USC Basketball: Trojans Trying to Look Ahead to UCLA Matchup After Tough Loss to Colorado

Trojans looking ahead to UCLA game.

USC basketball is now looking ahead after their devastating loss to Colorado on Saturday night. 

Their next game won't be any easier with a matchup against rival UCLA. The Bruins are on a six-game winning streak, having just beaten Colorado. 

UCLA also previously defeated USC on January 27 in a 65-50 loss for the Trojans. The Bruins held the Trojans to a season-low 50 points.

Still, the Trojans know how important it is to get a win versus UCLA and will be preparing for that game now. Junior guard Kobe Johnson spoke on their upcoming game after the loss to Colorado.

“As frustrating as this loss was, as much as we wanted it, we gotta move on," Johnson said. "We got to come back together as a team because going into UCLA is not an easy place to play. We all gotta come ready to play so we put this one in our back pockets. We gotta use this as ammo, we gotta go into UCLA and really make a statement."

via

USC Communications

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Though the prior loss to UCLA looks lopsided on paper, USC did have the lead at a point early in the game. Like in their loss to Colorado, the Trojans will need to close out the game and hold onto a lead if they want to win. 

The Trojans will also have the benefit of having Isaiah Collier in this rematch. Collier was still injured when the Trojans last took on the Bruins, and his presence will improve USC's chances a lot.  

Still, it won't be easy for a team that's just 1-8 on the road this season to go into Pauley Pavilion and get a win, especially against a UCLA team that has been on fire over their last six games.