Pac 10 Fans Home
Pac 10 Football
Pac 10 Basketball
Pac 10 Baseball
College Fansites
Pac 10 Apparel
Pac 10 Tickets

NCAA Tournament preview: #7 Boston College vs #10 USC

Midwest Regional Matchup

Friday

No. 7 Boston College (22-11) vs. No. 10 USC (21-12)

Time/Site: 7:20 EDT/Minneapolis

The winner gets: The winner of Michigan State-Robert Morris

Summary: The Eagles finished in a two-way tie for fifth with Clemson in the ACC regular season and were eliminated by Duke in the quarterfinals. The Trojans finished tied with California for fifth place in the Pac 10 regular season. However, the Trojans won the conference tournament to earn the automatic bid.

Key Players: Boston College – Tyrese Rice (17.1 ppg, 5.4 apg), G; Joe Trapani (13.5, 6.6 rgp) USC – Taj Gibson (14.3 ppg, 2.8 bpg), F; DeMar DeRozan (13.6 ppg), F

Key stat: Boston College – The Eagles are one of two teams to have wins over Duke and North Carolina. USC – Point guard Daniel Hacket averages 4.7 assists but 3.3 turnovers per game.

Boston College will win: If Rice puts this team on his back and can score about 25 points. The Eagles are going to have to draw USC’s Gibson away from the basket.

USC will win: If the Trojans play like they did at the Pac 10 tournament in Los Angeles. This team has underachieved all season. Now, let’s see if they have regrouped.

Prediction: USC 71, Boston College 70

> Browse the selection of Pac 10 apparel & merchandise online as well as Pac 10 tickets through Pac 10 Fans and partner sites.

By Kevin Lonnquist
DFN Sports Staff Writer

USC Trojans 2009 NCAA Tournament preview