USC seeks much different outcome in latest pivotal clash with Colorado

It was the worst game in the last month and a half for USC.

By senior forward Nick Rakocevic's own description, the Trojans were "whoop[ed]" and "humbled" in that 78-57 loss at home to Colorado on Feb. 1.

It seemed like a pretty pivotal game in the Pac-12 race at the time, but as it turns out no team has proven ready to separate itself in the standings, and even with that being the start of a three-game losing streak for USC the Trojans are nonetheless just a game back of co-leader Colorado as the squads meet again Thursday night in Boulder, Colo.

"We just have to play better," coach Andy Enfield said of the rematch. "We've been good on the road this year, played very competitively every game on the road. I think our last three road losses, other than Washington [back on Jan. 5], Oregon was double-overtime, Arizona was one possession with 5 seconds, Arizona State went down to the buzzer. We've been competitive in our road games. We just have to prepare mentally. We just have to be ready."

The implication being that the Trojans (19-7, 8-5 Pac-12) simply weren't ready the last time they played the Buffaloes (20-6, 8-4).

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Well, it's more of an admission by the Trojans, for that matter.

"We came into the game, didn't have really great energy," Rakocevic said.

Enfield added to the list of critiques of that performance.

"We weren't tough enough offensively. We didn't run our offensive pace, didn't shoot the ball well and we had too many turnovers. We just were not good offensively," he said. "It's disappointing, allowed them to get out in transition a few times and of course as the game went we just couldn't find an offensive rhythm. … And then they went on a run and that was it. We have to do a better job offensively."

USC shot 31.03 percent in the first half that night while digging a 33-24 deficit. The Trojans fared better the rest of the way, but no, they never turned the corner.

Now they get another shot, looking to turn the corner on their season at this point.

After wins over Washington and Washington State last week, the Trojans are as much a contender for the Pac-12 regular-season title as any other team in the top half of the standings, but with just five conference games left it would seem a steep obstacle to fall two games back of Colorado while also ceding the tiebreaker to the Buffs.

That said, getting this win in Boulder would seem a steep obstacle in itself. Colorado is listed as a 9.5-point favorite and boasts a 10-2 home record. Oregon State is the only Pac-12 team to win on the Buffs' home court this season (while Northern Iowa also scored a road win there).

And again, there's that one-sided first meeting against the Trojans.

Rakocevic reiterated he doesn't think that was a function of the matchup, though.

"To be honest, I think we match up pretty well with them," he said. "We're a little bit bigger. They've got guys who can go up and down the floor, but we match up pretty well with them -- Onyeka [Okongwu] and [Evan] Battey, and myself and Tyler Bey, we've got quick enough guards to stay in front of McKinley Wright. I think we match up very well with them," he said.

Colorado, which has won four of its last five games, is led by its veteran junior point guard Wright (13.6 PPG, 5.2 APG, 5.3 RPG), while Bey (13.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG) and Battey (9.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG) provide size to the lineup at 6-foot-7 and 6-8, respectively, and 6-7 junior D'Shawn Schwartz (10.8 PPG) is a capable perimeter shooter.

USC should have its top scorer and rebounder, Okongwu (16.4 PPG, 8.9 RPG), back after a two-game concussion-related absence.

"Matchup-wise isn't the issue," Rakocevic said. "It's just more so just playing with energy and playing with the focus that they had when they came in here. They were locked in, they hardly missed any of their assignments offensively or defensively, they didn't make any mistakes, hardly turned the ball over and we just had too many turnovers, too many defensive mishaps.

"We cut those out and then maybe we can talk about a game, and matchups, I feel, will take care of itself. We just have to have more energy than them and come out with focus."

Who | USC at No. 18 Colorado

Where | CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo.

When | 6 p.m. PT Thursday

TV/Radio | ESPN2/KABC-790 AM