2017–18 USC Trojans men's basketball team
The 2017–18 USC Trojans men's basketball team represented the University of Southern California during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by fifth-year head coach Andy Enfield, they played their home games at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California as members of the Pac-12 Conference. They finished the season 24–12, 12–6 in Pac-12 play to finish in second place. As the No. 2 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament, they defeated Oregon State in the quarterfinals and Oregon in the semifinals before losing to Arizona in the championship game. They were one of the last four teams not selected for the NCAA Tournament and as a result earned a No. 1 seed in the National Invitation Tournament, where they defeated UNC Asheville in the first round before losing to Western Kentucky in the second round.
2017–18 USC Trojans men's basketball | |
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Diamond Head Classic champions | |
NIT, Second Round | |
Conference | Pac-12 Conference |
2017–18 record | 24–12 (12–6 Pac-12) |
Head coach |
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Assistant coaches |
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Home arena | Galen Center |
2017–18 Pac-12 Conference men's basketball standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | PCT | W | L | PCT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 12 Arizona † | 14 | – | 4 | .778 | 27 | – | 8 | .771 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
USC | 12 | – | 6 | .667 | 24 | – | 12 | .667 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UCLA | 11 | – | 7 | .611 | 21 | – | 12 | .636 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Utah | 11 | – | 7 | .611 | 23 | – | 12 | .657 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stanford | 11 | – | 7 | .611 | 19 | – | 16 | .543 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oregon | 10 | – | 8 | .556 | 23 | – | 13 | .639 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Washington | 10 | – | 8 | .556 | 21 | – | 13 | .618 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Colorado | 8 | – | 10 | .444 | 17 | – | 15 | .531 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arizona State | 8 | – | 10 | .444 | 20 | – | 12 | .625 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oregon State | 7 | – | 11 | .389 | 16 | – | 16 | .500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Washington State | 4 | – | 14 | .222 | 12 | – | 19 | .387 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
California | 2 | – | 16 | .111 | 8 | – | 24 | .250 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
† Pac-12 Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll |
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Previous season
The Trojans finished the 2016–17 season 26–10, 10–8 in Pac-12 play to finish in a tie for fifth place; their 26 victories set a program record. They defeated Washington in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament before losing in the quarterfinals to UCLA. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament where they defeated Providence in the First Four and SMU in the First Round before losing in the Second Round to Baylor.
FBI investigation
On September 26, federal prosecutors in New York announced charges of fraud and corruption against 10 people involved in college basketball, including USC assistant coach Tony Bland.[1] The charges allege that Bland and others allegedly received benefits from financial advisers and others to influence student-athletes to retain their services.[2] Following the announcement, USC placed Bland on administrative leave and announced that it would conduct an internal investigation of the matter.[3] Potential 2018 NBA Draft pick De'Anthony Melton would be indefinitely suspended in relation to the scandal in January before leaving USC on February 21, 2018.
Off-season
Departures
Name | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for Departure |
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Charles Buggs | PF | 6'9" | 230 | RS Sr. | Arlington, TX | Graduated |
Samer Dhillon | SF | 6'8" | 210 | Sr. | Sacramento, CA | Walk-on; Graduated |
2017 recruiting class
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
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Jordan Usher SF |
Marietta, GA | Wheeler HS | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | May 10, 2016 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Victor Uyaelunmo C |
Miami, FL | Calvary Christian HS | 6 ft 10.75 in (2.10 m) | 213 lb (97 kg) | Sep 11, 2016 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Charles O'Bannon Jr. G/F |
Las Vegas, NV | Bishop Gorman HS | 6 ft 5.75 in (1.97 m) | 196 lb (89 kg) | Dec 13, 2016 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: | ||||||
Sources:
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Future recruits
US college sports recruiting information for 2018 recruits | ||||||
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Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
Kevin Porter Jr. SG |
Seattle, WA | Rainier Beach HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | Feb 7, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Elijah Weaver PG |
Oldsmar, FL | Oldsmar Christian School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Oct 23, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
J'Raan Brooks PF |
Seattle, WA | Garfield HS | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | Mar 11, 2018 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: | ||||||
Sources:
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Roster
2017–18 USC Trojans men's basketball team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster |
- Sophomore guard De'Anthony Melton was officially ruled ineligible to play for the remainder of the season by USC amid an FBI bribery investigation.[4] He later left USC on February 21, 2018 for the 2018 NBA Draft.
