There was no hiding the desperation any longer. Not with the clock ticking on ’s slender match hopes. Not with three straight losses within the rearview and solely 4 video games left within the common season.
The probabilities to state their postseason case had been dwindling quick in Eric Musselman’s first season at USC, slipping away amid a stiff Huge Ten slate. The reduce line for the convention match now loomed just under them within the standings.
Time was working out on the Trojans. Desmond Claude appeared to sense as a lot as the purpose guard careened into the lane late, with two minutes remaining Wednesday towards Ohio State. USC had clawed its approach again from a 17-point deficit – and a disastrous first-half defensive effort – to climb inside putting distance, and now Claude let a desperation floater fly, figuring out full effectively any hope of turning the tides earlier than match time held on each hoop from right here.
For a short second, as Claude’s floater linked and reduce Ohio State’s result in two, there was a glimmer of hope that USC nonetheless had some life left in it this season.
However with 28 seconds left, Claude introduced the ball up the courtroom, solely to have it poked away. A possible tying three-pointer, from freshman Wesley Yates, bricked. And similar to that, any likelihood of the Trojans stemming the tide of their late-season slide was extinguished in an to Ohio State.
“Figuring out each sport counts, each sport issues, and we want wins, it’s robust,” Yates mentioned. “Phrases can’t even clarify it.”
Musselman’s frustration all through Wednesday’s defeat would say lots, as USC fell right into a deep gap early, on account of a defensive effort that the coach known as “in all probability the worst protection I’ve ever had a staff play in my faculty tenure.”
Ohio State shot 73% within the first half, a price Musselman figured was roughly equal to taking part in and not using a protection in any respect. At one level, the Buckeyes had been 14 of 17 from the sector earlier than the half. They even hit eight straight three-pointers, threatening to bury USC earlier than it may even punch again.
And but nonetheless, the Trojans discovered themselves with an opportunity to tie it late, thanks partially to a renewed defensive effort that held the Buckeyes to only 33% taking pictures within the second half.
Yates had already scored 27 factors, main all scorers, when he lifted up for a three-pointer with six seconds remaining. The shot missed, however Saint Thomas pulled down the rebound. Then, he stepped out of bounds.
It was a fittingly irritating conclusion, on the finish of a sport that might’ve gone very in another way. In that approach, it felt like a painful metaphor for USC’s season.
The loss — USC’s sixth in its final seven video games — would go away the Trojans at 14-14 for the season. For Musselman, it’s simply the second season wherein a university staff he coached fell to .500 or worse. The one different got here final 12 months at Arkansas.
“We’re not the place we wish to be proper now,” Musselman mentioned. “We’re not the place we’ve been up to now.”
Any likelihood of its quick future being any brighter now doubtless hinges on USC making a run within the Huge Ten match. If it makes the Huge Ten match in any respect.
Solely the highest 14 of the convention’s 18 groups will journey to Indianapolis subsequent month. For Musselman, lacking the match would mark a very disappointing conclusion to a season that has, at instances, had some promise.
Yates would do his finest to maintain that religion alive, as he scored 27 factors to guide the staff, whereas Claude, USC’s main scorer largely in test. However nobody appeared proper from the beginning Wednesday. Even Yates later admitted that he felt “horrible”
The week hadn’t precisely gotten off on the suitable foot. Touring again from its furthest journey of the Huge Ten slate, USC didn’t arrive again in Los Angeles till 5 a.m. on Monday morning. Gamers nonetheless went to class a couple of hours later, whereas Musselman wavered on whether or not to even maintain apply forward of Wednesday night time’s matchup.
Musselman insisted his journey complaints had been no excuse for shedding to Ohio State. However he made his emotions clear about how a lot USC has needed to overcome in its first season on the highway within the Huge Ten.
“We’re gonna have to determine find out how to overcome a few of that,” Musselman mentioned.
For this season, nonetheless, hopes that USC may overcome any of the percentages had dimmed significantly Wednesday, leaving the coach to marvel the place to take his Trojans from right here.
“The one factor I do know is to only get again within the gymnasium and prepare for Oregon,” Musselman mentioned. “I’m not likely certain what else we will do.”
