Staples Center is visibly buzzing now, with the UCLA and USC cohorts finally filling this place up. The first game on tap for the day is a dandy. Arizona State likely needs a win to reach the NCAA Tournament, and must do it against a streaking Trojans team.

The James Harden-O.J. Mayo matchup pits two of the top freshman guards in the country against each other. Even though they are not guarding each other much–the Sun Devils are in a zone to try and contain Mayo and Daniel Hackett’s dribble-penetration, both stars are shining.

As I’m writing this, Mayo just brushed his defender off of him with a crossover from the left corner and stepped back to swish a deep two. He is playing a much more controlled game than earlier in the season. He drove into the lane, drew two defenders, and smartly dished it out to Hackett for an easy three to make it 32-28 USC. (Click here to read more…)