What’s a rivalry game without emotion?
Considering USC’s five-game winning streak over UCLA, the game being the Pac-12 Conference season finale, and it being the Bruins’ Senior Night, it’s fair to say emotions will be running high when the No. 16 Trojans travel crosstown to take on No. 17 UCLA at 7 p.m. Saturday in Pauley Pavilion on ESPN.
Also in play: With the teams tied for second in conference at 14-5, the winner will get the No. 2 seed in next week’s Pac-12 Tournament.
UCLA (22-6) fell to USC 67-64 at the Galen Center on Feb. 12 thanks to a career night from Drew Peterson.
David Singleton, Cody Riley and Jules Bernard will be honored for Senior Night.
“Chris Smith didn’t even get to have (a senior night) with COVID, empty stands,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said of last year. “It’s been a while, so these guys are a big part of restoring UCLA to an elite program. All three of them are a monstrous part of it. I’m sure it will be emotional for them.”
It’s unclear if Singleton, Riley and Bernard will use their additional year of eligibility from the NCAA due to COVID-19 and stay to play another season.
They’re not the only Bruins facing a tough decision after this season.
“Myles Johnson walked (on senior night) last year at Rutgers,” Cronin said. “His (academic) program is one that he’ll have to finish next year. We don’t even talk about it right now. My hope is that he’ll play again next year.”
Johnny Juzang and Jaime Jaquez Jr. won’t be honored Saturday night, but the juniors could be tempted to leave for the NBA.
Jaquez was asked if this weekend’s game could be his last against USC (25-5) at Pauley Pavilion, and if he’ll make it a point to soak it all in.
“When it’s put like that, yeah, but we already have that mentality going in,” he said. “It’s a pride thing mostly. We want to win that game pretty bad. We know we’ve lost the last five times and that’s something that sticks into the back of our head.”
It’s also something that Jaquez says he’s constantly reminded of.
“I was at my sister’s (high school) game and UCLA fans were coming up to me telling me we needed to beat USC. We don’t want to let those people down,” Jaquez said.
CAMPBELL, JAQUEZ, JUZANG AMONG FINALISTS FOR NATIONAL AWARDS
Tyger Campbell, Jaquez and Juzang were recently named top five finalists for college basketball national awards in their respective positions.
Campbell is up for the Bob Cousy Award, honoring the nation’s best point guard, as announced Monday morning. He’s averaging 12.0 points, 4.3 assists and 2.6 rebounds this season.
“It’s a great honor to be considered,” Campbell said.
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Jaquez is in the running for the Julius Erving Award, honoring the nation’s best small forward. The Camarillo native is averaging 12.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
Juzang is up for the Jerry West Award, honoring the nation’s best shooting guard. Juzang is averaging a team-leading 17.0 points in 23 games and pulling down 4.7 rebounds per game.
No. 16 USC (25-5, 14-5) at No. 17 UCLA (22-6, 14-5)
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles
TV/radio: ESPN/AM 570