Everybody, it seems, has been waiting for that one breakout game for DeMar DeRozan. The freshman from Compton has been solid this year, and is USC's third leading scorer. There just hasn't been that performance to match his preseason buzz. Until now.DeRozan scored 19 of his career high 22 points in the second half to lead USC past No. 16 Arizona State. The Trojans outscored the Sun Devils 42-23 in the second half. DeRozan's previous high had been 18 points which he scored against North Dakota State and Oral Roberts. But this performance was against a quality Pac-10 opponent and came at a time when USC desperately needed a win. This is what everybody had been waiting for.
Just a few days ago, I was lamenting that USC didn't have that killer instinct, or that guy who could take over a game for the Trojans. DeRozan can be that guy. There was a stretch where DeRozan scored five consecutive points to give USC a 10-point lead with close to 5 minutes left in the game. Included in that stretch was a 3-point shot which, I believe, was his first of the season.
The key now is for USC to build on this win. The Trojans play host to Arizona on Saturday in a battle of the uninspired. It will be interesting if USC will come out swinging, or if they put too much effort into this game and will come out flat.
And what's up with Arizona State? They have been lousy one the road this year. The one signature road win was at San Diego State. Were the Devils looking ahead to Saturday's game against the Bruins?
No. 8 UCLA had no trouble with Arizona, as you would have expected. Luke Walton was interviewed during the game and said that he anticipates the Arizona program being down for the next couple of years. Walton will immediately be expelled from the Arizona alumni association for not drinking the same fruit punch as the rest of the myopians.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DeRozan is an amazing talent, but the problem is that Tim Floyd doesn't do a great job of putting him in positions to succeed. I went to the UCLA v. SC game a few weeks back and DeRozan scored double figures in the first half purely on two dribble fade away jumpers. Meanwhile, Floyd was running Daniel Hackett off of numerous curls and featuring him like he was a superstar. In the second half, they didn't run anything for DeRozan and handed him the ball at the end of the shot clock at the top of the key where UCLA would double/pressure him like crazy with Collison and Holiday. I just wonder what DeRozan would be at a place like Memphis where you know he would be featured.