Competing until the final buzzer sounds has been one of the biggest themes of the season for USC. That is exactly what the Trojans did against the No. 24 Wisconsin Badgers, but the effort was not enough as USC fell 84-69 at Galen Center.
“We have no home-court advantage,” head coach Eric Musselman said. “That’s just how it is. It’s been that way and we have to continue to work as a program to make it more of a home-court advantage.”
USC found itself in a hole early as Wisconsin began the game on a 12-6 run. The Trojans were able to somewhat limit the Badgers’ offensive production early as they forced turnovers on Wisconsin’s first three possessions of the game. USC was even able to get the scoring started as redshirt freshman guard Wesley Yates III knocked down a contested reverse layup.
“I thought Wisconsin played hard and smart, that’s why they’re ranked,” Musselman said. “I can’t plug 99 holes in a 40-minute game and you can’t take away the three and dribble drive unless you’re a great defensive team in the NBA.”
From there, Wisconsin was able to find its footing offensively and a 3-pointer from sophomore guard John Blackwell put the Trojans in an early six-point hole. The basket was a sign of things to come for Blackwell as USC was unable to contain him in the first half. Blackwell led all scorers in the first half with 16 points and made five of his shot attempts.
Containing Blackwell was key for the Trojans as he was Wisconsin’s second-leading scorer entering Saturday’s action, averaging just over 15 points per game. Following Blackwell’s 3-pointer, the Trojans struggled on both ends for much of the remainder of the first half.
USC gave up a 9-4 scoring run as Wisconsin took a 21-10 lead with 11:41 left in the first half. The Trojans had no offensive answers for Wisconsin’s defense for the rest of the second half as USC’s leading scorer on the season, junior guard Desmond Claude, could not record a bucket in the first 20 minutes.
Claude only had three shot attempts as the Trojans entered halftime trailing the Badgers 42-27. In the first half, USC committed nine turnovers and did not have any players score in double figures.
“To start the second half, we tried to run a couple of plays for [Claude],” Musselman said. “We didn’t think he was playing the way he was capable of today.”
The start of the second half was a different story for the Trojans as USC was able to pick up the intensity on both ends. After his scoreless outing in the first half, Claude drew a foul and finished through the contact to score his first points of the afternoon.
With 17:41 left, USC’s offense and defense began to get into a rhythm. Senior forward Saint Thomas knocked down a 3-pointer to begin a 13-0 scoring run for the Trojans. During the run, three different Trojans scored baskets as USC cut the deficit to six with 14:51 remaining in the game.
“I feel like our urgency and 3-point defense was better,” graduate forward Rashaun Agee said. “We were also running in transition, stopping the ball and talking to each other. Our communication and effort were better.”
Following a timeout, the Badgers were able to end the Trojans’ scoring run, but USC did not go away. A Claude layup and free throw cut Wisconsin’s lead to three, making the score 55-52 with less than 11 minutes left.
Although USC increased efforts on both ends in the second half, the Trojans were never able to take the lead, with the Badgers eventually building their lead back up to double digits. A made 3-pointer from senior guard Kamari McGee made the score 68-57 with 6:41 left. The Badgers finished the game on a 16-12 run as the Trojans’ comeback effort fell short.
Defensively, USC held Wisconsin’s leading scorer and graduate guard John Tonje, who averages over 18 points per game on the season, to zero points. Thomas was Tonje’s primary defender throughout the game and took pride in the matchup.
“I asked coach if I could have that matchup,” Thomas said. “He’s one of the best players in the Big Ten and I just wanted to show him that I’m not lil bro.”
Thomas and Agee led the Trojans in scoring with 19 and 15 respectively. Claude had his lowest scoring output since USC’s loss against St. Mary’s with nine. USC was unable to contain Blackwell defensively as he finished with 28. Senior guard Max Klesmit was the Badgers’ second-leading scorer with 18.
“Credit their load up defense, they’re a really good team,” Musselman said. “We’re dealing with a lot of stuff and we just have to keep trying to figure it out.”
The Trojans will be back in action on the road at 6 p.m. on Wednesday to take on Nebraska.