University Southern California Trojans
Tuesday, November 6
Los Angeles, Calif.
8:00 PM
USC
vs
Robert Morris (PA)
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballUSC Men's Basketball Opens The Season Hosting Robert Morris Tuesday
November 02, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Features
The USC men's basketball team will open the 2018-19 season by hosting Robert Morris at the Galen Center on Nov. 6 at 8 p.m. The game is part of a doubleheader with the women's team, which will open up vs. UC Riverside on the same day at 5 p.m. Fan's can purchase tickets by going to USCTrojans.com/tickets or by calling (213) 740-GOSC (4672).
THE 2018-19 USC TROJANS - USC's men's basketball program looks to continue its ascent to the top of the conference during the 2018-19 season as it returns seven of its top 10 scorers from last season and had added a dynamic three-man freshman class which is ranked No. 15 in the country. USC went 24-12 and finished second in the Pac-12 last season, its highest finish outright since the 1992, and has won a school-record 71 games over the last three seasons. To keep it rolling, USC will have to replace 2018 NBA Draft picks Chimezie Metu and De'Anthony Melton, as well as Jordan McLaughlin and Elijah Stewart who litter the Trojans' all-time top 10 lists and are on NBA G-League teams.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN - There are a total of 13 players on the 2018-19 USC men's basketball roster. The Trojan team by class are: Seniors (3): Shaqquan Aaron (G), Bennie Boatwright (F), Devin Fleming (G); Juniors (4): McKay Anderson (G), Jonah Mathews (G), Nick Rakocevic (F), Derryck Thornton (G); Sophomores (3): Charles O'Bannon Jr. (G), Jordan Usher (G/F), Victor Uyaelunmo (F); Freshmen (3): J'Raan Brooks (F), Kevin Porter Jr. (G), Elijah Weaver (G). The transfer Anderson will not be eligible for competition until after the first semester.
TROJANS HOST ROBERT MORRIS IN OPENER - USC will open the 2018-19 season by hosting Robert Morris at the Galen Center on November 6 at 8:00 p.m. The game will be aired on the Pac-12 Network, one of 13 USC games to be shown on the network during the 2018-19 season. Robert Morris went 16-17 last season and finished tied for sixth in the Northeast Conference. The Colonials return four starters and nine letterman from the 2017-18 team. USC won its only other meeting with Robert Morris, winning 92-77 at home on December 28, 1991.
USC IN HOME OPENERS - USC is 19-4 in its last 23 home openers, defeating CS Fullerton 84-42 to start the 2017-18 season. USC has won eight of its last nine home openers. USC is 77-35 all-time in season openers, but is just 9-6 in the last 15 first games of the season.
VANDERBILT ON DECK - The Vanderbilt Commodores, who open their season hosting Winthrop on Nov. 6, will face USC at the Galen Center on Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. Vanderbilt went 12-20 in the 2017-18 season, including a 93-89 overtime home loss to USC on Nov. 19. USC leads the all-time series with Vanderbilt, 5-1. The Commodores return three starters and six lettermen from last season's team, led by sophomore guard Saben Lee who averaged 10.6 points per game.
CLIMBING THE CONFERENCE LADDER - USC is one of two schools (Bucknell) to increase it conference win total in each of the last four seasons. In fact, USC is one of just 13 schools (1 of 2 in Power 5 Conferences) to increase its conference win total in each of the past three seasons. USC had two Pac-12 wins in 2014 and finished 12th in the conference. Since then, in 2015 USC won three games (12th), in 2016 it won nine games (T-6th), in 2017 it won 10 games (T-5th) and in 2018 it won 12 games (2nd).
USC'S FRESHMAN CLASS RANKED NO. 15 - USC's three-man freshman class of guards Kevin Porter Jr. and Elijah Weaver and forward J'Raan Brooks was ranked No. 15 nationally, with all three players ranking within the top 80 recruits according to ESPN, Scout and Rivals. Porter Jr. averaged 27 points, 14 rebounds and five assists as a high school senior at Rainier Beach High and was named "Mr. Basketball" for the state of Washington. He led his team to the state final where it fell to Garfield High, led by fellow current USC freshman Brooks. Weaver was named Florida's 6A Player of the Year as he averaged 23.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 4.3 steals per game for Rockledge High. Brooks helped lead Garfield to the Washington state title by averaging 15 points and 11 rebounds. He was named Class 3A first team and Garfield went 28-2 and finished ranked No. 11 nationally.
BOATWRIGHT CLOSING IN ON 1,000 CAREER POINTS - USC senior forward Bennie Boatwright enters the 2018-19 season 22 points shy of 1,000 career points scored. He has averaged 13.0 points in 75 career games played, despite being slowed by injuries. Boatwright averaged 13.6 points in 23 games last season, first being slowed by a foot injury and then having his season end with a knee injury. He had offseason knee surgery and is expected to by at full strength near the beginning of the 2018-19 campaign. He led USC to the 2017 Diamond Head Classic title by scoring a career-high 33 points vs. New Mexico State on Dec. 25, making a career-best six three-point baskets.
BOATWRIGHT NAMED TO MALONE WATCH LIST - USC senior Bennie Boatwright was one of 20 players to be named to the preseason watch list for the Karl Malone Award as the nation's top power forward, it was announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Oct. 18. The award is named after the Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone, which recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men's college basketball.
