Shutting down Rodney Bullock
For USC, it is crucial to keep the game under their pace. Should Providence somehow come out rolling, the chances of the Trojans making up ground in this situation aren’t pretty.
One major part of that is controlling the scoring frequency of Providence forward Rodney Bullock.
As pointed out by Zach Helfand of the Los Angeles Times, Bullock is the best scorer between both teams. Going into the game, he currently averages 15.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest.
VIDEO: Providence's Rodney Bullock discusses getting a chance for game-winner https://t.co/88qriwsHXb pic.twitter.com/1LMRtGPKOm
— Daily Press Sports (@DP_Sports) March 19, 2016
It is of utmost importance for USC to protect the glass from him as well. Being physical will determine that part of the game, but they can’t forget to put a hand in his face on every shot.
Not to mention the fact that Bullock sees nearly 33 minutes on the floor each game. It won’t be uncommon for USC to have to figure him out on every possession.
Similar to how they controlled scoring options for UCLA, the Trojans must guard Bullock with the same confidence to have a shot at moving on.
But they can’t let him torch them like he did last year on a heart-breaking buzzer beater.