USC Basketball Vs Washington State: How To Watch, Odds, Predictions, And More
Your USC Trojans are in the midst of the "too little, too late" phase of what's looking like a wasted 2023-24 NCAA season.
At 11-16, the Cardinal and Gold's only hope to qualify for March Madness would be to flat-out win the Pac-12 Tournament, which sure looks like a major uphill battle for a team that's just 5-11 in its inter-conference games thus far.
The club has gone 3-3 across its last six contests, as fifth-year senior guard Boogie Ellis appears to have finally, fully recuperated from the hamstring injury that's dogged him much of the season, and cost him three straight contests.
Andy Enfield's young squad pulled off a surprise upset on Saturday, against the favored UCLA Bruins on their home turf, with Ellis submitting a game-most 24 points in the winning effort.
They'll have their work cut out for them in Beasley Coliseum tonight.
The No. 19-ranked Washington State Cougars (21-7 overall, 12-5 in the Pac-12) will host USC. The club has won 11 of its last 13 contests, and is 13-1 on its homecourt. During the two teams' previous encounter this year, WSU beat USC 72-64 at the Galen Center. Forward Isaac Jones and guard Myles Rice are Washington State's top scorers, averaging 15.8 points and 15.4 points per bout.
Enfield, now the third-winningest coach in school history after picking up his 216th victory Saturday (he's tied with Bob Boyd), will do his darnedest to add to his sum tonight.
The Cougars are -6.5 favorites to win at home tonight. Given their track record this season at home (in combination with their track record this season against the Trojans), I expect they'll cover that spread. Let's call this a 70-62 WSU win.
The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. PT, and will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network. Analysts AJ Kanell and Eldridge Recasner will be on the call.
