Season review: USC basketball sputters after historic highs
What were USC’s season highlights and lowlights? Who’s leaving, who might be gone, and who is coming to the Trojans?
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — GREENVILLE, S.C. — The USC men’s basketball season came to an abrupt end Friday as the Trojans lost their first-round NCAA Tournament matchup 68-66 to Miami.
It’s a loss that will surely stick with the Trojans all offseason, from the tantalizingly close buzzer-beater from Drew Peterson that fell to the wrong side of the rim, to the multitude of self-inflicted errors that made that shot necessary like 18 turnovers and six missed free throws.
But really, that was the only way this USC season would end, right? For much of the year, USC used late heroics to overcome its own mistakes that put the Trojans in that situation to begin with. In March, that dangerous pattern finally caught up with USC.
Before we head to the offseason, here’s a look back on this USC, with a look ahead to what will come next for Andy Enfield’s program.
A 13-0 start to the season elevated USC to No. 5 in the AP poll, the Trojans’ highest ranking since 1974. And with 26 wins, USC tied the all-time program record.
But the real highlights for USC came in the dramatic moments. Peterson’s career night to lift the Trojans to a win over UCLA – without leading scorer Isaiah Mobley – was the best team performance by USC all year.
Peterson added to his new USC folk-hero status with his game-winning 3-pointer against Oregon. Guard Boogie Ellis also had a game-winner against Washington State as USC built its cardiac kids reputation.
Lowlights
Frankly, USC was never the same after a three-week COVID-19 pause in the middle of the season. The offense wasn’t as sharp, with turnovers mounting. The defense struggled to keep up with smaller guards. Even as USC continued to pull out some wins, there was a sense the Trojans were getting away with their mistakes rather than playing winning basketball.
That culminated with a March in which USC lost four of five games. In those contests, the Trojans averaged 15.4 turnovers, playing their worst basketball of the year at the worst time.
Who’s gone
Forward Chevez Goodwin and guard Isaiah White have used up their eligibility and will move on to the next phase of their careers.
Goodwin’s energy in the post will be missed; he started every game for USC this season after operating mostly as a reserve last year. His scoring, particularly early in the season, helped USC get off to a strong start.
Injuries marred White’s final year in college, but USC fans will always have the memories of his sublime shooting in the 2021 Elite Eight run.
Who’s on the fence
When Mobley saw Peterson’s potential game-winner just miss the mark Friday, his face scrunched up in pure agony. Surely going through his mind is the same question that USC fans will ask: Is that how Mobley’s college career will end? Mobley tested the NBA draft waters last summer only to return and lead the Trojans in scoring. Now there looms the possibility he will follow his brother Evan into the professional ranks.
Peterson’s future is also murky. The senior guard has one year of eligibility left, and did not participate in Senior Day festivities last month. When asked earlier this week about returning next season, Peterson said that decision will come after the tournament. Now he will have to decide whether his professional stock is as high as it will get.
Who’s on the way
Only the No. 6 recruiting class in the country, per 247Sports.com. Five-star 7-footer Vince Iwuchukwu and Sierra Canyon McDonald’s All-American Kijani Wright are the headliners. They are joined by four-star small forward Tre White and three-star shooting guard Oziyah Sellers.
ocregister.com
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Everybody expects Mobley to enter the draft but he’s not appearing on any mock boards, so that could change. A bigger question night be the ultimate direction of his father, who has shown himself to be a solid big-man coach–and committed to it–unlike most sports dads. The word now is that Boogie is moving on. He came to play the point, but he isn’t one, and we badly need to find one to execute Andy’s offense. Kobe Johnson has shown upside, but hasn’t convinced anybody yet. Needs a big sophomore bounce; some of us have hopes. Peterson has not yet… Read more »
Wilson, Thanks for the quality update. After watching some collegiate BB, Isaiah is not a star. I doubt he starts in the NBA, but my guess is he is good enough to make a team as a bench player. If I am even remotely right, then his decision is does he want to start the pro grind or sit out another year and work with his Dad. If I were making the call, I would return. I would be delighted to see SC consistently make the tournament and contend for Sweet 16 year in and year out. I think anything… Read more »
I guess we were not an elite team after all. We were a team that played well enough to win 26 games but did not overcome faults that nagged this team throughout the season. Next season 2022-23, we should IMHO give more playing time to Dixon-Waters. This young man is fearless and will take his shots and drive hard with authority to the basket. He has a good outside shot. Get this player on the court for more minutes. Ethan Anderson showed that he could play point guard in that Miami game. Boogie Ellis when healthy should contribute as well… Read more »
If UCLA wins their next game in March Madness AND tiny…..tiny …..tiny St.Peters of Jersey City New Jersey (Total enrollment 3000 students) pulls of another miracle then Tiny…..Tiny ……Tiny St.Peters will play ………………………….UCLA .
Overall, Evan Mobley was the best USC basketball player I’ve ever seen and his loss was just too big for USC to overcome. Evan was just crazy good at answering the call in various amazing ways as a big man for the Trojans from what I observed, though I’m sure others could well argue USC has had better players. Brother Isaiah just doesn’t have Evan’s ability by a long shot. Such a difference between those two, and Isaiah’s broken nose seemed to take a noticeable toll on him. Hard for me to understand why Enfield’s 2022 team often started so… Read more »
Allen, Totally agree. From the little I saw, the 2022 team had no NBA starter on it. It has three players who might make an NBA team (Elllis, I. Mobley and Pearson) but I doubt they start. I watched the Gonzaga/Memphis game last night. Gonzaga was down 10 at half and came back to win it – Timme lead the way. Really great game. SC had no one even remotely in Timme’s class as a player. I doubt anyone on this year’s team would have started for Gonzaga and the only kids who would get PT are Mobley, Pearson and… Read more »
All in all, SC had a better season after I thought after Evan Mobley moved on to the NBA. With the exception of last year, Andy Enfield’s SC teams always fade at the end of the year. I don’t know exactly why. He was once the NCAA career leader in free throw percentage during his playing days at Johns Hopkins, but his teams ALWAYS struggle at the free throw line. The last 4 games of this season SC came out unfocused and flat, another hallmark of Enfield’s teams. Mike Bohn should not have extended Enfield to 2027-28. It will be… Read more »
rlee, I think the extension made sense. Enfield is probably as good a coach as SC is going to get. No elite coach would take the job. SC is a football school, not BB school. SC simply does not (and I doubt will) have a rapid BB fan base. The only way this changes is if Enfield continues to improve as a coach and gets better players. To make the Final Four requires great talent (and some luck). Enfield has recruited a top 10 class and if Pearson and Mobley return, then SC should stand a chance next year to… Read more »
I would have liked Bohn to search for an assistant in a top program rather than extend Enfield. I’m thinking of something like Arizona hiring Tommy Lloyd who was an assistant at Gonzaga. Maybe Bohn looked elsewhere, who knows. SC should expect greatness in all major sports, not just good. It’s sad that Paul Westphal passed away last year. I’ll always be dumfounded as to why SC didn’t/couldn’t get him to coach at his alma mater.