USC Trojans did not receive votes in the Associated Press’s poll of the top 25 pre-season polls. They were chosen sixth in the Pac-12 preseason media survey. They started 48th at KenPom. So yes, what is happening now is definitely unexpected. But regardless, the following is true: USC will enter the weekend alone at the top of the Pac-12 standings.
This is the by-product of Thursday’s 69-54 victory in Washington, which improved the Trojans to 16-3 overall and 10-2 in the league. They kept Mike Hopkins’ Huskies with 40.7% of shots and just 23 points in the second half.
“Defensively, we were doing really well,” said USC coach Andy Enfield. “I think you saw it in the middle of the first half and the second half. We defied all the moves, made them shoot with a low percentage … I think [with] this team, starts on the defensive side. “
The numbers prove it.
Trojans’ adjusted defensive efficiency rating now ranks 10th nationally and is 12 points higher than any other in Pac-12. Evan Mobley, a 2.13 meter striker averaging 16.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in 33.8 minutes per game, emerged as the team’s star. The five-star freshman, to be chosen from the top five in the 2021 NBA Draft, is leading the Pac-12 in rebounds per game and blocks per game. He had 17 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in his double-digit victory over Washington, which extended the Trojan’s winning streak to five games.
USC is in 16th place in the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 updated college basketball diary. The only other Pac-12 school listed in the Top 25 and 1 is Colorado, which is in 26th place after winning 69-51 at Stanford on Thursday.
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