We have a very simple two-part answer to a question which is on your mind as a USC sports fan.
The question: Why was USC picked behind Arizona in the preseason Pac-12 men’s basketball media poll? Doesn’t USC have a tremendous roster and a real chance to go deep into this season’s NCAA Tournament? Why is Arizona perceived to be better?
The answer is not that complicated. One, USC fans know that Arizona has been USC’s kryptonite in Pac-12 basketball. This is a tough matchup for USC. Arizona has size, strength, and length in the frontcourt. USC has had a very hard time handling that frontcourt muscle and size.
The other part of the equation is that USC’s Bronny James and Vince Iwuchukwu are both dealing with health complications — Bronny with his cardiac arrest episode from July, Iwuchukwu with back problems which required a medical procedure earlier this year, after the end of the 2022-2023 season. Not knowing when these two important players will be available is a huge point of uncertainty. Arizona does not have the same injury problem for two expected rotational players.
That’s why USC was picked behind Arizona.
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