NCAAB Game Preview - Texas A&M at USC
Sun Nov 26, 2017 10:00 PM EST

Duke
87
Fla
84
F
UNC
45
MSU
63
F
IL-C
73
KY
107
F
TAMU
75
USC
59
F
Tex
71
Gonz
76
F(OT)
StMar
81
UGA
83
F(OT)
UCIrv
63
UCLA
87
F
Mizzu
79
WVU
83
F
USM
63
N CO
77
F
StJon
46
UCF
43
F
Tul
59
GASt
70
F
Navy
79
Denv
71
F
Okla
90
Oreg
80
F
GWebb
99
JU
106
F(3OT)
BGSU
83
AbCh
88
F
(N/A)
53
Mercer
90
F
StPet
86
Lafy
82
F
Princ
83
FaDi
76
F
LoyMD
75
UMassL
83
F
(N/A)
65
Bingha
97
F
Maine
78
Quin
72
F
Buck
85
Stony
76
F
Merrim
72
Hartfo
50
F
Manh
57
Ford
70
F
StJos
74
Sac
69
F
LongB
80
Nebras
85
F
(N/A)
60
SDSt
92
F
FlaAM
63
SFA
79
F
MsVl
70
Samf
83
F
NCC
77
SEMO
70
F
(N/A)
78
Longw
107
F
MTSt
67
Fres
80
F
YSU
53
SDak
81
F
HCU
74
OkSt
101
F
JSU
56
MissSt
59
F
ChiSt
67
Drake
79
F
Mia-O
61
APSU
86
F
Butl
67
OhSt
66
F(OT)
Ark
102
UConn
67
F
(N/A)
48
Boston
83
F
(N/A)
70
Marsh
106
F
Norf
55
ArkLR
70
F
AF
69
Colora
81
F
(N/A)
53
UAB
90
F
E MI
65
SoFL
47
F
UCRiv
42
Mich
87
F
NCAT
87
ECU
81
F
USC-Up
74
Campbl
93
F
Fairf
56
WriSt
57
F
NOrl
52
USA
55
F
(N/A)
53
NIU
105
F
Woff
65
UNCA
85
F
(N/A)
46
ULM
104
F
Temp
83
LaSal
87
F
UMKC
65
TN-M
55
F
Brown
81
Bry
67
F
Canis
58
Pacif
80
F
(N/A)
70
Wyo
83
F
StFNY
51
FlGlf
75
F
Portl
69
DeP
82
F
OrSt
65
Maris
46
F
SCSt
61
Winth
86
F
UCDav
70
Wash
77
F
(N/A)
75
Mont
86
F
Harv
61
CS-Ful
70
F
PorSt
87
Stan
78
F
WaSt
93
SDSU
86
F
Texas A&M visits hot-shooting USC
Sat Nov 25, 2017 3:09 PM

A showdown of Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference undefeated teams tips off Sunday at Galen Center in Los Angeles, with No. 10 USC hosting No. 16 Texas A&M.

The Trojans (4-0) followed up an overtime win at Vanderbilt last Sunday with an 88-63 rout of Lehigh on Wednesday. The common theme in both wins: USC's 3-point shooting.

The Trojans connected on more than 46 percent of their attempts from behind the arc in both contests. In an indicator of USC's offensive versatility, the sources of those makes changed from game-to-game.

Guard Jordan McLaughlin made five 3-pointers en route to a career-high 35 points at Vanderbilt, while guard Jonah Mathews knocked down four for a season-high 18 points against Lehigh.

"Jonah knows what to bring every day. He knows how to play defense and score," guard Elijah Stewart said of Mathews in the post-game press conference following the Lehigh win.

Mathews is one of four Trojans averaging in double figures at 10.5 points per game, joining McLaughlin at 16, forward Chimezie Metu at 17.5 and forward Bennie Boatwright at 18.5.

USC will need to continue its effective offensive balance to solve a Texas A&M defense ranked No. 9 nationally in adjusted efficiency, per KenPom.com metrics.

The Aggies (5-0) beat Pepperdine on Friday, 81-65, making the Waves the fourth opponent Texas A&M held to 65 points or fewer on the young season. One such opponent was West Virginia, which Texas A&M blasted in the Nov. 10 season opener 88-65.

Despite the win over Pepperdine, Aggies coach Billy Kennedy said in his postgame press conference that the Waves caused the Texas A&M defense problems by utilizing a four-guard look.

"Our energy wasn't very good at times but when we needed to, we were able to raise it up a level," Kennedy said.

USC coach Andy Enfield has the option of playing a heavy guard rotation but he faces a potential game-defining choice countering Texas A&M's size.

Aggies forward D.J. Hogg is averaging 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game, with center Tyler Davis putting up 14 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Big man Robert Williams is a potential lottery pick. Kennedy also rotates in 6-foot-10 center Tonny Trocha-Morelos, averaging nine points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

USC has length to contend with the Aggies between Metu and Boatwright, but the face-up style of Boatwright also allows the Trojans to play a four-man perimeter offense. Enfield has found success deploying a zone defense early in the season, though that might not be a solution for Texas A&M.

The Aggies are shooting a torrid 46.8 percent from behind the 3-point arc, led by guard Admon Gilder's blistering 58.8 percent. The Aggies can stretch the floor in a fashion similar to USC and Boatwright, courtesy of Trocha-Morelos, who averages 2.8 3-point attempts a game.

Opponents shoot 30.3 percent from deep against USC, and 42.2 percent inside the arc.

Team Record Comparison

Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Texas A&M  
USC  

Hot Players (Last 10 team games)

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