Bruins love nothing more than destroying the Trojans.

UCLA’s men’s basketball did just that Monday, knocking out USC on enemy grounds.

And it will be No. 22 UCLA swim and dive’s (3-4) turn to venture crosstown Friday, where it will face No. 14 USC (2-2). The meet marks the programs’ first-ever battle as Big Ten members and UCLA’s only conference dual meet of the season.

“We like walking into enemy territory,” said coach Jordan Cordry. “It brings out the best in us.”

The Bruins plan to make themselves known before they even set foot on the pool deck.

“We’re committing to do (a team cheer) really loud right when we get off the bus so that we declare our presence and they know we’re there before they even see us,” said senior Ana Jih-Schiff.

This meet represents more than a crosstown rivalry though. Both teams are looking down the barrel of their first year in the Big Ten – a year that will define their reputation within the conference.

“On paper, we’re not predicted to win this week,” Cordry said. “We need to find 20 more points, so it’s not about any one specific performance. It’s about showing up as the team that can outscore what’s predicted.”

Being the underdog isn’t new for the Bruins, who are 4-20-1 all-time against USC – including a 164-136 loss from their latest matchup in February 2024.

The Trojans claimed their two victories so far at home. In its meet against Arizona, USC Olympian Minna Abraham raced the then-fastest 200-yard freestyle in the country.

But when it comes to rivalry week, rankings and records don’t dictate what happens in the pool.

“We’re extra, extra anticipating this meet because it’s going to be a close one,” Jih-Schiff said. “We can anticipate that it will be fighting till the very last event, as it usually is. But I think we’re hungrier than ever.”

UCLA is entering the final stretch of a busy month of dual meets, including back-to-back competitions against No. 3 Stanford and No. 8 California on Jan. 17 and 18.

While the Bruins fell to both the Cardinal and the Golden Bears, they didn’t do so without a fight, snagging three school records in the process.

In fact, UCLA’s 181-111 loss to Stanford was a closer deficit than USC managed when it was defeated by Stanford 207-92 that same weekend.

“This year is probably the best chance we have of beating (USC) in a long time,” said graduate student Emma Harvey. “I think it’s gonna be a really close one, and it’s gonna bring out some amazing performances from all of us.”

Action against the Trojans begins Friday at noon and will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.