PHILADELPHIA— It would be hard to find two more different answers to the same question.
Leading up to tonight’s Sweet 16 showdown against Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament, Southern California head coach Henry Bibby was asked what worried him about Kentucky.
“Nothing concerns me about Kentucky,”Bibby said.
Wildcats head coach Tubby Smith got the same question about the Trojans, and he didn’t hesitate.
“Everything,”Smith said. “But then again, I’m probably a much bigger worrier than Henry Bibby is.”
Actually, both teams have plenty to think about heading into the 7:38 East Regional matchup at the First Union Center.
Kentucky, the No. 2 seed with a 24-9 record, has loads of tradition to stand on but a roster full of young players.
Sixth-seeded USC (23-9) is making its first ever appearance in the Sweet 16 (since the tournament expanded to 64 teams) and must stop one of the Wildcat “veterans,” junior Tayshaun Prince.
“He demands so much respect,”Bibby said. “They depend on him getting 18-20 points per night. He’s their go-to guy.”
In the tournament, Prince single-handedly carried the Cats past the first two rounds. He scored 28 points in a scary near-upset against No. 15 Holy Cross, then tallied 30 in a 15-point win against Iowa.
The slick 6-foot-9 forward averages 17.2 points and 6.5 rebounds a game.
The Trojans, who beat Oklahoma State before upsetting No. 3 Boston College in the second round, have their primary weapon in 6-7 forward Sam Clancy (17.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg). Three of his teammates average 13 points or better, though, which makes defending the Trojans difficult.
“We have five starters who can put down 20 on any given night,” point guard Brandon Granville said. “I don’t start the game trying to get one player the ball.”
Granville, who scores 13 a game, will be instrumental in USC’s upset bid. Kentucky loves to press its opponents, and the point guard has a challenging night ahead of him, even more so than against a Boston College defense that forced 27 turnovers.
“The Boston College press was pretty effective in certain respects, but USC also did a pretty good job of handling it,”Kentucky guard Saul Smith said. “They’ve got good leadership at the guard positions, so it is really difficult to press those types of teams.”
Saul Smith, the only senior starter for Kentucky, holds the added responsibility of guiding freshmen starters Jason Parker and Gerald Fitch deeper into their first tournament.
Parker, the former North Carolina signee, and Fitch have combined for 27 points in the tournament. Tubby Smith called their play a nice surprise, and crucial to a run to the Final Four. Thanks in part to the Wildcats’ youth, they started the season 3-5.
“It’s always tough when you are losing,”Tubby Smith said. “For me, it was a matter of just weathering the storm, and hoping that the players would continue to trust and believe in the coaching staff.”
His team did that, because Kentucky, with the most NCAA Tournament appearances of any team, always weathers the storm.
That’s what tradition-laden programs do. Still, it’s not something Bibby is going to worry about.
“Kentucky has a great name. Kentucky had a lot of tradition. But we have to go play,”Bibby said. “It’s very simple — make shots, rebound the basketball, value the basketball and hopefully they’re not playing well.”
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