Southern California @ Texas Tech preview

After cruising to three home wins by an average of 33.7 points, Texas Tech, which made a surprising run to the Elite Eight last season, gets its first real test this season when it faces Pac-12 heavyweight USC in the semifinals of the NABC Hall of Fame Classic on Monday night at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. The Trojans, picked to finish fifth in the Pac-12's preseason media poll after finishing second last season, come in with a 2-1 record and got a big boost when 6-10 senior forward Bennie Boatwright and highly touted freshman guard Elijah Weaver both made their season debuts in a 95-59 rout of Stetson on Wednesday.

"They have a good team that appears to be an NCAA Tournament-type team," Texas Tech coach Chris Beard said of the Trojans. "They are just getting their team back together and look to be back at full force by the time we play them on Monday night. They play really fast and will be one of the best uptempo teams in college basketball. We'll have to play really well. We're going to be in a lot of games like this all year long. This is what the Big 12 is like every night so it is a great early-season test for us." Boatwright, an NBA prospect who finished second on the team in scoring (13.6) and rebounding (6.4) last year but suffered a season-ending left patella injury in February, had 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including four 3-pointers, in his season debut against Stetson. "Bennie played good team basketball, and we really got him going in the second half," USC coach Andy Enfield told the Orange County Register. "We need his perimeter shooting, his size, his experience. He looked in total control when he played."

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT USC (2-1): Weaver, expected to be the man who replaced four-year starter and school career assists leader Jordan McLaughlin at point guard, also made his season debut against Stetson after recovering from ankle surgery in late August and didn't disappoint, scoring nine points to go with two rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes of action. "It was important for Bennie and Elijah to play (against Stetson), to get some rhythm, continuity and timing," Enfield said. "The teams we'll play (in the Hall of Fame Classic) are excellent. We're excited because they're NCAA Tournament-type teams." Six Trojans are averaging in double figures led by 6-11 junior forward Nick Rakocevic (17.7) who also is averaging 15.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks.

ABOUT TEXAS TECH (3-0): Sophomore guard Jarrett Culver is coming off a season-high 21 points to go with four assists and four rebounds in a 59-40 victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday and leads the team in scoring (16.3) while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range. Guard Davide Moretti is the only other Red Raider averaging in double figures (11.3) and leads the team with six made 3-pointers while Matt Mooney, a grad transfer from South Dakota where he was a first team all-Summit League choice, is averaging 9.0 points, a team best 5.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds. Senior center Norense Odiase, one of two starters along with Culver back from last season's 27-10 squad, leads the team in rebounds (10.0) and grabbed a career-high 13 boards in the win over Southeastern Louisiana.

TIP-INS

1. This is the third meeting between the two schools with the series even at 1-1. Texas Tech won the last meeting, 63-59, on Dec. 7, 1984, in a game played in Iowa City, Iowa.

2. USC has won its last 33 games when holding an opponent to 70 points or less.

3. Rakocevic had 16 points and 13 rebounds in the win over Stetson and has had a double-double in all three games this season.

PREDICTION: USC 78, Texas Tech 73