No. 6 USC (21-11) vs. No. 11 Kansas State (20-11)

By Tommy Dutch
Don Best Associate Editor

This year's freshman class is one of the greatest in the history of college basketball. Arguably, its two highest profile members will square off in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

National Player of the Year candidate Michael Beasley and the Kansas State Wildcats play First Team All-Pac-10 selection O.J. Mayo and the USC Trojans. The game will be played Thursday in Omaha, Nebraska.

The Wildcats will be making their first trip to the tournament since 1996 and they have Mr. Beasley to thank. The likely first pick in the NBA draft has been outstanding all season. Beasley is averaging 26.5 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. The forward is one of the few players in the tournament who can single handedly keep his team in the game.

Beasley alone is capable of keeping it close but he will need help from his teammates in order for the Wildcats to defeat the Trojans. Redshirt freshman Billy Walker is most likely to step up. Walker scores 15.8 points and grabs 6.4 rebounds per game but had sub-par performances in key losses down the stretch.

The athleticism of Beasley and Walker is a nightmare for opposing defenders. The tandem is capable creating scoring opportunities against the stingiest of defenses. Kansas State becomes an outstanding offense when Jacob Pullen (9.8 ppg), Clent Stewart (7.0) and Blake Young (6.1) are knocking down shots. Unfortunately for K-State this has been the exception rather than the rule.

Kansas State will have to stay patient against the discipline defense of USC. Trojans coach Tim Floyd has recruited excellent athletes and sold them on playing defense first. USC is thirteenth nationally in field-goal percentage against.

The Trojans are also capable of offensive excellence. They convert a high percentage of their shots and have an array of scorers. Mayo leads the way averaging 37 minutes and over 20 points per game, while leading the team in steals and assists.

The Trojans get offensive consistency from Davon Jefferson (12.0 ppg), Dwight Lewis (10.9) and Taj Gibson (10.8). Jefferson and Gibson provide the interior punch. The duo combines for over 14 rebounds per game.

Southern Cal is capable of making a run in the tournament but it has to rebound aggressively and take care of the basketball. The Trojans played the ninth most difficult schedule in the country and have had a tendency to throw the ball away and get out-rebounded by a wide margin against premier opponents.

Kansas State appears equally as dangerous but must play better than it did down the stretch. The Wildcats lost five of their last seven games including a first-round exit in the Big 12 Tournament.

Beasley and Mayo are two of the most talented players in the entire tournament and they will walk on the biggest stage of their lives together. Excellence can be expected from both but their teammates' performances will decide who advances to the second round.

USC is a 2 1/2-point favorite in most locations and the 'total' is 141. The Trojans average 69.5 points per game and give up 63.4. Kansas State scores 79.3 and allows 69.1 points.

Back to Bracket page.

Check out our NCAAB odds and matchup reports.