- Feb. 16, 2018 - Sophomore forward Bennie Boatwright to miss the remainder of the season with a left leg injury.[5]
Schedule and results
Date time, TV |
Rank# | Opponent# | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state | |||
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Non-conference regular season | |||||||||||
November 10, 2017* 7:00 pm, P12N |
No. 10 | Cal State Fullerton | W 84–42 | 1–0 |
18 – Metu | 10 – Metu | 6 – McLaughlin | Galen Center (6,327) Los Angeles, CA | |||
November 13, 2017* 8:00 pm, P12N |
No. 10 | North Dakota State | W 75–65 | 2–0 |
28 – Boatwright | 8 – Tied | 4 – McLaughlin | Galen Center (2,402) Los Angeles, CA | |||
November 19, 2017* 6:00 pm, SECN |
No. 10 | at Vanderbilt | W 93–89 OT | 3–0 |
35 – McLaughlin | 8 – Metu | 4 – McLaughlin | Memorial Gymnasium (8,284) Nashville, TN | |||
November 22, 2017* 7:00 pm, P12N |
No. 10 | Lehigh | W 88–63 | 4–0 |
19 – Boatwright | 11 – Boatwright | 7 – McLaughlin | Galen Center (3,125) Los Angeles, CA | |||
November 26, 2017* 7:00 pm, P12N |
No. 10 | No. 16 Texas A&M | L 59–75 | 4–1 |
13 – Metu | 8 – Metu | 7 – McLaughlin | Galen Center (5,347) Los Angeles, CA | |||
December 2, 2017* 7:00 pm, ESPNU |
No. 14 | at SMU | L 55–72 | 4–2 |
13 – Metu | 8 – Boatwright | 7 – McLaughlin | Moody Coliseum (6,918) Dallas, TX | |||
December 8, 2017* 7:30 pm, ESPN2 |
No. 25 | vs. Oklahoma Basketball Hall of Fame Classic |
L 83–85 | 4–3 |
23 – Stewart | 11 – Metu | 9 – McLaughlin | Staples Center (6,456) Los Angeles, CA | |||
December 14, 2017* 7:00 pm, P12N |
Santa Clara | W 82–59 | 5–3 |
21 – Boatright | 11 – Tied | 10 – McLaughlin | Galen Center (2,712) Los Angeles, CA | ||||
December 17, 2017* 5:00 pm, P12N |
UC Santa Barbara | W 98–87 | 6–3 |
31 – Metu | 12 – Rakocevic | 19 – McLaughlin | Galen Center (3,519) Los Angeles, CA | ||||
December 19, 2017* 8:00 pm, P12N |
Princeton Diamond Head Classic non-bracket game |
L 93–103 OT | 6–4 |
25 – Metu | 10 – Metu | 8 – McLaughlin | Galen Center (4,041) Los Angeles, CA | ||||
December 22, 2017* 5:00 pm, ESPN2 |
vs. Akron Diamond Head Classic quarterfinals |
W 84–53 | 7–4 |
20 – Stewart | 9 – Rakocevic | 6 – Mclaughlin | Stan Sheriff Center Honolulu, HI | ||||
December 23, 2017* 1:30 pm, ESPN2 |
vs. Middle Tennessee Diamond Head Classic semifinals |
W 89–84 | 8–4 |
13 – Metu | 6 – Metu | 5 – McLaughlin | Stan Sheriff Center Honolulu, HI | ||||
December 25, 2017* 3:00 pm, ESPN2 |
vs. New Mexico State Diamond Head Classic championship |
W 77–72 | 9–4 |
33 – Boatwright | 7 – Boatwright | 8 – McLaughlin | Stan Sheriff Center Honolulu, HI | ||||
Pac-12 regular season | |||||||||||
December 29, 2017 7:30 pm, P12N |
Washington | L 81–88 | 9–5 (0–1) |
26 – Metu | 10 – Metu | 8 – McLaughlin | Galen Center (3,104) Los Angeles, CA | ||||
December 31, 2017 6:00 pm, ESPN2 |
Washington State | W 89–71 | 10–5 (1–1) |
17 – Stewart | 7 – Boatwright | 11 – McLaughlin | Galen Center (2,518) Los Angeles, CA | ||||
January 4, 2018 7:30 pm, P12N |
at California | W 80–62 | 11–5 (2–1) |
19 – Rakoocevic | 7 – 3 tied | 8 – McLaughlin | Haas Pavilion (6,915) Berkeley, CA | ||||
January 7, 2018 7:00 pm, FS1 |
at Stanford | L 76–77 | 11–6 (2–2) |
20 – Metu | 11 – Boatwright | 7 – McLaughlin | Maples Pavilion (4,087) Stanford, CA | ||||
January 10, 2018 7:00 pm, FS1 |
Colorado | W 70–58 | 12–6 (3–2) |
20 – McLaughlin | 13 – Metu | 3 – McLaughlin | Galen Center (3,669) Los Angeles, CA | ||||
January 14, 2018 5:00 pm, ESPNU |
Utah | W 84–67 | 13–6 (4–2) |
17 – Mathews | 8 – Boatwright | 7 – McLaughlin | Galen Center (4,822) Los Angeles, CA | ||||
January 18, 2018 6:00 pm, ESPN2 |
at Oregon | W 75–70 | 14–6 (5–2) |
18 – 2 tied | 9 – McLaughlin | 7 – McLaughlin | Matthew Knight Arena (9,202) Eugene, OR | ||||
January 20, 2018 5:00 pm, P12N |
at Oregon State | W 74–67 | 15–6 (6–2) |
