LOS ANGELES — They were done in, ultimately, in the paint on Saturday, a blue horde of Bruins crashing the glass and earning second chances to empty possessions, USC outrebounded by 14 to UCLA and losing by 15. So center Joshua Morgan, the Trojans’ 6-foot-11 stalwart man in the middle, took the onus postgame.
“That’s me, that’s Kijani (Wright), that’s really – there’s not much excuse for that,” Morgan said, his tone a few notches above a mutter.
And USC’s big man rotation has been scattershot, in the midst of a scattershot season as a whole for a team (8-12 overall, 2-7 Pac-12) currently at the bottom of the conference standings. Head coach Andy Enfield has flip-flopped between starting the steadier Morgan and more energetic Vincent Iwuchukwu, who has shown intriguing flashes but has struggled to finish around the rim; Enfield has often yanked one for the other or called on Wright after mistakes.
At the end of the bench, meanwhile, freshman Arrinten Page has been the X-factor of the bunch, a visibly talented 6-11 freshman with range who hasn’t been able to consistently crack the rotation. Friends and teammates with freshman point guard Isaiah Collier at Wheeler High in Georgia, Page has averaged 3.2 points in 11.2 minutes per game, playing just two minutes in the loss to UCLA.
And when asked about his goals for the rest of the season after Wednesday’s practice, Page paused for a moment – and then spoke firmly.
“I want to become, like, a starter on this team,” Page said, holding an electric scooter. “I’d like to start on this team. I think I have the talent to do so.”
What does that look like for you?
“Using my God-given abilities,” he responded. “Being active. Getting rebounds. Blocking shots. Things of that nature.”
Do you feel like you could start?
“I’m very well capable,” Page said, matter-of-fact.
Do you feel like you should be starting, right now?
“I don’t know, that’s up to the coach,”…
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