UCLA Basketball vs USC 2018: TV, radio, live stream, stats and more

UCLA Basketball looks to get a 3-game winning streak with crosstown rivals USC coming to Pauley Pavilion. Here is how to watch and what to know…

The UCLA Basketball team has a ‘Blue Out’ planned for one of the most important games of the conference schedule as the Pac-12’s second best team (yes, USC) comes to Pauley Pavilion. That means Bruins fans need to show up strong and show up loud.

It is a pivotal game that will help determine the outcome of the Pac-12. But even more than that, it is a game for bragging rights. UCLA is the top basketball program in Los Angeles, but this season, USC has built something based on a core of veteran players which has them rolling.

It is going to be a fight, fight, fight, so here is everything you need to know about UCLA vs. USC…

UCLA Basketball vs. USC Game Day Info

Records:

UCLA Bruins 15-7, 6-4 (4th Pac-12)

USC Trojans 17-6, 8-2 (2nd Pac-12)

Location: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA

Tipoff: 3:00 p.m. PT

TV: ESPN2

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Radio: AM 570 or 1150 Los Angeles

On-line Radio: Tune-In

Odds: UCLA -1, O/U: TBD

Last Game:

UCLA d. Stanford, 89-73

USC d. Cal, 77-59

ESPN Win Predictor: UCLA 54.3% – USC 45.7%

https://twitter.com/UCLAMBB/status/958786625600831488

Projected Starters:

UCLA – G Aaron Holiday, G Jaylen Hands, G Prince Ali, F Kris Wilkes, C Thomas Welsh

USC – G Shaqquan Aaron, G Elijah Stewart, G Jordan McLaughlin, F Nick Rakocevic, F Chimezie Metu

Head Coaches:

UCLA – Steve Alford | USC – Andy Enfield

Rosters:

UCLA | USC

UCLA Basketball vs. USC: Stats, Final Word and Prediction

Key Individual Stats – UCLA:

Aaron Holiday – 18.8 ppg, 5.1 apg, 3.7 rpg

Thomas Welsh – 12.9 ppg,10.8 rpg, .415 3FG%

Kris Wilkes – 13.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, .460 FG%

Key Individual Stats – USC:

Chimezie Metu – 16.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, .513 FG%

Bennie Boatwright – 15.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.1 apg

Jordan McLaughlin – 12.6 ppg, 74.0 rpg, 17.7 apg

Team Stats:

Team	Avg Pts	Opp. Pts	FG%	Rebs	Asts
UCLA	83.0 (2)	75.6 (10)	.467 (4)	38.9 (1)	15.2 (6)
USC	79.8 (5)	71.0 (3)	.466 (5)	36.0 (6)	16.5 (1)

Stats in ( ) indicate Pac-12 ranking

Players to Watch:

Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh – The Bruins are a young team and in a critical game like this, which happens to be a rivalry game, the veterans are going need to step up and lead, especially against USC which is stacked with veterans.

Last Word:

USC is a very good team, especially in the front court with Metu and Boatwright (which could be the best in the Pac-12). The only problem here is that Boatwright has been out for the last few games due to a troublesome foot. If he is out, UCLA needs to work on limiting Metu’s touches, who is the most productive Trojan on the team.

More from Go Joe Bruin

But UCLA should plan for Boatwright to play regardless, which means that the Bruin bigs are going to have to play smart, stay out of foul trouble and play consistently. What will help with this is having an inside presence.

Lately the Bruins have heavily relied on outside shooting. As we saw in the last two games last weekend, when shooting is on, it is on. As we saw in the three games prior to that (all loses), UCLA will die by the three. The Bruins have to get the ball down low and try to play physical, hopefully forcing USC’s big men into foul trouble of their own.

UCLA also has to be mindful of the Trojan’s three-point shooting, which is second best percentage in the conference. The Bruins have to play tighter on the outside and force USC into some difficult shots.

Though UCLA is not the greatest defensive team, they are going to need to somehow slow USC if they want to win this one. It is good thing this game is being played at Pauley Pavilion because UCLA is going to need to Bruin faithful in this one, which should be close.

Next: The UCLA Basketball All-Time Team

Prediction: UCLA 88 – USC 87