USC feels good about NCAA tournament seeding after COVID derailed promising 2020
Ryan Kartje (LA Times) — In the four years since USC last qualified for the NCAA tournament, coach Andy Enfield has endured every manner of Selection Sunday drama. In 2017, the Trojans barely snuck off the bubble and into the First Four as an 11th seed. The next year, they were snubbed in spite of a trip to the Pac-12 tournament final. Then, last season, just as USC hit its stride, the pandemic threw a wrench in its plans, canceling the tournament.This year, there were no such theatrics for USC. Instead, the Trojans shared a few scoops of ice cream in a Las Vegas hotel conference room ahead of the bracket reveal, knowing full well they belonged in the field. When USC was announced as a sixth seed in the West Region, its highest seeding since its vacated tournament trip in 2008, the lack of surprise was a testament to how far USC had come in its best of eight seasons under Enfield.
“It is nice just to take a step back and realize this group has accomplished a tremendous amount,” Enfield said. “This was a fun day for us. It was a day to reminisce about our season.”
Whether reminiscing is warranted just yet, the wait for this moment, especially after last year’s heartbreak, was certainly long for Enfield and USC. The Trojans will have to wait a few more days still to know their tournament opponent, as Wichita State (16-5) and Drake (25-4) face off in the First Four on Thursday. The winner will face the Trojans as an 11th seed Saturday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the exact position USC was in during its only tournament run under Enfield.
The pressure on USC’s coach, after a 22-7 season that fell just a few percentage points short of a Pac-12 title, is much more acute now. Buoyed by a freshman 7-footer bound for a top-three selection in the NBA draft, the Trojans enter the tournament with expectations and a roster talented enough to play more than just spoiler. Anything less than a victory or two for USC this March would qualify as a major disappointment.
“Is there pressure to get to the second weekend?” Enfield said. “Yeah, there’s pressure on every team in the tournament. That’s what March Madness is all about.”
Evan Mobley understands that burden, even if he’s never been here before. USC’s star freshman made clear last week that he’s primed for the postseason spotlight, scoring 52 points, securing 18 rebounds, blocking 10 shots and dishing out five assists over two games at the Pac-12 tournament, taking over in a way he hadn’t all season.
It will take more than just a monumental performance from Mobley for USC to make it out of the first weekend of the tournament. A defense that dragged somewhat over the final few weeks will have to return to form, while the supporting cast around Mobley will have to carry some of the load.
Not since 2007 have the Trojans reached the Sweet 16. This year, it likely will take a win over No. 3 seed Kansas, which is dealing with a cavalcade of COVID-19 issues, to make it to the Sweet 16.
Any further than that and USC would face the likes of Iowa or Gonzaga, perhaps two of the only teams in the field capable of shutting down Mobley. But that’s exactly the type of test he was looking for when he signed with USC in 2019 as the highest-rated recruit in school history.
“It’s a big stage, and big players have to step up to the challenge,” Mobley said. “I just try to step up to the challenge, do everything I possibly can to help my team win. From now on, it could be our last game. I’m going to treat it that way and try to go all out.”
The freshman should have no problem asserting himself in his first NCAA tournament matchup, no matter whom USC winds up playing. Neither Drake nor Wichita State has a starter taller than 6-8.
That was news to Enfield, who said Sunday afternoon that he knew “nothing about either team.”
“I think Wichita is in Wichita, Kansas, and Drake is somewhere in the Midwest,” Enfield said. “I’d have to get my map out. Are they in Iowa?”
There was no such confusion about where USC belonged this March. But where it will end up, amidst its first tournament appearance in four years, is very much a mystery.
