California (pick) at USC - 7:30pm Pacific - Game #723-724
For the first time in over a year, Cal was completely healthy for a game last week vs DePaul.  Top center recruit Jordan Wilkes was available after missing 4 games with an ankle injury.  Senior F/C Rod Benson has slowly been working his way back into the lineup after a troubling leg injury that has bothered him since the preseason.  Benson led Cal in scoring and rebounding last year but just returned to action three games ago.  Meanwhile, All-American candidate forward Leon Powe was cleared to play five games ago (20.8ppg, 9.4rpg so far) and has been working his way into form.  Starting backcourt combination of senior Richard Midgley and junior Ayinde Ubaka is solid.  Sophomore center DeVon Hardin is becoming more and more active on both sides of the floor.  Freshman forward Theo Robertson is a versatile option off the bench.  Cal is now loaded with talent and finding chemistry is their only remaining obstacle.  They lost a 3 point heartbreaker to Depaul in last game as they committed too many untimely turnovers and had some defensive breakdowns in the second half, but they should be ready to go for the start of Pac-10 play. 

USC has won 9 games in a row but suffered a big loss just before Christmas losing freshman F/C RouSean Cromwell to a broken foot before taking on North Carolina A&T.  Cromwell is second on the team in rebounds and blocked shots.  He played more minutes than any of USC's top three inside players.  The Trojans were already very thin on the interior.  Junior center Abdoulaye Ndiaye will be called upon to step up but the JC transfer has been very foul prone.  In the six USC games decided by 15 points or less Ndiaye has averaged 4 personal fouls.  He can now ill afford any foul trouble and that will limit his aggressiveness.  Even before losing Cromwell, USC had trouble defending strong post players this year and will really have their hands full against Leon Powe and Cal's talented frontline.  USC has had a game since beating North Carolina, but that win was so huge for them that their still could be some hangover.   

Cal allowed Depaul to hit 14-of-17 2 point field goals in the second half of last game which in part led to their narrow loss.  Certainly defense has been a focal point in practice since then and head coach Ben Braun has finally had 10 healthy bodies to practice with for an extended period of time.  I expect a much better defensive effort tonight.  Cal must take on #11 UCLA on Saturday so winning here will be critical in the Pac-10 race.  Cal has a huge matchup advantage over USC inside and that will be the difference tonight.  The game will be played at Staples Center which negates some of USC's home court advantage.  Bears get the win.