Can the California Golden Bears Tame the USC Trojans at Haas Pavilion?
As the California Golden Bears prepare to host the USC Trojans at Haas Pavilion, fans are eager to see if their team can continue their recent performance trends. The Golden Bears have shown a mix of resilience and areas for improvement in their past games, which could play a significant role in this upcoming clash.
In their last game against UC San Diego Tritons, the Golden Bears secured a narrow victory with 71 points over the Tritons' 67. Their offense was efficient from beyond the arc, hitting 46 percent of three-point attempts and maintaining an overall field goal percentage of 48. Defensively, they managed to block five shots and steal nine times, indicating an aggressive defense that could be pivotal against USC.
However, when playing as guests against Ole Miss Rebels and Butler Bulldogs, they faced challenges despite scoring high with 78 and 90 points respectively. The defense allowed too many points in paint (36 against Ole Miss and a staggering 54 against Butler), which might be concerning when facing a team like USC that has its own offensive strengths.
The trend shows that while California's offense can put up numbers — highlighted by scoring over half of their two-point attempts — turnovers have been an issue; they recorded double-digit turnovers in both away games. Maintaining possession will be crucial for success on home turf.
The venue itself may provide an advantage; Haas Pavilion is known for its vibrant atmosphere which often acts as a sixth man for the home side. With fans backing them vociferously, it could give them that extra push needed to overcome any hurdles posed by the Trojans.
As we look forward to this matchup on February 8th at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley at four o'clock in the morning UTC time (February 7th evening local time), fans should expect an intense battle where every possession counts. For those unable to attend in person, you can catch all of the action live on Pac-12 Network – don't miss what promises to be another thrilling encounter!