Kansas at USC

Defense won this game that in contrast to popular belief was not officially part of the Big 12 Pac 10 Hardwood Series Challenge.

USC did better in the first half, the Kansas defense shut off their water in the second half and managed to grab the lead. OJ Mayo has some flashy OJ-Mayo-Mania monents early in the game, but then he resorted to wild perimeter shots at the defense closed in on him.

Devon Jefferson was able to provide some offense, but for the most part of the second half USC forgot that the purpose of the game was to score. Partially of course because of the KU defense. And to rub it in even more to USC fans, the game ended with the notorious "Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk, K U" - the game was played at USC's new sold out flashy arena with an LA skyline view.

With Brandon Rush still recovering, someone had to step up for Kansas, and the Alaska Assassin, Mario Chalmers, was the one that ended USC's hopes for a comeback. While Kansas is loaded, with Sherron Collins in the pipeline, and Brandon Rush on the recovery path, it feels like there is something missing from this team, just like last year.