No. 6 USC vs. No. 11 Wichita State/Drake matchup
SATURDAY, 1:30 P.M. PDT (TNT); AT INDIANAPOLIS
How they got here: After a scorching-hot stretch through January and early February, USC has lost four of its last 10 games and was eliminated in the Pac-12 tournament semifinals. The Trojans’ earlier stretch of 13 wins in 14 games was enough to build their resume for the NCAA tournament. Wichita State went 1-1 against Houston, a No.2 seed in the NCAAs, and won the American Athletic Conference regular-season title but lost in the tournament semifinals to Cincinnati. Drake, meanwhile, lost in the final of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament to Loyola Chicago, which beat the Bulldogs twice in three tries.
Last 10 games: USC 6-4; Wichita State 8-2; Drake 7-3
Record vs. NCAA tournament teams: USC 5-5; Wichita State 1-3; Drake 1-2
Best victories/worst losses: A season sweep of UCLA, sealed on a last-second three-pointer for the second straight season, probably feels the sweetest for USC. But a 72-58 win over Oregon on Feb.22 is its best performance on paper. The Trojans’ worst loss came shortly afterward, as USC lost 71-61 on Feb.27 in Salt Lake City to a Utah team that would finish 12-13. A victory over Houston in February marks Wichita State’s best win, while its worst loss was a 20-point defeat at Memphis. For Drake, a victory over Loyola is the most notable part of its resume. A loss at 12-16 Bradley last month … not so much.
Common opponents: None.
USC lineup: Starters — G Tahj Eaddy (13.7 ppg, 2.6 apg), G Drew Peterson (9.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg), G Isaiah White (7.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg), F Isaiah Mobley (9 ppg, 7.4 rpg), C Evan Mobley (16.8, 8.6 rpg). Top reserves — G Ethan Anderson (6.1 ppg, 3.0 apg), F Chevez Goodwin (5.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg), F Max Agbonkpolo (3.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg).
It’s a fact: Wichita State has been to the Sweet 16 twice (2013 and 2015) since USC last made it to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament, while Drake hasn’t won an NCAA tournament game since 1971.
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Ranking the 2021 men’s NCAA tournament contenders, from 1-68 TIER 4: The COVID-infected Fringe Contenders 14. Kansas (+2500 | W3; vs. Eastern Washington) TIER 5: The Lurkers 15. Virginia (+5000 | W4; vs. Ohio) 18. Oregon (+5000 | W7; vs. VCU) 22. Colorado (+6600 | E5; vs. Georgetown) 25. USC (+3500 | W6; vs. play-in winner) TIER 6: The Sweet 16 Longshots 39. Wichita State (+10000 | W11; First Four vs. Drake) 47. UCLA (+8000 | E11; First Four vs. Michigan State) 48. Oregon State (+8000 | M12; vs. Tennessee) 50. Drake (+10000 | W11; First Four vs. Wichita State)… Read more »
LAT — A win (against DRAKE or WICH ST) probably would land USC in a second-round game against KU and, despite Bill Self’s résumé of one title and three Final Fours, the Jayhawks are a distracted mess. In addition to dropping out of the Big 12 tournament, they will be traveling to Indianapolis without three of their players. Advantage Trojans.
Said USC’s Evan Mobley: “I think we’re very motivated.”
“I think we can do something special,” Trojan guard Tahj Eaddy said.
J. Brady McCollough’s (LA Times) March Madness predictions for USC:
No. 6 USC vs. No. 11 Drake
Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
TV: TNT
Line: N/A
Pick: If Evan Mobley asserts himself early, this one shouldn’t be too stressful for the Trojans.
USC 74, Drake 62
No. 3 Kansas vs. No. 6 USC
Sunday-Monday
Pick: After going through the Big 12, Kansas is better prepared to grind out a win and make it to the second weekend than USC.
Kansas 67, USC 61
latimes.com
Nelson Agholor just signed with NE: two years, $26 mil.
In 2015, Agholor was originally selected by Philadelphia in the first round with the 20th overall pick.[
If one can believe Las Vegas, and who in his right mind wouldn’t, SC (100-1 to win the National Title) will either get Wichita St (750-1) or Drake (1000-1). Looks pretty good for our local heroes to get by the Inflated-64 and into the Not-Bad-32.
