Huskies Reach Precarious Point

Washington is trying to keep its NCAA tournament hopes alive after losing five of its last seven games. It has been 12 years since the Huskies’ last tournament appearance, and they probably need to win all three of their remaining games to earn an invitation.

They find themselves in a similar situation to the one USC was in last season when the teams met in the regular-season finale. The Trojans were 17-10 overall and 12-5 in the Pacific 10 Conference going in, and were thought to be a team on the bubble for making the tournament.

Despite a career-high 32-point performance by senior Rodrick Rhodes, USC lost, 94-84, and it appeared that the Huskies had squashed USC’s chances of making the tournament.

But the Trojans did get one of the tournament’s 64 invitations, although they didn’t get very far, losing to Illinois in the first round.

TONIGHT

USC at Washington

* 7 PST

Site--Hec Edmundson Pavilion, Seattle

Radio--KIEV (870)

Records--Trojans, 7-17, 3-11 in Pac-10. Huskies, 15-9, 8-7.

Update--USC has lost three in a row and 10 of 12 at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Junior forward Adam Spanich scored a season-high 35 points, including seven three-point baskets, in a 101-86 loss to the Huskies at the Sports Arena last month.