Washington @ Southern California preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 5, 2020 ) Southern California 40, Washington 72

The teams with the two longest losing streaks in the Pac-12 collide on Thursday night when USC, losers of three straight, hosts Washington, which has dropped six in a row. The Trojans, who are still tied with crosstown rival UCLA for fifth place in a very tight Pac-12 race, will retire the No. 10 jersey of DeMar DeRozan at halftime.

DeRozan, a four-time NBA All-Star and Olympic gold medal winner, played just one season with the Trojans in 2008-09, averaging 13.9 points and 5.7 rebounds and teamed up with Taj Gibson to lead fifth-seeded USC to a Pac-12 Tournament title while earning tourney MVP honors in the process. The Trojans can do doubt use a little of DeRozan's karma after getting swept on their Arizona trip last weekend, including a bitter 66-64 loss at Arizona State on Saturday that saw them blow a 13-point lead and give up the final seven points of the game, including a pull-up jumper to Remy Martin with 19 seconds left that proved to be the game-winner. Washington comes in off a 79-67 loss at in-state rival Washington State on Sunday and resides in last place in the conference. However, one of the Huskies' two conference wins came against USC in convincing 72-40 fashion on Jan. 5 in Seattle.

TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN2

ABOUT WASHINGTON (12-12, 2-9 Pac-12): The Huskies' tailspin started the day after their rout of the Trojans when point guard Quade Green, a transfer from Kentucky who was averaging 11.6 points and 5.3 assists per game while also shooting 44.7 percent from 3-point range, was ruled academically ineligible. Washington has averaged just 10.9 assists in the nine games since while turning it 15.3 times per contest. Freshman forward Isaiah Stewart leads the team in both scoring (17.4) and rebounding (8.7) while junior guard Nahziah Carter (12.8 points) and freshman forward Jaden McDaniels (12.4) also are averaging in double figures for the Huskies who rank ninth in the Pac-12 in scoring with an average of 65.8 points per conference game.

ABOUT USC (17-7, 6-5): Freshman forward Oneyka Okongwu, a former prep teammate of NBA star Lonzo Ball at Chino Hills High School where he twice was named California's Mr. Basketball, has been as good as advertised for the Trojans, leading the team in scoring (16.4), rebounds (8.9) and blocks (3.0) while shooting 60.9 percent from the field. Senior guard Jonah Mathews is second on the team in scoring (13.0) and leads the team in 3-pointers made (54) and is second in steals with 29. All-Pac-12 forward Nick Rakocevic also is averaging double digits (11.1) while also pulling down 8.6 rebounds per game.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. USC committed 24 turnovers in its loss at Arizona State, its most since it had 25 against Sacramento State on Dec. 8, 2009.

2. Stewart leads the Pac-12 with nine double-doubles which also ranks as the second most by a freshman in the NCAA.

3. Okongwu's 69 blocks are tied with Gibson (2007) for the most in a single season by a USC freshman.

PREDICTION: USC 64, Washington 56