USC Basketball Jumps In the Polls
USC Basketball is ranked in the AP Top-25 for the first time since 2008
USC (15–3, 4–1) is known nationwide as a football school, but the Trojan basketball team has taken the Pac-12 by storm and is looking to change that moniker. Coming into Pac-12 conference play, USC was 11–2, playing good basketball but with most people still as skeptics. Losing a 22-point lead to Washington and almost giving up a 15-point lead to Arizona State didn’t help their national perception.
But a four-overtime victory over Arizona and a dominating win at UCLA finally warranted some recognition for the Trojans. USC is ranked No. 21 in the AP Poll where they reached the top 25 for the first time since November 2008.
The members of the associated press aren’t the only ones to buy into the USC hype. Joe Lunardi, famed “bracketologist”, put USC as a five-seed in his latest bracketology projections. This is a one spot bump from last week when Lunardi has the Trojans as a six-seed.
The Trojans started Pac-12 play 4–1, which is their best start since the 2001–2002 season when they started 5–0 in the Pac-10. USC is led by the dynamic backcourt of junior Julian Jacobs and sophomore Jordan McLaughlin who are first and second in the conference in assists respectively.
Averaging 5.7 and 5.2 assists per game, the backcourt have helped lead the Trojans to the top margin in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio, three-point field goal percentage, and total three-pointers made.
USC finishes its short road trip this weekend by playing Oregon on Thursday and Oregon State on Sunday, where they will likely be favored in both games. The tough stretch comes at the end of the month when the Trojans have to play the UW, UCLA, and Arizona in three of four games, starting with the Huskies on Saturday the 30th.
What’s different about the Trojans this year is that they have consistency and balance. With six players averaging double figures, plus Chimezie Metu coming into his own, USC attacks its opponents from all sides. Whether it be Jacobs and McLaughlin driving and dishing, Reinhardt and Stewart knocking down jumpers, or Boatwright and Jovanovic attacking from the paint, USC is dynamic.
With three very winnable games against Oregon, Oregon State, and Washington State, before the schedule gets tough again, USC has a chance to climb to 18–3 for the first time since the 1970–71 season when they finished 24–2.
