Free College Basketball Picks Today: USC Trojans vs Arizona Wildcats 3/2/23

The USC Trojans (21-8, 13-5 Pac-12) will try to slow down one of the NCAA’s top scoring teams when they host the No. 8 Arizona Wildcats (24-5, 13-5 Pac-12) on Thursday.

Arizona was edged out by the Arizona State Sun Devils 89-88 at McKale Memorial Center on Saturday. Cedric Henderson Jr. led the way in the loss with 19 points.

The Wildcats slipped to third in the Pac-12 Conference. USC won their fourth in a row on Saturday at Jon M. Huntsman Center, beating the Utah Runnin’ Utes 62-49. Boogie Ellis scored 16 to lead the team in scoring.

With 14 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, Drew Peterson also played a part. The Trojans remain second in the Pac-12 Conference. The teams are meeting for the final time this season. Arizona will be aiming for a season sweep against USC after triumphing in the only prior game 81-66 at McKale Memorial Center on January 19, their fourth straight head-to-head victory.

Courtney Ramey led the Wildcats with 16 points. Peterson had 15 points and seven rebounds in the loss. Azuolas Tubelis is averaging 19.6 points per game to lead the Wildcats in scoring this season. Tubelis also has grabbed 9.1 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Kerr Kriisa is dishing 5.5 assists.

Ellis has supplied much of the Trojans’ offense, averaging 17.2 points per game. Peterson is averaging 6.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.With 83.3 points per game, the Wildcats are one of the highest-scoring offenses in the nation (5th).

Arizona is 8-2 in the last 10 games with an average margin of +13.0 (80.9-67.9). USC has also an 8-2 record over the last 10, scoring 76.0 points per game on average while holding opponents to 66.5 (+9.5 margin).

WILDCATS HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Courtney Ramey: 24.4 | 17.2 | +7.2
Points per game:
Courtney Ramey: 13.8 | 10.1 | +3.7
Azuolas Tubelis: 13.6 | 19.6 | -6.0
Assists per game:
Courtney Ramey: 5.0 | 3.4 | +1.6

TROJANS HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Vincent Iwuchukwu: 9.4 | 3.9 | +5.5
Joshua Morgan: 6.2 | 10.9 | -4.7
Points per game:
Kobe Johnson: 11.6 | 8.8 | +2.8
Tre White: 5.2 | 9.0 | -3.8