USC Basketball Pac-12 Preview
The Trojans are off to their best start in years, but conference play provides the true test
Non-conference play in college basketball is a fascinating component of the regular season. The top teams in the country have loaded schedules and tend to lose a few more games than they should before they enter conference play. The teams below them usually enter conference play with inflated records from a favorable schedule.
That is not what you should make of the USC Trojans’ 11–2 start, the best start for the school since the 2001–02 season. USC closed out December with a thumping of Lafayette, 100–64, to finish the month 6–0 and undefeated for the first time since 1991. Despite having a strength of schedule outside the top-100 (140th overall), there’s plenty of positives to buy a stock of optimism for the 2015–16 season.
Before getting into individual players and team statistics the most important and obvious improvement for the Trojans can just be seen with the naked eye. The team is looser than years prior. They look like they all get along and fight for each other, like a real team should. There’s an extra pep in their step and a bit of an unrelenting swagger. Oh, and they’re blowing teams out too.
Nine of USC’s wins have been by at least ten points, and they have six wins by 19 or more points. Other winning margins include 38 (on their season opener), 35 and 36. They’ve also beaten ranked Wichita State and a very good Monmouth team. Their only losses have come to Monmouth and Xavier, who happen to be No. 6 team in the country.
Watching USC’s landslide victories in person it becomes very clear why this team has the record it has and is playing an improved brand of unselfish, high-flying basketball. Every player has improved significantly, due to the work they put in over the summer, touted by head coach Andy Enfield repeatedly.
The coach added that almost every player added significant muscle this off season — 10–15 pounds for most guys. Now in his third season, with two full rounds of recruiting, Enfield’s young squad has grown up right before the Trojan family’s very eyes.
The rise of USC has the Trojans currently ranked 34th in Ken Pomeroy’s advanced college basketball rankings, though Joe Lunardi’s most recent bracketology as USC as one of the first 4 out. These individual improvements have led to enormous accomplishments for USC as a team.
Much in thanks to freshman Chimezie Metu, the Trojans are 5th in the NCAA in blocks. The team has also cut down on turnovers and greatly improved their shooting from downtown, currently 20th in three-point percentage and 38th in three pointers made. By addressing the three biggest weaknesses from last season — turnovers, three point shooting, and rim protection — USC is an entirely different team, and it’s all down to the players.
When you look at the individual numbers, you’ll find a balanced attack, not a single 20-point scorer. Katin Reinhardt, much in thanks to a hot end of the year, is leading the team for the second straight season with nearly 14 points per game. However, five other Trojans are averaging over 10 points — Jordan McLaughlin (12.4), Julian Jacobs (12), Bennie Boatwright (12), Nikola Jovanovic (11.8), and Elijah Stewart (10.1).
What this means is that it’s not easy to plan for USC because so many players can contribute. It’s also great when the backcourt of J-Mac and Jacobs averages over 11 assists per game. This season of improvement even has Trojans atop the Pac-12 in certain areas, something that would have been merely a dream last season.
Yes, the improvement from the past few seasons is immeasurable. That being said, the true test and the real results lie in Pac-12 play. It’s a deep conference, though it’s unclear yet if there’s a correlation between depth and talent.
USC took care of business during non-conference play to have a shot at the NCAA Tournament. However, to be an at large bid, they’ll likely need a strong Pac-12 campaign. The team had a winning record this time last year, but then crumbled. Pac-12 play starts on New Years Day away to Washington State.
Every team in the Pac-12, besides 7–4 Stanford, has at least eight wins heading into conference play, in what many experts believe is an unpredictable division right now. USC joins very balanced teams in Oregon, Colorado and Utah with 11–2 records, only one game behind Arizona atop the conference. Related: The Wildcats have lost considerable firepower from what made them the clear top team in the conference last season.
Below them you’ll find Gary Payton II and Oregon State, followed by 10–3 squads at Arizona State and California - led by the freshman duo of Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb, as well as stellar point guard Tyrone Wallace. After that is Washington at 8–4, led by three terrific freshmen. And finally, among the most relevant teams, UCLA, who has already challenged the likes of UNC and beaten Kentucky.
Prior to conference play tip-off, it looks to be an extremely competitive conference without an evident favorite. By mid-January, however, we may have a clearer picture.
Despite a stellar start for USC, there are a few areas they must be wary of to continue their success. USC has a good rebounding rate, but gets killed by opponents on the glass when they’re defending. If the Trojans cannot rebound the ball better, those second chance points will haunt them and possibly decide close games.
The other major area that needs improvement is a self-inflicting one: free throw shooting. It was the same story last year and here we are again with a team shooting under 67 percent. These two aspects may not hurt them against below-average opponents, but they’ll need to take advantage of the free shots in order to beat the competitive teams in the Pac-12.
There’s no telling how USC will do, but there is no reason why, with their talent and improvement, they shouldn’t be competitive.
It’s not pessimistic to hold your breath for a few games, but an 11–2 start is a great one. It shows progress. That being said, USC basketball should have, by now, gained your attention, now hopefully, it’ll gain your attendance.
