ACCBoards

Tell us how this thing shakes out.

Hopefully, good!

I was trying for a time to find a link to past NCAA matchups. I think I remember beating them a few years ago in the tourney? or am I D and C?

We are 7-1 all time vs. USC. We lost to them last year (by around 15 I think). We have never faced them in the NCAAs. I think we beat the beejesus out of Henry Bibby in a pre-season tourney a few years ago (Maui maybe?).

we beat them in Charlotte once, before the Pepsi tourney died.

It was so odd...i think it was Friday night i heard "Fight On" over the television during A BASKETBALL GAME!?!?! could not remember that before, seeing a hardwood instead of a football field. It just sounds like a Football song only... it was like the band wandered in from outside or sumpn

Which one is "Fight On?" I know of "Conquest" which is that 2 bar ditty they play about 100 times a game.

USC has one of the best set of fight songs in college sports, IMO.

I'm no nycfan, but from what I've heard it sounds like they play our kinda ball. Should be good for us, as long as we can make shots.

dunh DUNH, duh dunh duh, dun dunh duh, dun dunh duh.... duh dunh DUNH, dunh dunh.

(think after every TOUCHDOWN or FG even, should have been heard pretty often in Bezerkley )

The one they did with Fleetwood Mac. 'Tusk'. Wasn't that their tunage?

I've watched USC play in parts of at least half a dozen games in the preseason, few snatches in the PAC-10 tourney and versus Tejas in the NCAAs (score got out of hand so quickly v. Arkansas, I don't think I ever flipped over to that game).

They are a quick, physical guard-oriented team. They remind me of a more mature and talented (on the perimeter) version of Georgia Tech, but without the inside bodies outside of Taj Gibson, who can be a beast. They are a defensive-oriented team, but not a slow-down team -- they like sloppy games in the low to mid 70s, as they thrive on fast break opportunities and three point shooting. They have three excellent three point shooters and several other guys who can can it from behind the arc if open. They aren't a big assist-team, breaking down opponents off the dribble more in offense than in set plays. I'd say they are a defense-first team like Maryland used to be, but with more measured use of pressure defense ... look for them to amp up on-the-ball pressure when Frasor and QT come in, while playing the passing lanes and stopping the drive when Lawson is in.

Once you get it inside, they aren't a stellar interior defensive team, though Gibson can get some blocks -- since they pressure the pass into the interior, they can be late on the double down, but if you take too much time trying to dribble into the lane, they will harrass the big men and strip the ball.

They seem to have run a 7-man rotation in the tourney, though they can go 10-deep reasonably comfortably -- they've basically trimmed back on big man play (they have sort of a center by committee but have gone with more of a four-guard look in the tourney, at least against Texas, with Gibson inside). I think they'll be a tough team to wear down at guard b/c of the depth there, but foul trouble on Gibson could spell trouble for them inside for sure.

Like Ga Tech, their guards are REALLY big -- Young, Lodrick Stewart & Pruitt go 6-6, 6-4, 6-4. None is a true PG, so there is susceptibility to the TO with pressure, but all can handle the ball well enough to burn you in transition and take the action to you against a press.

Of note, their opponents have scored 80 or more points only 5 times this season and USC is 1-4 in those games (a single 2-point win to their credit in that range).

They've toughed out plenty of close games, so I think they have confidence in a tight game. Outside of Gibson, the starters and contributors shoot over 70% from the FT line and Young & Stewart average 45% and 44% for three -- in large part due to getting shots in transition. But they have had a few games where they forgot to show up this season (the second-half against K State in Vegas and the PAC-10 final, for instance). But I don't think we can hope for that in the Sweet 16. They are a team of spurts and if they go on a big run, just remember they've given big runs from time to time as well.

thanks, NYC! i think we're doomed.

They have birthdates posted

I agree with mamasita. We ARE doomed! Oh woe is us.

"GLOOM-doom-GLOOM-doom!"

Folks, this is EXACTLY the kind of team we need to play and BEAT to show the rest of the country that we are for REAL!!! USC is all that was stated above. And they played in a pretty good conference as well so they've been tested. Expect a fairly close game throughout, until the last 4 minutes. That's our time when we open it up for the 10 point victory. Tyler will not be denied right now. SC is tough, but not as physical and deliberate as MSU was. Look how that panned out. Their offense can sputter at times as well. Think Brandon is going to be "The Invisible Man" in this one??? I don't think so. The overall bottom line is we are somewhat deeper and seem to be getting the solid contributions across the board. If we have to go down...heck, I'd rather it be to USC. (Liked them in football since 1974 and the Anthony Davis years!!!) I happen to think WE WIN, however and get people's attention! This team is playing pretty well now.

^thanks for the analysis, NYC and NCKid (Banned-love it!)  IMO, Carolina needs to make the Trojans work very hard on offense, effectively defend the perimeter (we are getting better at fighting through moving screens- what with all the practice we've had over the years with dook!) and push the ball up the floor offensively; this recipe works for us against most opponents, so let's cook up a big, delicious bash for USC.  They smoked us in Brentwood last season, we need to pay back our debts on time in order to maintain our excellent credit rating.

He's really banned. PomPom tossed him for being a jerk on the Duke board as soon as he showed up here (note his total of SIX posts).

FYI.

Who asked you, 79? He's insightful and he has H8 for dook. If you don't want him on your board, that's your bizness.

If he gets banned from one board, he's banned from the entire server. That's why it's not prudent to be a complete donkey on other teams' boards. Unless, like me, you're in with their mods.

I'm worried about Terry. Does anyone have anything new to report on that front?

"Everybody likes a little ass, but nobody likes a wise ass."



Regarding Terry:

Terry still suffering from effects of illness
Williams says senior forward is being tested for strep

CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina senior Reyshawn Terry, who scored nine points in the final three minutes against Michigan State on Saturday despite a headache and a fever, did not practice on Tuesday after being tested for strep.

An update on his condition won't be available until today, and his status is uncertain for Friday's game against Southern California at East Rutherford, N.J., in the East Regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.

"If he had it Saturday, I would have to think he's in the middle of it now, he's starting on the downside of it," coach Roy Williams said.

Link to N&O story

^ didn't know about that ... thanks for the update.

Allbiz ... that picture is kinda scary.

Ben posted this over at IC about an hour ago. No link up yet:

University of North Carolina men's basketball senior forward Reyshawn Terry
has been diagnosed with strep throat, but his condition is improving and he
is expected to play Friday in the East Region semifinal against the
University of Southern California.


Terry did not have a fever today. He had been unable to practice the past
two days after running a high temperature and having migraine headaches
beginning last Saturday prior to UNC's 81-67 win over Michigan State.

Phew!

I kept thinking about this last line from my post above last night, trying to make myself believe my own words:

Quote:They are a team of spurts and if they go on a big run, just remember they've given big runs from time to time as well.

Phew.