18 – Stewart | 6 – Mathews | 6 – McLaughlin | Gill Coliseum (6,301) Corvallis, OR | ||||
January 24, 2018 6:00 pm, ESPNU |
Stanford | W 69–64 | 16–6 (7–2) |
18 – Mathews | 10 – Metu | 9 – McLaughlin | Galen Canter (4,116) Los Angeles, CA | ||||
January 28, 2018 1:00 pm, P12N |
California | W 77–59 | 17–6 (8–2) |
16 – Tied | 8 – Tied | 10 – McLaughlin | Galen Center (6,144) Los Angeles, CA | ||||
February 3, 2018 3:00 pm, ESPN2 |
at UCLA Rivalry |
L 79–82 | 17–7 (8–3) |
20 – Stewart | 12 – Metu | 8 – McLaughlin | Pauley Pavilion (12,837) Los Angeles, CA | ||||
February 8, 2018 8:00 pm, ESPN2 |
at Arizona State | L 78–80 | 17–8 (8–4) |
19 – Rakocevic | 8 – Boatwright | 4 – McLaughlin | Wells Fargo Arena (12,377) Tempe, AZ | ||||
February 10, 2018 7:15 pm, ESPN |
at No. 13 Arizona | L 67–81 | 17–9 (8–5) |
18 – Metu | 9 – Rakocevic | 5 – McLaughlin | McKale Center (14,644) Tucson, AZ | ||||
February 15, 2018 6:00 pm, ESPN2 |
Oregon | W 72–70 | 18–9 (9–5) |
20 – Mathews | 10 – Metu | 11 – McLaughlin | Galen Center (4,322) Los Angeles, CA | ||||
February 17, 2018 8:00 pm, FS1 |
Oregon State | W 72–59 | 19–9 (10–5) |
28 – Stewart | 7 – Metu | 11 – McLaughlin | Galen Center (4,542) Los Angeles, CA | ||||
February 21, 2018 7:30 pm, FS1 |
at Colorado | W 75–64 | 20–9 (11–5) |
21 – Metu | 6 – Rakocevic | 7 – McLaughlin | Coors Events Center (7,008) Boulder, CO | ||||
February 24, 2018 11:30 am, P12N |
at Utah | W 74–58 | 21–9 (12–5) |
14 – Tied | 9 – Metu | 5 – McLaughlin | Jon M. Huntsman Center (13,598) Salt Lake City, UT | ||||
March 3, 2018 7:15 pm, ESPN |
UCLA Rivalry |
L 72–83 | 21–10 (12–6) |
19 – McLaughlin | 10 – Metu | 4 – McLaughlin | Galen Center (10,258) Los Angeles, CA | ||||
Pac-12 Tournament | |||||||||||
March 8, 2018 6:00 pm, P12N |
(2) | vs. (10) Oregon State Quarterfinals |
W 61–48 | 22–10 |
22 – Metu | 11 – Metu | 4 – McLaughlin | T-Mobile Arena (13,194) Paradise, NV | |||
March 9, 2018 8:30 pm, FS1 |
(2) | vs. (6) Oregon Semifinals |
W 74–54 | 23–10 |
27 – Mathews | 11 – Rakocevic | 9 – McLaughlin | T-Mobile Arena (16,596) Paradise, NV | |||
March 10, 2018 7:00 pm, FS1 |
(2) | vs. (1) No. 15 Arizona Championship |
L 61–75 | 23–11 |
13 – Rakocevic | 6 – Rakocevic | 9 – McLaughlin | T-Mobile Arena (16,501) Paradise, NV | |||
NIT | |||||||||||
March 13, 2018* 8:00 pm, ESPN2 |
(1) | (8) UNC Asheville First round – USC Bracket |
W 103–98 2OT | 24–11 |
26 – McLaughlin | 19 – Rakocevic | 13 – McLaughlin | Galen Center (1,614) Los Angeles, CA | |||
March 19, 2018* 8:30 pm, ESPN2 |
(1) | (4) Western Kentucky Second round – USC Bracket |
L 75–79 | 24–12 |
20 – Stewart | 10 – Rakocevic | 13 – McLaughlin | Galen Center (2,130) Los Angeles, CA | |||
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Pacific Time. |
Ranking movement
Poll | Pre | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Wk 13 | Wk 14 | Wk 15 | Wk 16 | Wk 17 | Wk 18 | Post | Final |
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AP | 10 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 25 | NR | N/A* | |||||||||||||
Coaches | 11 | 10 | 18 | 25 | NR |
References
- "NCAA coaches among 10 arrested for corruption". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
- "FBI arrests four college basketball assistants on charges of fraud". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
- "USC hires former FBI director Freeh, Tony Bland placed on leave". CollegeBasketballTalk. 2017-09-26. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
- Fenno, Nathan. "Amid bribery probe, USC will keep De'Anthony Melton out of lineup for rest of the season". LATimes.com. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- Boone, Kyle. "Southern Cal's Bennie Boatwright to miss remainder of season with knee injury". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 17 February 2018.