David McCormack and Kansas Basketball faces Evan Mobley and USC Trojans

3. 3-point shooting 

With USC holding the size advantage on the interior, getting and knocking down open 3-point looks either off of kick-outs or good ball-movement. KU is a good passing team with an assist rate of 52.4%. While the Jayhawks don’t shoot an overabundance of threes, about 22 a game, they are just an average 3-point shooting team — making 34% of their tries (7.6).

However, KU was hot from long-distance against EWU, draining 12 of 30 shots from long distance to give them their eight-game of double-digit treys. Ochai Agbaji, who has knocked down at least 3 triples in five of the last six games, leads the Jayhawks with 73 triples at a 37.8% rate. Christian Braun is the only other player who has been consistent from deep with 48 treys.

USC does a good job at running opponents off the 3-point line, but the Trojans are just average in terms of 3-point percentage defense (34%). The Trojans have allowed just four teams to make at least 10 shots from beyond the arc.

2. Turnovers

Kansas turns the ball over 12.2 times a game which ranks 244th in the nation, but the Jayhawks, who have a strong 17.9% turnover rate, have been much better limiting their mistakes recently. Over the last nine contests, the Jayhawks are averaging 10 turnovers a game.

1. Defense 

While the “D” has been the catalyst for the Jayhawks this season, they have had off nights. KU, which has allowed opponents to shoot 45% or better from the field in seven of its eight losses, can’t afford an off-defensive game versus USC.