Thank me later.

USC's got Mayo with 19.9 pts/G, Arizona's got Bayless with 19.9 pts/G. While Arizona has a near 4 point lead on scoring offense, USC bests Arizona's scoring defense by nearly four points. While Arizona ranks #2 in the conference in field-goal and #1 in three-point percentages, USC leads the conference on both counts defensively. Arizona's got Budinger, USC answers with Jefferson. USC shouts "Lewis!," "Hackett," and "Gibson!", Arizona screams back, "Hill!", "McClellan!" and "Wise!". It seems for every question raised by one team, the other has an answer. But the real question will be answered tonight.

Bot teams come in to the Galen Center red-hot, but only one team will leave with the victory.

-7:30 PM PT, FSN West-

Not only can you talk to Coach Floyd about the Trojans' recent clutch victories against UCLA and Oregon, you might win yourself a free pair of sneakers.

For more information, visit nikebasketball.com/hoopstalk »

It was more than just USC-UCLA. It was unofficially billed as Love vs. Mayo and The Battle of the Freshman. Kevin Love and OJ Mayo, arguably the best two freshman in the country, happened into the hottest rivalry in college sports. The hype was unimaginable. It didn't seem to matter much that Mayo plays guard and Love plays center, and that in all likelihood, the two phenoms would have little direct contact with one another throughout the game. In the eyes of many the game was simply Love vs. Mayo, mano a mano, and the world seemed about ready to hand a victory over to Kevin Love and UCLA.

I guess nobody told the Trojans it was supposed to go that way.

Big, big, big, really, really, really big game tonight at the Galen Center at 8pm (and televised on FSN) as the Trojans look to upset the undefeated, #4 Washington State Cougars.

USC vs. #4 Washington State - Game Preview [Conquest Chronicles]

Highlights from a long SI article on Love & Mayo after the jump...

A 20-year-old that already has the media skills of a savvy veteran?

"I'm just a ballplayer. Am I a competitive ballplayer? Yeah. Do I want to win? Do I really want to work harder than anyone? Yeah... I just have a God-given ability to play basketball, and I want to use that to the utmost to support my family and support myself. I'm no better than you. I'm no better than the man on the corner with a 'Hungry' sign. I just have a talent, and I want to use it."

O.J. Mayo's basketball skills will be evident from the get-go when USC tips off this Saturday at the Galen Center (1 pm).

Player bios after the jump.

Mayo bringing a positive vibe to Southern Cal [USA Today]

SLAM 112 Cover Story: OJ Mayo [SLAM via OJ Mayonnaise]

Ryan Boatwright, a speedy 5-foot-10, 145-pound rising freshman point guard from Illinois who has yet to make a decision on where he's headed for high school (he's choosing between East Aurora High and West Aurora High), accepted Floyd's scholarship offer while at USC's camp this past weekend.

Mike Boatwright said the biggest concern surrounding his 14-year-old son's decision is the potential local reaction.

"I'm tremendously concerned," he admitted. "It could get ugly as far as kids getting jealous. I also don't want it to get to his head. I want him to stay humble."

That is your biggest concern? Your kid is a pimp, Mike. A super star pimp. Not let it go to his head? His head is about to explode.

Trojan Recruits OJ Mayo and Davon Jefferson - Photos from Rivals and Scout

Yes, I said basketball. Let that sink in for a while. Basketball...Not only does USC lead the Pac-10 in both football and basketball recruiting, but the Trojans' basketball recruiting class ranks third in the nation just behind the national champion Florida Gators (1) and the Kansas State Wildcats (2), as according to Rivals Top 2007 Basketball recruiting classes. That's eight above [F]UCLA, who has been edged out of the national top-ten at spot 11.

Junior Gabe Pruitt's time at USC has officially come to an end. The 6'4" point guard who declared for the draft back in April, announced he would hire an agent barring him from a senior season at Southern Cal.

Gabe Pruitt has hired Sam Goldfeder of Excel Sports Management as his agent, according to sources....Goldfeder also represents UCLA guard Arron Afflalo in this draft. Other NBA players who use the agency include Jason Kidd, Paul Pierce and Lamar Odom.

-Matthew Kredell, Daily News

After a short stint of academic ineligibility early on, Pruitt came back with a vengeance becoming the team's third-leading scorer with 12.5 point average per game. But it was his defensive prowess that stood out above the rest. Despite sitting out 11 games due to ineligibility, Pruitt topped the Trojans in steals propelling himself to sixth in the Trojans' all time steal-leaders, and leading the Trojans to the NCAA regional semi-finals.

Oh right, b/c Tim Floyd got a little loose with his papers.

HOLY BALLS! [Foul Balls]

...where will YOU be, when the Trojans shock the nation yet again tonight?

Thanks to the benevolence of the USC NYC alumni group, TrojanWire will be at the Contintental Airlines Arena, to chronicle all the madness.

This post brought to you by Tim Floyd's daughter, Shannon (pictured above), who you may recognize from her non-speaking role as "Texas Western Student" in the Josh Lucas-UTEP flick Glory Road.

Hopefully, Tim Floyd's Daughter Will be at the Meadowlands Tonight [The Big Lead]

"I actually think USC is going to cover the point spread," he said. "I think they have a chance to upset North Carolina. I know 'Pinky' Floyd [Jackson's pet name for USC Coach Tim Floyd] has got a real defensive mind-set and can screw up some games [for opponents]."

NCAA action is distraction to Jackson [L.A. Times]