Men’s basketball | November 24, 2022
The USC Trojans (4-2) take on the Wisconsin Badgers (4-1) in the Battle 4 Atlantis Third Place Game held at the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas on November 25 to 10:00 a.m. PT. The game will air on ESPN2 with Jon “Boog” Sciambi and Jimmy Dykes calling the action.
USC’S STELLAR EXPANSION – USC has won a school-record 73 games over the past three seasons (22 in 2020, 25 in 2021, and 26 in 2022). The previous school record for wins in three consecutive seasons was 71 (2016-18). The three consecutive 20+ win seasons also ties the school record for most consecutive 20 win seasons set from 2016 to 2018.
FACING WISCONSIN –Wisconsin (4-1) is coming off a 69-68 overtime loss to No. 3 Kansas in the other Battle 4 Atlantis semifinal on Nov. 24. Wisconsin opened the action here by defeating Dayton 43-42 on Nov. 23. The Badgers also had wins over South Dakota (85-59), Stanford (60-50) and Green Bay (56-45). Leading hitter Tyler Wahl leads Wisconsin with 14.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. USC is 2-1 against Wisconsin, winning the last meeting 86-76 on December 29, 1982.
USC TO OPEN PAC-12 GAME IN CAL – USC’s next game is in California on Nov. 30 at 7:00 p.m., which is its Pac-12 opener. California (0-5) plays at the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, Fla. before facing USC, against TCU on November 25 and against Clemson or Iowa on November 26. Junior guard Devin Askew leads the Bears with an average of 17.4. . USC won both games against Cal last season, winning 77-63 in Berkeley, Calif., and 79-72 in Los Angeles. USC has won the last eight meetings with California, but trails in the all-time series, 130-136 (1 USC win vacated due to NCAA penalty, original record 131-136)
IT ALL STARTS WITH DEFENSE — USC has held 5 of its 6 opponents this season to 37.5% shooting or less. USC has held 22 of its 34 opponents in the 2021-22 season to less than 40% shooting. USC held the opposition to a 39.0 shooting percentage on the season, 14th in the nation. USC held its first 12 opponents in the 2021-22 season to less than 40 percent shooting in every game and a combined shooting percentage of 35.2, which was second in the nation. The Trojans were the first team in the last 15 seasons to hold their first 12 opponents to less than 40% shooting in every game.
PETERSON AND ELLIS RECEIVE PRESEASON RECOGNITION — USC fifth-year guard Drew Peterson was named to The Sporting News’ 2022-23 Preseason All-America Third Team. He was also named to the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List. Peterson and the main guard boogie ellis were named to the 2022-23 Pac-12 Preseason All-Conference First Team.
ELLIS BUILD LAST SEASON – Guardian boogie ellis averaged 12.5 points last season, second among Trojans and the most among returning players. Ellis also led USC with 56 three-pointers and 27 interceptions. Ellis had a .789 free throw percentage (71 for 89) that ranked 10th in the Pac-12. Ellis is averaging 18.5 points in the first six games of the season and leads the Trojans with 14 three-pointers. He is the only Trojan to score in double figures in all six games this season. He also had a team-leading 29 free throws and is second on the team with 10 steals. Ellis has made 48.3% of his three-point attempts this season (14 for 29).
PETERSON COMPLETES THE STATISTICS SHEET — USC Guard 2022 All-Pac-12 Drew Peterson averaged 12.4 points and 6.2 rebounds last season, both ranked third among the Trojans. He also led the team with 113 assists and was second in free throws (76) and three-pointers (49), while finishing third in blocks (27) and steals (23). He had 88 points, 47 rebounds and 43 assists in USC’s six games this season. He leads USC in rebounds and assists and is second in averaging 14.7 points.
BLOCK PARTY 2023 – USC has 39 blocks in the first six games of the 2022-23 season, led by by Joshua Morgan 21 blocks. USC averages 6.5 blocks per game. Morgan’s 17 blocks this season rank among the NCAA’s top 10. Morgan had 7 blocks against FGCU on Nov. 7, which tied him for fifth on USC’s all-time single-play blocks list.