top tier coach. We can do it, WE ARE SC! Why settle?
STILL LOCO AFTER ALL THESE YEARS!
NOW CELEBRATING THE DAWN OF THE AGE OF AUGUSTUS
M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT
You're prolly more right than wrong about the long-term future of Trojan bball!
And I know my allegiance and loyalty for Coach K is clouding my better judgment right now regarding his quality and disposition. Maybe I want, as a Trojan, for him to be given a fair shake, an opportunity to create/build/develop a program or system of basketball greatness. We’re on the verge! I feel it. In no way am I envisioning a retarded consistency of success like the one in Wastewood. But something solid, where USC is consistently at the top of the Pac 10 and is routinely performing well in tournaments &invitationals. Of course, perennially making runs through the NCAA finals- Sweet 16’s, Elite 8’s, . . . . . .? The Pac 10 is consistently one of the top conferences in D-1 basketball (not this year, of course), owning some Wash Husky-ass, some Duck ass, Cardinal and Wildcat ass would be hella welcome. I’m so over feeling sick to my stomach on game days with those teams. Of being unsure of escaping with victory of those m-fers! I wanna “know” we’re splitting that shit like wet pine! Straight up TAG THEY ASSES, all day- everyday.
Like I said, I might be “overly invested” with Coach K and his stud-like arrival. He just seems to have the ability to create, accomplish, and sustain something like that for us?
Dude, if he ends up getting fingered for shagging some undergrad coed, working at the Galen Center as one of the official scorers or a water-girl? I’ll eat a bug, place a sign on my ass that reads, “Kick Me, I’m Beggin’ Ya!” and then walk a mile around campus with a stone in my left shoe.
What kinda record would you give him, in order to retain him next year? Say he goes 24-6, ties for 1st regular season, then blows it in the Pac 10 tourney, but redeems by losing the first game in Elite 8’s? Okay. . . . would if he goes 20-10 and gets bounced outta regionals in the NCAA’s? (but, also has a top-10 recruiting class coming in for his third year).
I better stop now. This is actually getting oddly fun for me. (okay, then: say he gets a tattoo of the SC block letters on his neck, and brings Byron Scott in as one of his assistants. . . .? copious hypotheticals to ponder!!!!)
It’s Friday, right?
"As for being a Raiders fan, I wouldn't wish that fucking shit on anybody." [the venerable OTS at Roll Bama Roll}
by BixBeiderbecke on Mar 5, 2010 11:51 AM PST up reply actions
Well I see only 3 teams that will be in the Nazi march madness money making tournament out of the pac-10.
Maybe a 4th team if the winner of the pac-10 tourny is someone other than Cal, ASU, Wash., kind of funny how it all ended up.
LA Sports is what keep me off the streets and out of trouble, thanks to all the teams Rams, Dodgers, Lakers, USC sports and the Love of Tennis.
by so.cal.native1952 on Mar 5, 2010 9:01 AM PST reply actions
The beginning of the end
was the offensive basket interference by Washington. Holy crap those sun devils could hit the 3 last night. That was unreal.
Beat the 'Cats
Can still salvage some sweet revenge by beating the Cats in the desert. That would be a nice way to finish. Beating “Garrett’s Giveaways” in Tuscson.
I’m still on board with KO and eager to evaluate his recruiting class. If that class turns out weak, then I may swing to Loco’s side. But, for now, my angst is solely directed at Mike Garrett for enabling the hoops program implosion under Timmy’s reign.
Beat “Garrett’s Giveaways”!!! Or, is “Garrett’s Gift-cats” better?
CTF>KO no comparison
STILL LOCO AFTER ALL THESE YEARS!
NOW CELEBRATING THE DAWN OF THE AGE OF AUGUSTUS
M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT
Uhm... yeah!
However, my point is that we’re settling for a has-been instead of reaching for a star. We know who KO is, and now that the season is practically over we need to remember it. Next year’s team will be just as thin and KO will grind them into dust even faster than the current bunch. Another one of Garrett’s “tough guys,” just like that miserable sack or ruin protoplasm Henry Bibby.
STILL LOCO AFTER ALL THESE YEARS!
NOW CELEBRATING THE DAWN OF THE AGE OF AUGUSTUS
M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT
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