It’s bad enough that USC continues to lose basketball games. It’s a lot worse that the Trojans, with a healthier roster than they’ve had in previous weeks, are falling to shorthanded opponents.
Bronny James didn’t play a game for USC this season until December 10 against Long Beach State. Vince Iwuchukwu has moved into the starting lineup, a sign of increased health after he missed the first few games of the season and had to slowly make his way back from back problems which hampered him in the offseason. USC has a healthier team right now.
Meanwhile, Oregon was without star big man N’Faly Dante and other big man Nate Bittle Thursday night against USC. It didn’t matter.
The shorthanded coach outclassed the coach with the healthier roster.
Dana Altman had his way with Andy Enfield.
Ducks Wire’s Miles Dwyer has more on that story:
“Jackson Shelstad was excellent in Thursday’s win, as he’s been all season, but the other impact player for Oregon was Kwame Evans, whose 22 points was a career-high. With N’Faly Dante and Nate Bittle’s injuries, Oregon needs strong performances from their remaining big men, especially Evans.”
Dana Altman had his freshman backup big man ready to play and got a lot out of him. Where is that kind of high-impact performance from a USC role player? Where is that kind of performance from any of USC’s stars?
Enfield is getting outcoached at nearly every turn this season. He did a great job against Kansas State in the season opener and really hasn’t had much to offer since. It’s a bleak reality in the middle of a season which is heading for a dead end.
Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire.