USC Basketball: What to Expect from the Trojans This Season

The USC Trojans are gearing up for another season of basketball. Here’s what to expect from the team this year.

Introduction

The USC Trojans are coming off a disappointing season in which they failed to make the NCAA tournament However, there are reasons for optimism heading into the new season. The Trojans have a talented group of players, led by potential All-American candidate Evan Mobley They also have a new Head Coach in Eric Mobley, who has proven himself at the collegiate level.

USC will be looking to make a return to the NCAA Tournament this season, and they have the talent to do so. If everything breaks right, this could be a special season for the Trojans.

The Team

This season, the Trojans will be led by head coach Andy Enfield, who is entering his sixth year at the helm of the program. The team will be looking to improve upon last year’s disappointing 13-9 overall record and 5-9 mark in conference play

The roster is filled with experienced players, as the Trojans only have two true freshmen on the team. Senior forward Jonah Mathews is the leading returning scorer from last season, averaging 13.1 points per game He will be joined in the frontcourt by junior Nick Rakocevic, who averaged 11.0 points and a team-best 8.1 rebounds per game last season.

In the backcourt, USC will be anchored by senior guard Derryck Thornton Jr., who transferred to USC from Duke prior to last season. He averaged 10.5 points and 3.5 assists per game in his first year with the Trojans and will be counted on to provide both scoring and leadership this season.

The Trojans will open their season on November 6th at home against UC Riverside.

The Schedule

The USC Trojans men’s basketball team will be playing their first game of the season on November 6th against the University of Missouri – Kansas City Roos. The Trojans are set to have a very tough schedule this season, as they will be playing several ranked opponents. Some games to keep an eye on are:

-November 17th vs. St. Mary’s
-December 1st vs. Oklahoma
-December 19th vs. UCLA
-January 9th vs. Oregon
-January 25th vs. Arizona

The Conference

The USC Trojans Basketball team is a program with a lot of history. The Trojans have won 11 conference championships and have made 28 NCAA tournament appearances. USC has also produced 29 NBA draft picks, including 5 first-round picks The Trojans have had some down years recently, but they are looking to turn things around this season.

The Trojans will be led by junior guard Jonah Mathews. Mathews is coming off of a season in which he averaged 12.5 points per game and was named to the All-Pac-12 Conference Honorable Mention team. He will be joined in the backcourt by senior guard Derryck Thornton, who averaged 10 points per game last season. The frontcourt will be anchored by junior forward Nick Rakocevic, who averaged 11 points and 9 rebounds per game last season.

USC will compete in the Pac-12 Conference this season. The Pac-12 is one of the toughest conferences in college basketball as it features such programs as UCLA, Oregon, and Arizona State The Trojans will look to improve upon their 12-6 conference record from last season and earn a spot in the NCAA tournament

The Rivalry

The biggest question surrounding USC Basketball this season is how the team will respond to the loss of its biggest rival, UCLA.

USC and UCLA have been bitter rivals on the court for decades, but that rivalry came to an abrupt end last year when UCLA decided to leave the conference.

USC Head Coach Andy Enfield said he is not worried about how his team will respond to the loss of the rivalry.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to play in a great conference,” Enfield said. “We don’t concern ourselves with other programs.”

Enfield is not alone in his thinking. Senior guard Jordan McLaughlin said he is also looking forward to playing in a tough conference.

“It’s going to be a great challenge for us,” McLaughlin said. “I think we’re up for it.”

The Trojans will have their work cut out for them this season as they try to replace the scoring and leadership of last year’s seniors, Katin Reinhardt and Nikola Jovanovic.

USC will also have to deal with the departures of highly regarded recruits Lonzo Ball and TJ Leaf, who both decided to go elsewhere after UCLA left the conference.

The Fans

USC basketball fans are some of the most passionate and supportive fans in the country. They are known for their loud and proud presence in the Staples Center and they always travel well to away games. This season, they will have plenty to cheer about as the Trojans are expected to compete for a conference title and a spot in the NCAA tournament

The Media

The USC Trojans are a team that has been on the rise over the past few years. With a young core of talented players, they have the potential to be a force in the PAC-12 for years to come.

This season, the Trojans are expected to compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament They have a strong mix of experience and youth, with several players who have the potential to be All-Conference performers.

The media has been high on USC this season, with many pundits predicting them to be a dark horse contender in the conference. The Trojans have been receiving some national attention and they will look to use that to their advantage this season.

USC is a team that should not be taken lightly. They have the talent and potential to make some noise in the PAC-12 this season.

The Legacy

USC basketball is steeped in legacy. The Trojans have won 11 NCAA Championships more than any other school. They’ve also produced some of the game’s greatest players including Bill Sharman, Gail Goodrich and Reggie Miller USC’s roll call of greats doesn’t end there. The Trojans have also produced a long line of successful coaches, including current Head coach Andy Enfield.

This season, USC will look to build on its storied past and establish itself as one of the premier programs in college basketball The Trojans are coming off a successful campaign in which they won 21 games and made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. USC will look to build on that success this season with a talented roster that features several key returnees and a few highly-touted newcomers.

The Trojans will be led by junior guard Shaqquan Aaron, who averaged 13.6 points per game last season. Aaron will be joined in the backcourt by sophomore Derryck Thornton, who averaged 10.3 Points per game as a freshman. Both Aaron and Thornton are capable scorers and will give USC a formidable backcourt duo.

In the frontcourt, USC will be led by junior forward Bennie Boatwright, who averaged 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season. Boatwright will be joined in the frontcourt by freshman forward Taeshon Cherry and sophomore center Nick Rakocevic. Cherry is one of the most highly-touted recruits in USC history and should make an immediate impact while Rakocevic is coming off a strong freshman campaign in which he averaged 5.7 points and 4 rebounds per game.

With a talented roster that features several key returnees and some highly-touted newcomers, USC basketball is poised for another successful season The Trojans have their sights set on winning another NCAA championship and establishing themselves as one of the premier programs in college basketball

The Future

Looking to the future, it’s hard not to be optimistic about USC Basketball The Trojans have a young, talented team that is expected to only get better as the season goes on. USC also has one of the best recruiting classes in the country coming in next year, so the future is bright for the program.

This season, USC is likely to start off slow as they get accustomed to playing with each other. However, as the season progresses, they are expected to improve and be a force to be reckoned with. If everything goes according to plan, USC could find themselves in the NCAA tournament come March.

It’s going to be an exciting season for USC Basketball so make sure to keep an eye on them!

Conclusion

The USC Trojans are a basketball team that is consistently improving. They have a lot of potential, and they are a team to watch out for in the future. This season, the Trojans are likely to make some noise in the NCAA Tournament