Arizona @ Southern California preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 10, 2018 ) Southern California 61, Arizona 75

USC has won 10 of its last 11 home games including all three in Pac-12 play highlighted by last week's 80-67 drubbing of crosstown rival UCLA. But the Trojans face perhaps their stiffest conference test Thursday night when they host defending conference champion Arizona.

The Wildcats, who trail Washington by a half-game in the conference standings, come in off an impressive 82-71 home win over Oregon State on Saturday and have won seven of their last eight games. The southern California trip, which also includes a Saturday-night contest at UCLA, will be a homecoming for freshman guard Brandon Williams who prepped at Crespi High School in nearby Encino. "Going back home in general is cool, but at the end of the day it's a business trip and we're trying to get a road sweep," said Williams, who leads the team in assists with an average of 3.7 per game and is third in scoring with an average of 11.9 points. The Trojans, who begin the week in a three-way tie for fourth place, have lost their last five games against Arizona dating back to a memorable 103-102 four-overtime victory at the Galen Center on Jan. 9, 2016.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT ARIZONA (14-5, 5-1 Pac-12): All eyes will be on center Chase Jeter and whether he will play after leaving the win over the Beavers following a nasty spill on his back which caused him to miss the rest of the game as well as practice on Monday and Tuesday. The 6-10 junior transfer from Duke ranks second on the team in scoring (12.6) and leads the team in rebounding (7.2) while also shooting 62.1 percent from the floor. Sophomore guard Brandon Randolph leads the Wildcats in scoring (15.4) but averaged 7.5 points and connected on only 7-of-24 shots (29.2 percent), including 1-of-8 from 3-point range, in last week's home split with the Oregon schools.

ABOUT USC (10-8, 3-2): Forward Nick Rakocevic was named the Pac-12's Player of the Week for the second time in three weeks on Monday after the 6-11 junior scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the win over the Bruins, his eighth double-double of the season. Senior forward Bennie Boatwright, who leads the team in scoring (17.3), also had 21 points, including five 3-pointers, to go with seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks as the Trojans led by as many as 26 points in the second half. Rakocevic is second on the team in scoring (15.2) and leads the Pac-12 in rebounding (9.7) while junior guard Jonah Mathews (12.5) freshman guard Kevin Porter Jr. (10.7) also are averaging in double figures.

TIP-INS

1. Rakocevic has scored 20 or more points in five of USC's last six home games.

2. Arizona leads the Pac-12 in free throw shooting percentage (75.2), scoring margin (plus-8.2) and turnover margin (plus-3.4).

3. Boatwright is averaging 20.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists over the last eight games.

PREDICTION: USC 77, Arizona 72