Then, to weasel our way into the Sweet-16 there’s Kansas, not a typical Jayhawks squad but still ok, in the Trojans’ path.
RPI Numerical rating on 2 teams …….USC 0.6062…….KANSAS 0.6051……KANSAS is # 19 in the RPI …..SC is # 17 ………FIGHT ON !!!!!
But USC has no basketball tradition. KU has been to a hundred Big Dances and is a team that also owns the NCAA record for most consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances — with an active streak of 30 consecutive appearances. USC last appeared in the Tourney in 2017 and lost in Round 2. The Jayhawks had been ranked in the AP poll for 232 consecutive polls, a streak that had stretched from the poll released on February 2, 2009 poll through the poll released on February 8, 2021, which is the longest streak in AP poll history. KU is now ranked… Read more »
Allen, we have KU right where we want them. 🕵
I don’t know if USC has ever beaten KU in basketball. It sure would be nice to actually see it happen! ✌
I would not call it tradition. I would call it mental toughness. It is the ability to bring a certain mental confidence, ability and to a contest. To be nerdy, the ancient Greeks had a verb to describe engaging a game like this – agonizima. The combination of physical and mental strength it took to prevail, they called ischou. SC when it played AZ, CO, and Utah simply lacked the ischou to win. AZ in particular just dominated SC both physically and mentally. SC showed ischou in the 2nd half of its close loss to CO this week. Kansas will… Read more »
To non-USC followers, USC has absolutely no basketball tradition whatsoever, and the school never comes to mind as any type of conference leader, NCAA participant, or big game winner.
If anything, USC has only a solid rep as a February fader/collapser.
The school across town has always sucked all the oxygen out of the room as far as basketball goes.
Also, as is the case this year with Evan Mobley, when SC does have a good team, there is one marquee player and that’s it. If you look at past teams that had Paul Westphal, Gus Williams, Harold Miner, Sam Clancy, OJ Mayo and De Mar DeRozan, the supporting cast was OK but not great. The one exception was that Clancy had a good supporting cast in Bluthenthal, Granville, Scalabrine and Trepagnier. I believe that’s the year we lost to Duke in the Elite 8.
The USC Pro Day is March 24, if you haven’t heard. Time unknown.
The pro scouts get the bonus of watching Slovis throwing to the receivers. We will be able to see how well he is healed.
I’ll say it again, Evan is great, the rest are so so, not so great. When guards can’t shoot free throws or hit the clutch shot they have a long road ahead of them.
I don’t expect the Trojans to go far, not even to the Sweet 16, actually, even though they seem to have an easy draw.
Keyshawn Johnson mourns death of daughter Maia On Monday evening former NFL wide receiver and current ESPN analyst Keyshawn Johnson announced the passing of his eldest daughter, Maia. Johnson shared the unfortunate news of Maia’s death on Twitter. “It is with incredible sadness that I have to share the news about the passing of my beautiful daughter Maia,” Johnson’s tweet read. “Maia, as my firstborn child, has been the joy of my, and her mother Shikiri’s, life.” Details of Maia’s death have not been revealed. Over his NFL career, Johnson, a USC AA and #1 overall NFL pick, racked up over 10,500 receiving yds and… Read more »
A parent having to bury his/her child is just completely wrong. Prayers to Keyshawn and Shikiri.
There is nothing worse than a parent burying a child. Prayers for Keyshawn and his family.
10 best NBA prospects we’ll see in the NCAA tournament Evan Mobley, USC; Freshman; Draft range: 1-4 Mobley is the best shot-blocker in this draft class and led the Pac-12 with 87 total blocks and averaged three blocks per game. The 7-foot center boasts a 7-foot-5 wingspan and can handle the ball outside the perimeter better than last year’s No. 2 pick James Wiseman, who went to the Golden State Warriors. Mobley has improved on his shooting percentage out of the pick-and-pop and scored 26 points in back-to-back games to close out the season. He runs the floor extremely well for… Read more »