Longhorns, Trojans set to square off

Considering the histories of the University of Southern California and University of Texas football teams, it seemed inevitable that the subject would arise on the eve of today’s 2:20 p.m. NCAA tournament matchup of Trojans and Longhorns basketball teams in at the Arena.

Can Tim Floyd win really big games in basketball at a football school like USC, Texas coach Rick Barnes was asked?

“He already is,” came the succinct reply.

Barnes should know, given that the Longhorns are a year removed from a national football title. And of course USC has had its share of success recently as well. Both coaches consider that to be more asset than liability to their sport of choice.

“I’m sure that just like my situation at Texas, he feels that football does nothing but enhance his program,” said Barnes. “The exposure that football generates and when you start winning, people want to be a part of it.”

Floyd was in agreement when asked if it was harder to win at an established program than a remote one like his earlier stops at Idaho, New Orleans and Iowa State.

“This has been the easiest recruiting job that I’ve ever had,” the second-year Trojans coach said. “I think there’s a mystique about our football program and kids pay attention to it regardless if they are basketballers or footballers. It’s provided us great recruiting weekends.”

And so it is that in mid-March basketball takes precedence at both schools. The Trojans (24-11) and Longhorns (25-9) are part of the national basketball consciousness as they play for a berth in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in the second of two games at the Arena.

There will be some intriguing individual matchups, both at guard where a pair of 6-foot-4 USC players, Lodrick Stewart, who played at Rainier Beach in Seattle and Gabe Pruitt, will match up against Texas’ shorter, but faster duo of sophomore A.J. Abrams and freshman D.J. Augustin.

“I would imagine, their guards being bigger than ours, that they can try to get them in some areas where they could get over the top of us,” said Barnes.

Floyd saw savvy and poise in the Texas pair.

“D.J. understands where the ball needs to go and Abrams, he’s got unbelievable range and great quickness,” he said.

Inside, a pair of freshmen will attract attention, 6-foot-9 Kevin Durant, the Longhorns’ leading scorer and rebounder, versus USC’s 6-9 Taj Gibson, the leading rebounder, freshman record-setter for blocks, and one of four double-figure scorers, including leader Nick Young (17.4 ppg).

Gibson scored 18 points in the Trojans’ victory over Arkansas on Friday.

“I thought he was the one guy that really played well in the Oregon game,” said Floyd, “and I thought he played exceptionally well against Stanford and Washington State (in the Pac-10) tournament. I think he’s benefited from his experiences.”

Both coaches were complimentary of their opponents during Saturday’s press conferences, Barnes calling USC explosive and great defensively. They also discounted any notion that there’s an advantage in experience, saying at this stage of the season freshmen aren’t freshmen anymore.

“It doesn’t bother us being a young team,” said Abrams. “It hasn’t bothered us all year. We were together in the summer and jelled quickly.”

Texas, said Stewart, is unlike any team they faced in the Pac-10.

“They have quick guards like Oregon, I can say that,” he said. “But with Durant in the lineup it’s just a different matchup and we have to take a different approach to this game. We’re excited to be able to get this opportunity against Texas because they’re a great team.”