The second edition of the Hall of Fame Series at the Intuit Dome features the UCLA and USC men’s basketball teams in marquee matchups. Last season, as part of the event, the Bruins delivered a statement victory over Gonzaga.
This year, USC will play Illinois State to open Friday’s action, followed by No. 15 UCLA and No. 5 Arizona in the nightcap.
Head coach Mick Cronin has been seeking a barometer for his Bruins (3-0). He hoped his players would experience adversity in exhibition games against San Diego State and UC Irvine, but they overcame those challenges.
Conveniently for Cronin, a greater test awaits with the Wildcats (3-0).
The kings of the desert are the hottest team in the nation. After dismantling the defending champion Florida Gators on opening night, they’ll travel one state west for an old-school Pac-12 rivalry game.
Last season, UCLA outlasted Arizona 57-54 in the Phoenix Suns’ arena as part of this Hall of Fame series. Now Arizona hopes to return the favor at a neutral site 13 miles from Westwood.
“They always bring the fight,” Cronin said. “That’s why it’s great to play them.”
For USC (2-0), this is an opportunity to introduce itself to a national platform. In Year 2 of the Eric Musselman era, the Trojans again retooled. Their backcourt is composed of veteran transfers Rodney Rice and Chad Baker-Mazara. Both present as combo guards, but Rice has taken the onus of facilitating, while Baker-Mazara has focused on scoring.
“He’s actually ahead of schedule on being a ball distributor,” Musselman said of Rice on Wednesday.
“We need Chad to have really big offensive games,” Musselman said of Baker-Mazara. “I think when you can get him playing in pick and rolls, and in space where he can shoot step back 3s … you’re playing to his strengths.”
While Rice and Baker-Mazara handle the ball, Musselman feels each of his starters can initiate offense as transfers Ezra Ausar and Jacob Cofie have excelled in the open court.
After controlling the outcome in their matchups with Manhattan and Cal Poly, USC might not have it as easy Friday.
“We believe this will be a team that can win their conference and be in the NCAA Tournament.” Musselman said of the Redbirds (1-1).
The Trojans can continue to roll if they contain Illinois State’s perimeter shooters and equally distribute the scoring responsibilities.
UCLA has a more daunting task. The Bruins didn’t impose their will enough in nonconference games against Eastern Washington, Pepperdine and West Georgia. In fact, sophomore Trent Perry said the Bruins let West Georgia feel “very comfortable in their home” as the Wolves shot 9 of 12 from deep in Monday’s first half.
If the Bruins take that same approach Friday and let the Wildcats set the tone, it’ll be a long night.
“We have to be more physical,” Cronin said before Thursday’s practice.
He put that responsibility on Steven Jamerson II and Brandon Williams off the bench and Eric Dailey Jr. and Donovan Dent in the starting lineup. Then, during practice, Cronin tested his players’ physicality.
The Bruins opened with a simple drill – rebound, outlet, run in transition. But Cronin quickly altered things and screamed: “Nobody wants to grab a board!” Then it became a rotating box-out drill. One could only complete the drill if they grabbed a rebound against three of their teammates. At one point, Dent interrupted the organization, earning a round of sprints for the team. Xavier Booker Jr. got stuck in the drill far longer than a big man should.
The next drill UCLA ran pitted two players against one another, the defender fronting the post. Right away, Tyler Bilodeau failed to move Booker, then Jamar Brown and Eric Freeny weren’t giving enough effort from Cronin’s perspective, leading to another scolding.
“Arizona’s going to (bleeping) wipe you out,” Cronin boomed. “If anyone isn’t physical, you’re not playing Friday. I’m watching.”
As Cronin’s messages bounced off the walls of the Mo Ostin Center, the intensity levels of UCLA’s practice increased. His harsh tactics are effective because he’s serious – he will bench you – and because he kept and sought players that can handle his rigidness. Like Dailey, who feeds off his coach’s antics, even chuckling as Cronin ranted, encouraging his teammates with claps and words of his own.
“Wake the (bleep) up,” Dailey said. “Wake the (bleep) up.”
It’s no coincidence that Cronin mentioned Dailey as the Bruins’ starter who he expects to match Arizona’s toughness. He knows what the senior forward will bring Friday. He also expressed confidence in Dent, who’s returning after missing Monday’s game with a muscle strain, and his capability to handle the ball under pressure.
Otherwise, unknowns surround this UCLA team. It’s only natural three games into a college basketball season, especially in the transfer portal and NIL era. For example, transition offense was a Bruins weakness last season, but might be their greatest strength so far. Protecting the glass, on the other hand, has been questionable. Did Eastern Washington, Pepperdine and West Georgia play UCLA tough, or is this Bruins team just not as staunch as projected?
“We will find out tomorrow,” Cronin said.
That’s the point of scheduling Arizona this early – to find out, answer questions and learn the truth.
“You can only carry a fighter for so long,” Cronin said. “Eventually, you got to get in the ring against someone else who’s ranked … You got to get in the ring against somebody that can beat you. That’s when you find out who you are.”
HALL OF FAME SERIES
When: Friday at 4:30 p.m. (USC vs. Illinois State) and 7 p.m. (No. 15 UCLA vs. No. 5 Arizona)
Where: Intuit Dome
TV: Peacock