Lest college basketball fans think that no one besides Kevin Love or O.J. Mayo is going to matter today when fourth-ranked UCLA plays host to USC at Pauley Pavilion, consider these statistics:
In the two games in which Mayo has scored 30 or more points, USC lost.
When Love has taken five or fewer shots, UCLA won.
Contrary to the beliefs of those who plan Sports Illustrated cover shots or decide which games to televise nationally, the success of the freshman phenoms' teams does not hinge strictly on their performances.
And they are among the first to say so.
"We all got scholarships here to play basketball," Mayo said.
While Love leads UCLA in scoring and rebounding, others have helped steer the Bruins to a 16-1 start in which they are one of only two unbeaten teams in Pacific 10 Conference play.
Junior forward Josh Shipp is a versatile scorer who can get to the basket or spot up for three-pointers. Junior guard Darren Collison is the ultimate playmaker, often zipping perfect passes to teammates but rarely turning the ball over. And sophomore guard Russell Westbrook leads the conference in assists even though he now comes off the bench.
"For us it's not Love versus Mayo," Shipp said. "For us it's a total team game."
USC has played its best when Mayo hasn't led the Trojans in scoring. In victories over Southern Illinois, Oklahoma and Washington, USC relied on the above-the-rim athleticism of freshman forward Davon Jefferson, the scoring of sophomore guard Dwight Lewis and the toughness of sophomore forward Taj Gibson in addition to the all-around prowess of Mayo.
And so the Trojans realize that a victory over the heavily favored Bruins will require a collective effort, not merely a superlative one from their leading scorer.
"People want it to be between O.J. and Love," Gibson said, "but both teams know that it's going to come down to who wants it more, and it's going to take five [players] to win this game."
Love acknowledged that the buzz surrounding the rivalry might have faded a bit in the wake of USC's 1-3 conference start, but the Trojans view today's game as a potentially pivotal moment.
"There's a sense of urgency that we need to get back on track," Mayo said.
The rivalry between Love and Mayo dates to eighth grade, when their club teams met in a tournament title game at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Mayo's team won but Love had a big scoring outburst in the second half that resonated with his rival.
