PREMIUM
3-Game Thursday SWEEPER PASS
(NCAAB) USC vs. Missouri State,
Point Spread: -9.00 | -115.00 USC (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: -9.00 | -115.00 USC (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: Missouri State is off to an 8-3 start and will match up with a nationally ranked team for the first time this season on Thursday when the Bears face undefeated No. 23 USC in the semifinals of the Las Vegas Classic at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. "We're excited to go on the road," said Jarrid Rhodes, who recently moved into the starting lineup for Missouri State. "This is a great opportunity for us, going to play a top-25 team. I think we still have some things to work on, but I feel like, overall, we'll be ready."
Missouri State: The Bears return four of five starters, losing only the 6-6 Boone (12.2 & 6.5). Guards Rousseau (13.2) and Miller (11.3 & 4.0 APG) both score in double digits, as does the 6-9 Johnson (12.5 & 9.0). Rousseau and Johnson are both JUCO transfers and have made quite an early impression. Guard Austin Ruder missed all but the first five games last season because of a hip injury and averages 6.9 PPG, scoring mostly from beyond the three-point arc. As mentioned at the top, guard Rhodes (5.5 & 3.5) has recently moved into the starting lineup. Missouri St. is a solid defensive team (63.5 PPG ranks 36th) but will be tested by the 11-0 Trojans, who average 82.3 PPG (41st).
USC: Last year's 21-win team was quite a step up from a program which had won just six, 14, 11 and 12 games in the previous four seasons. Last season marked head coach Andy Enfield's third year at USC and many will remember him as the man who led Florida Gulf Coast on a Sweet 16 run a few years back. USC's 11-0 start is its best start since going 16-0 to begin the 1970-71 season (that team went on to finish 24-2). Guards Stewart (15.9 & 5.9), McLaughlin (13.6-3.2-5.2) and Aaron (11.7 & 4.0) lead the Trojans offensively and make up quite trio in the backcourt. 6-11 sophomore Chimezie Metu averages 13.3 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds and is joined by the 6-11 Rakocevic (6.1 & 4.5) in the starting lineup, as the 6-10 Boatwright (10.8 & 4.0) got hurt after just five games (expected back in mid-January). Freshman guard Melton comes off the bench to score 9.0 PPG and grab 5.5 RPG.
The pick: The pressure is starting to build around the Bears' head coach Paul Lusk (79-93 in his sixth season), as he has not led Missouri State to the type of success it enjoyed under his predecessors Cuonzo Martin, Barry Hinson and Steve Alford, who were a combined 308-206 from 1995 to 2011. This is a chance to earn a "marquee win" but don't look for that to happen. USC is shooting 49.9 percent from the floor over the last eight games, including 40.2 percent from three-point range and have too much ‘firepower' for the Bears in this one. Lay the points and make USC a 10* play.
Missouri State: The Bears return four of five starters, losing only the 6-6 Boone (12.2 & 6.5). Guards Rousseau (13.2) and Miller (11.3 & 4.0 APG) both score in double digits, as does the 6-9 Johnson (12.5 & 9.0). Rousseau and Johnson are both JUCO transfers and have made quite an early impression. Guard Austin Ruder missed all but the first five games last season because of a hip injury and averages 6.9 PPG, scoring mostly from beyond the three-point arc. As mentioned at the top, guard Rhodes (5.5 & 3.5) has recently moved into the starting lineup. Missouri St. is a solid defensive team (63.5 PPG ranks 36th) but will be tested by the 11-0 Trojans, who average 82.3 PPG (41st).
USC: Last year's 21-win team was quite a step up from a program which had won just six, 14, 11 and 12 games in the previous four seasons. Last season marked head coach Andy Enfield's third year at USC and many will remember him as the man who led Florida Gulf Coast on a Sweet 16 run a few years back. USC's 11-0 start is its best start since going 16-0 to begin the 1970-71 season (that team went on to finish 24-2). Guards Stewart (15.9 & 5.9), McLaughlin (13.6-3.2-5.2) and Aaron (11.7 & 4.0) lead the Trojans offensively and make up quite trio in the backcourt. 6-11 sophomore Chimezie Metu averages 13.3 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds and is joined by the 6-11 Rakocevic (6.1 & 4.5) in the starting lineup, as the 6-10 Boatwright (10.8 & 4.0) got hurt after just five games (expected back in mid-January). Freshman guard Melton comes off the bench to score 9.0 PPG and grab 5.5 RPG.
The pick: The pressure is starting to build around the Bears' head coach Paul Lusk (79-93 in his sixth season), as he has not led Missouri State to the type of success it enjoyed under his predecessors Cuonzo Martin, Barry Hinson and Steve Alford, who were a combined 308-206 from 1995 to 2011. This is a chance to earn a "marquee win" but don't look for that to happen. USC is shooting 49.9 percent from the floor over the last eight games, including 40.2 percent from three-point range and have too much ‘firepower' for the Bears in this one. Lay the points and make USC a 10* play.
