The USC men’s basketball team lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday to Michigan State, creating understandable anxiety about this program’s ceiling and its future.
After a second straight first-round exit from the Big Dance, it is easy to think that USC is stuck and stagnant, and that the program doesn’t have a higher ceiling or the ability to significantly raise the bar in terms of both expectations and performance. Yet, if you look at what Andy Enfield is likely bringing back for the 2023-2024 season, it’s clear that USC is primed to make a significant leap forward.
The Trojans didn’t have depth this past season. They should have a lot of depth next season. USC didn’t have polished, developed frontcourt players this past season. It should have exactly that in 2024. USC didn’t have a brilliant true point guard last season. Boogie Ellis is a great scorer, but that’s not the same as a classic point guard who dominates the whole game with his ballhandling and passing. Drew Peterson’s court vision is special, but Peterson often posts up defenders with his size and doesn’t play a true point guard’s style of game. Isaiah Collier is a true point guard. He and the other pieces of the roster give USC a lot more upside heading into next season.
Let’s take an early look at the core parts of this roster: