Vince Iwuchukwu doesn’t dominate UCLA, but holds his own and provides important contributions
The box score will tell you that in 17 minutes against UCLA, Vince Iwuchukwu gave USC 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 blocked shot with 2 turnovers. On the surface, that’s not hugely impressive, and it’s true that Iwuchukwu did not overwhelm UCLA. He wasn’t the first, second, or even the third reason the Trojans beat the Bruins.
Boogie Ellis was the star with 31 points. Drew Peterson collected 16 points and played 39 minutes of high-energy defense. Kobe Johnson was everywhere, posting 10 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.
Iwuchukwu was not the central reason for USC’s 77-64 win over UCLA, but his 17 minutes were a study in hidden value, in unseen contributions.
Iwuchukwu didn’t load up on stats, but his value to USC came through what wasn’t seen.
Iwuchukwu watched teammate Joshua Morgan give up a lot of offensive rebounds to UCLA. When Iwuchukwu came in, UCLA didn’t get very many offensive boards. This was a game in which Iwuchukwu reduced UCLA’s statistical imprint more than increasing his own.
That counts just the same, only in a different way.
The most encouraging part of Iwuchukwu’s performance: He looked physically strong against UCLA — not superior, but able to hold his own. He had a shot blocked by UCLA’s Adem Bona, but that was a product of not having smooth, polished footwork. That will come in time. The main thing is that Iwuchukwu was not rag-dolled by the Bruins’ frontcourt. He held position and was not overpowered.
Now that he has been able to face Arizona’s and UCLA’s frontcourts over the past week, future games against less imposing Pac-12 frontcourts should be more manageable. You saw Iwuchukwu dominate Arizona State. He should be able to feast against Washington State and Washington next week. If he does, USC’s margin for error will increase. The Trojans won’t lose any of the games which could imperil their NCAA Tournament chances.
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