Southern California made sure of that today, getting 22 points from its more seasoned star, junior Nick Young, in an 87-68 runaway over Texas and Durant, the freshman front-runner for national player of the year.

As he often has this season, Durant led everyone with 30 points and added nine rebounds for fourth-seeded Texas.

But he never came close to dominating this East Regional game. Many times when he got the ball, the offense ground to a halt for the Longhorns (25-10), who fell behind by 17 early in the second half and never made a serious run.

No. 5 seed USC (25-11) also got 20 points from Daniel Hackett and 17 points and 14 rebounds from Taj Gibson -- 6-foot-9 freshman like Durant. The Trojans won by playing smarter, more disciplined basketball and looking much more like a team in doing it.

A team with a very good leader in Young -- the scrappy swingman who had every reason to believe he'd be a USC alum by the time second-year coach Tim Floyd's rebuilding efforts took shape.

Turns out, the talent's there now, and next week, the Trojans will make their first trip to the regional semis since 2001 -- and second since 1979 -- where they'll play North Carolina.

With their 25th win, they set a program record. Not bad for this so-called football school, which got a small -- very small -- measure of revenge for its heartbreaking loss to the Longhorns in the 2006 Rose Bowl with the national title on the line.

Meanwhile, Durant had nothing to be ashamed of. He added this to a 27-point, eight-rebound opener against New Mexico State in which he never quite looked in sync.

But he couldn't do it all for the 'Horns, and it is now decision time for the 26-point, 11-rebound-a-game star who will probably win several player-of-the-year awards over the next few weeks.

If he chooses the NBA and fellow freshman Greg Oden of Ohio State doesn't, Durant will likely be the top pick -- his perimeter skills giving him a chance to succeed right away while he fills out that skinny, 225-pound frame.