USC makes Top 25 of Associated Press preseason men’s basketball poll

USC is a top-25 team … in basketball, not just football.

The USC Trojans are one of two teams from the Pac-12 ranked in the Associated Press’ preseason men’s basketball poll.

The Trojans debuted at No. 21 in the preseason poll, which was released on Monday. Arizona leads the league at No. 12. UCLA, which won the conference’s regular-season crown last season, was in the receiving votes category of the first poll (effectively No. 28).

USC went 22-11 last season, going 14-6 in conference play. It was a fourth consecutive 20-win campaign under coach Andy Enfield. It garnered a third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.

The two returning stars on this season’s team are Boogie Ellis and junior guard Kobe Johnson. Ellis was named first-team Preseason All-Pac-12 and Johnson All-Pac-12 first-team defense.

Trojans also added five-star freshman guard Isaiah Collier, who received preseason Pac-12 first-team honors. Collier was the consensus No. 1 recruit in the nation this year.

The Trojans also added four-star guard Bronny James and Washington State power forward D.J. Rodman, the son of NBA great Dennis Rodman.

Here is the full preseason AP college basketball poll.

You can also take a look at the full USA TODAY Sports preseason men’s basketball coaches poll.

Be sure to follow College Wire’s coverage of other college basketball programs this coming season: WisconsinColoradoOhio StateFloridaAuburnOregon

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Oklahoma fans were right about Lincoln Riley, at least for this specific season.

USC assistants need to be coaching for their jobs against Utah and into November.

Lincoln Riley did not assemble an elite 2023 roster, which surprised us and a lot of other observers.

Is USC ready to win in 2024 with Miller Moss or Malachi Nelson at quarterback? Lincoln Riley has to be honest about how he answers that question.

Brent Venables is coaching Oklahoma far better this year than Lincoln Riley is coaching USC. It’s up to Riley to change that reality against Utah.