USC Trojans
2020-2021 Overall Rank: #45
Conference Rank: #7 Pac-12
USC was a pleasant surprise last season. The Trojans finished 22-9 and tied for third in the Pac-12. That likely would have been more than enough to get USC back to the NCAA Tournament. But heading into 2020-2021, things are quite different. Coach Andy Enfield lost four starters and their top five scorers. That makes this a very inexperienced team. However, there are four upperclassmen transfers coming in and that is a good place for USC to begin reloading.
2019-20 Record: 22-9, 11-7
Coach: Andy Enfield
Coach Record: 132-102 at USC, 173-130 overall
Key Departed Players:
Onyeka Okongwu, Forward, 16.2 ppg
Jonah Matthews, Guard, 13.4 ppg
Nick Rakocevic, Forward, 10.5 ppg
Daniel Utomi, Guard, 8.2 ppg
Elijah Weaver, Guard, 6.6 ppg
Kyle Sturdivant, Guard, 2.0 ppg
Quinton Adlesh, Guard, 1.9 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Ethan Anderson, Sophomore, Guard, 5.5 ppg
Isaiah Mobley, Sophomore, Forward, 6.2 ppg
Max Agbonkpolo, Sophomore, Forward, 2.5 ppg
McKay Anderson, Senior, Guard, dnp last season
Key New Players:
Noah Baumann, Junior, Guard, Transfer from San Jose State
Boubacar Coulibaly, Freshman, Forward
Tahj Eaddy Senior, Guard, Grad Transfer from Santa Clara
Chevez Goodwin, Senior, Forward, Grad Transfer from Wofford
Evan Mobley, Freshman, Forward
Joshua Morgan, Sophomore, Forward, Transfer from Long Beach State, not eligible
Drew Peterson, Junior, Guard, Transfer from Rice, not eligible
Isaiah White, Senior, Guard, Grad Transfer from Utah Valley
Projection:
Noah Baumann, Tahj Eaddy, Isaiah White and Chevez Goddwin all have Division I experience. Two years ago Baumann averaged 10.8 points per game with San Jose State and he should be a good shooter off the bench for the Trojans. Eaddy is a graduate transfer from Santa Clara where he averaged 15.0 points in 2018-2019 and 9.1 points last season. White is a big 6-7 guard who averaged 14.5 points and 8.4 rebounds at Utah Valley in 21 games during the 2019-2020 campaign. Goodwin tallied 11.9 points and 6.2 rebounds at Wofford last season. Those are four very talented transfers who, for the most part, have moved around quite a bit. If they can find a home at USC, even if it is just for one year, the Trojans have an experienced group to build around. The Trojans also welcome in a couple talented freshmen, most notably five-star recruit Evan Mobley. The seven-footer is one of the top prospects coming into college this year and most expect that he will spend one year at USC before heading to the NBA. All of the new faces will determine how far this team can go, but there is a trio of returning sophomores who are ready for more action too. Ethan Anderson started last season and averaged 5.5 points and a team high 4.2 assists. Isaiah Mobley added 6.2 points and 5.3 rebounds and Max Agbonkpolo showed some promise despite averaging under eight minutes per game. Losing four starters is going to hurt for a little while, but sooner or later this group will come together and be one of the most dangerous teams in the Pac-12.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 70.3 (202nd in nation, 8th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 66.0 (76, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 43.9 (171, 7)
Field-Goal Defense: 38.4 (9, 2)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.5 (251, 9)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.0 (89, 5)
Free-Throw Percentage: 66.2 (310, 12)
Rebound Margin: 3.4 (76, 4)
Assists Per Game: 13.9 (106, 5)
Turnovers Per Game: 14.5 (296, 11)
Madness 2021 NBA Draft Rankings:
#4 Evan Mobley
Madness 2020 Men’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#3 Evan Mobley
