USC @ Arizona

This is the start of crunch time in the Pac-10. Every game is pivotal and tonight's is no exception. Arizona sits only 1/2 game behind USC in the conference standings, so this way could go a long way in determining if the Trojans qualify for their third straight NCAA Tournament. The Pac-10 may only get five teams in and USC is sitting in fifth place right now, albeit only one game out of second place. Arizona has won five in a row, so it won't be easy tonight in Tucson.

In the first meeting at the Galen Center, USC edged Arizona by a point but didn't play their best basketball. The big matchup problem for the Trojans in that game was guard Nic Wise. He was able to penetrate with ease and get open looks for himself and his teammates. USC will need to come with quick double teams to cut off his penetration, but be ready to close out on Arizona's outside shooters, especially Chase Buddinger. The matchup in the post between Jordan Hill and Taj Gibson was pretty even in the first meeting, and I'm looking forward to another great battle between the two tonight. Hopefully, Taj's dislocated pinkie finger is feeling better. He will need to keep Hill off the glass and not let him get too deep in the post for easy buckets.

Marcus Johnson will be out again tonight with a shoulder injury. The Trojans will really miss his spark off the bench and his ability to drive to the hole. Donte Smith, Marcus Simmons, Keith Wilkinson, and Nikola Vucevic will all need to step up off the bench in Johnson's absense. Look for the Trojans to go with a bigger lineup to try to stop Jordan Hill.

The Trojans defense needs to get better over these last eight games. The past couple weeks they have been abused by the pick-and-roll and are letting teams get too many open looks. The intensity needs to return to where it was at the beginning of conference play. Offensively, the Trojans must do a better job of moving without the ball and getting looks for Taj Gibson and DeMar DeRozan. Get the ball in the hands of your play makers.

It's time for DeMar DeRozan to start carrying this team. He clearly is the most talented player on the squad and must continue to develop his aggressive instinct during this critical strech run of Pac-10 play. He's been steadily improving and I'm ready to see him break out. Last year when the Trojans won 5 of their last 6 games to close out the regular season, O.J. Mayo averaged 28 ppg. I'm not saying he needs to do that, but DeRozan does need to put this team on his back right now and help lead the Trojans into the NCAA Tournament.

The Trojans probably need five more wins (that would get them 20) to secure a birth in the NCAA Tournament. If they take care of business at home by winning all four (the Washington game will be tough), they only need to steal one of their remaining four road games. However, winning two or even three on the road would put the Trojans in a much better position to make a deep run in the Pac-10 and NCAA Tournament. They should be able to get a split in Arizona (today's game is critical) and if everyone's healthy, a sweep in the Bay Area isn't out of the question. It starts today. Let's play!