HART NAMED TO ATHLETIC'S 30 COACHES TO WATCH LIST - USC Associate Head Coach Jason Hart was named to The Athletic's 30 College Basketball Coaches To Watch List, announced on Nov. 1.
THE 2018-19 USC TROJANS - USC's men's basketball program looks to continue its ascent to the top of the conference during the 2018-19 season as it returns seven of its top 10 scorers from last season and had added a dynamic three-man freshman class which is ranked No. 15 in the country. USC went 24-12 and finished second in the Pac-12 last season, its highest finish outright since the 1992, and has won a school-record 71 games over the last three seasons. To keep it rolling, USC will have to replace 2018 NBA Draft picks Chimezie Metu and De'Anthony Melton, as well as Jordan McLaughlin and Elijah Stewart who litter the Trojans' all-time top 10 lists and are on NBA G-League teams.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN - There are a total of 13 players on the 2018-19 USC men's basketball roster. The Trojan team by class are: Seniors (3): Shaqquan Aaron (G), Bennie Boatwright (F), Devin Fleming (G); Juniors (4): McKay Anderson (G), Jonah Mathews (G), Nick Rakocevic (F), Derryck Thornton (G); Sophomores (3): Charles O'Bannon Jr. (G), Jordan Usher (G/F), Victor Uyaelunmo (F); Freshmen (3): J'Raan Brooks (F), Kevin Porter Jr. (G), Elijah Weaver (G). The transfer Anderson will not be eligible for competition until after the first semester.
TROJANS HOST ROBERT MORRIS IN OPENER - USC will open the 2018-19 season by hosting Robert Morris at the Galen Center on November 6 at 8:00 p.m. The game will be aired on the Pac-12 Network, one of 13 USC games to be shown on the network during the 2018-19 season. Robert Morris went 16-17 last season and finished tied for sixth in the Northeast Conference. The Colonials return four starters and nine letterman from the 2017-18 team. USC won its only other meeting with Robert Morris, winning 92-77 at home on December 28, 1991.
USC IN HOME OPENERS - USC is 19-4 in its last 23 home openers, defeating CS Fullerton 84-42 to start the 2017-18 season. USC has won eight of its last nine home openers. USC is 77-35 all-time in season openers, but is just 9-6 in the last 15 first games of the season.
VANDERBILT ON DECK - The Vanderbilt Commodores, who open their season hosting Winthrop on Nov. 6, will face USC at the Galen Center on Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. Vanderbilt went 12-20 in the 2017-18 season, including a 93-89 overtime home loss to USC on Nov. 19. USC leads the all-time series with Vanderbilt, 5-1. The Commodores return three starters and six lettermen from last season's team, led by sophomore guard Saben Lee who averaged 10.6 points per game.
CLIMBING THE CONFERENCE LADDER - USC is one of two schools (Bucknell) to increase it conference win total in each of the last four seasons. In fact, USC is one of just 13 schools (1 of 2 in Power 5 Conferences) to increase its conference win total in each of the past three seasons. USC had two Pac-12 wins in 2014 and finished 12th in the conference. Since then, in 2015 USC won three games (12th), in 2016 it won nine games (T-6th), in 2017 it won 10 games (T-5th) and in 2018 it won 12 games (2nd).
USC'S FRESHMAN CLASS RANKED NO. 15 - USC's three-man freshman class of guards Kevin Porter Jr. and Elijah Weaver and forward J'Raan Brooks was ranked No. 15 nationally, with all three players ranking within the top 80 recruits according to ESPN, Scout and Rivals. Porter Jr. averaged 27 points, 14 rebounds and five assists as a high school senior at Rainier Beach High and was named "Mr. Basketball" for the state of Washington. He led his team to the state final where it fell to Garfield High, led by fellow current USC freshman Brooks. Weaver was named Florida's 6A Player of the Year as he averaged 23.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 4.3 steals per game for Rockledge High. Brooks helped lead Garfield to the Washington state title by averaging 15 points and 11 rebounds. He was named Class 3A first team and Garfield went 28-2 and finished ranked No. 11 nationally.
BOATWRIGHT CLOSING IN ON 1,000 CAREER POINTS - USC senior forward Bennie Boatwright enters the 2018-19 season 22 points shy of 1,000 career points scored. He has averaged 13.0 points in 75 career games played, despite being slowed by injuries. Boatwright averaged 13.6 points in 23 games last season, first being slowed by a foot injury and then having his season end with a knee injury. He had offseason knee surgery and is expected to by at full strength near the beginning of the 2018-19 campaign. He led USC to the 2017 Diamond Head Classic title by scoring a career-high 33 points vs. New Mexico State on Dec. 25, making a career-best six three-point baskets.
BOATWRIGHT NAMED TO MALONE WATCH LIST - USC senior Bennie Boatwright was one of 20 players to be named to the preseason watch list for the Karl Malone Award as the nation's top power forward, it was announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Oct. 18. The award is named after the Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone, which recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men's college basketball.
HART NAMED TO ATHLETIC'S 30 COACHES TO WATCH LIST - USC Associate Head Coach Jason Hart was named to The Athletic's 30 College Basketball Coaches To Watch List, announced on Nov. 1.
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