Yes, Trojans Wired podcast producer Ian Hest is an alumnus of the University of Miami. If you have been listening to our Trojans Wired podcast for at least the past 12 months, you would know this, given that when Miami played USC in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, we got a chance to talk to Ian about Miami basketball. (You can listen to that podcast now for some perspective on Miami and the journey the Canes have made.)
One year later, Miami is in the Final Four. The Hurricanes were down 12 with just over 10 minutes left against Texas on Sunday in Kansas City. Big man Norchad Omier had four fouls. The Canes looked cooked. Instead, they fired up the grill and sizzled down the stretch to rally for a stunning 88-81 win over a No. 2 seed which was playing great basketball.
We’re obviously very happy for Ian, a member of the Trojans Wire family, on his big moment in Miami. He is also a fan of Florida Atlantic — just down the way in Boca Raton — but as a Miami alumnus, this is extra-special for him.
Yet, we’re not just posting this story as a “Congratulations, Ian!” article. There’s something for USC and its fans to take away from this development, and it’s a simple-enough idea to absorb:
Very plainly, football schools can do well in hoops. That’s it. That’s the tweet.
While fans shouldn’t expect USC (or Miami) to regularly make Final Fours, schools from more vantage points and backgrounds have a chance to succeed in modern college basketball. This is due to the democratizing nature of the transfer portal, which can instantly reshape rosters. NIL, which Miami used this past offseason, can provide resources to basketball, not just football.
With basketball blue-bloods — North Carolina, Kentucky, Duke, Indiana — all struggling to varying degrees, it’s a new era in college hoops.
This Final Four — with teams from Conference USA and the Mountain West playing for a spot in the national championship game, and with three first-time Final Four teams — shows how wide-open the sport is.
Football schools can succeed in roundball. Andy Enfield should be emboldened to seek bigger fish in the transfer portal and become more ambitious in his efforts to build the Trojans to a higher level.
Who knows where USC basketball will be one year from now?
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