View source for USC Trojans men's basketball

{{Short description|Sports team of the University of Southern California}}
{{Infobox college basketball team
|name = USC Trojans men's basketball
|current = 2024–25 USC Trojans men's basketball team
|logo = USC Trojans logo.svg
|logo_size = 100 USC
|university = University of Southern California
|conference = [[Big Ten]]
|location = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]]
|coach = [[Eric Musselman]]
|tenure = 1st
|arena = [[Galen Center]]
|capacity = 10,258
|nickname = [[USC Trojans|Trojans]]
<!-- USC colors use the CMYK values, but their jerseys remain the HEX values -->
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<!-- USC colors use the CMYK values, but their jerseys remain the HEX values -->
|bestfinish = 4
|NCAAchampion =
|NCAAfinalfour = 1940, 1954
|NCAAeliteeight = 1940, 1954, 2001, 2021
|NCAAsweetsixteen = 1954, 1961, 2001, 2007, 2021
|NCAAroundof32 = 1979, 1992, 2001, 2007, 2009, 2017, 2021
|NCAAtourneys = 1940, 1954, 1960, 1961, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1991, 1992, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008*, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023
|conference_tournament = 2009
|conference_season = 1928, 1930, 1935, 1940, 1954, 1961, 1985
|below = <hr>'''<nowiki>*</nowiki> vacated by the NCAA'''
}}
The '''USC Trojans men's basketball''' program is a [[college basketball]] team that competes in the [[Pac-12 Conference men's basketball|Big Ten Conference]] of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) [[NCAA Division I|Division I]], representing the [[University of Southern California]]. Following the end of the 2023–2024 academic calendar, Pac-12 schools [[Oregon Ducks|Oregon]], [[UCLA Bruins|UCLA]], USC and [[Washington Huskies|Washington]] joined the [[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]] conference.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schutte |first=Dustin |date=2024-01-26 |title=Big Ten Reportedly Decides on Basketball Schedule, Tournament Format For 2024-25 |url=https://www.si.com/college/indiana/big-ten/big-ten-basketball-reportedly-settles-on-regular-season-big-ten-tournament-schedules-2024-25-addition-washington-usc-ucla-oregon |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Sports Illustrated Indiana Hoosiers News, Analysis and More |language=en}}</ref>

[[Eric Musselman]] is the current head coach of the USC program. He succeeded [[Andy Enfield]], who coached the team from 2013–2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-01 |title=SMU hires Andy Enfield: USC coach leaves Trojans after 11 seasons to lead Mustangs into ACC era |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/smu-hires-andy-enfield-usc-coach-leaves-trojans-after-11-seasons-to-lead-mustangs-into-acc-era/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}</ref> 

==History==
{{See also|List of USC Trojans men's basketball seasons}}

The USC Trojans have an all-time record of 1,500–1,097 (.578) in intercollegiate basketball games. They boast 25 All-Americans, 14 league
championships, one conference tournament title, 16 [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA tournament]] appearances, five Sweet Sixteen appearances, four Elite Eight appearances, and two Final Four appearances. [[Sam Barry]] and four of his USC players ([[Jack Gardner (basketball)|Jack Gardner]], [[Alex Hannum]], [[Tex Winter]] and [[Bill Sharman]]) have been inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] as coaches. (Sharman was also inducted as a player.)

===The early years (1906–28)===
On December 6, 1907 the [[Los Angeles Herald-Examiner|Los Angeles Herald]] reported: "Basketball Is Started At U.S.C."<ref>{{cite news|title=Basketball Is Started at U.S.C.|url=http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&cl=search&d=LAH19061207.2.117&srpos=14&e=--1906---1906--en--20--1--txt-IN-basketball+southern+california#|newspaper=Los Angeles Herald|date=7 December 1906}}</ref> The first official game of USC basketball was an interclass drubbing by the freshman over the sophomores, 25–2. USC would later host its debut intercollegiate basketball game, the first of its kind in Southern California, on January 16, 1907 with an 18–15 win over [[Occidental College]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Varsity Defeats Occidentals|url=http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&cl=search&d=LAH19070117.2.100&srpos=43&e=-12-1906---1907--en--20--41-byPU-txt-IN-basketball+southern+california#|newspaper=Los Angeles Herald|date=17 January 1906}}</ref>

After a standout season in 1910, when USC placed second in the league, the Methodists (as they had been known at the time) slowly grew the program under the direction of a series of player-managers and part-time coaches. Several football headmen served as basketball coaches during that time, including [[Ralph Glaze]], [[Dean Cromwell]], [[Gus Henderson|Elmer "Gloomy Gus" Henderson]], and [[Leo Calland]]. In addition, USC's basketball team was often littered with football standouts such as USC Athletic Hall of Famers [[Morley Drury]] and [[Jess Mortensen]].

In 1922 USC joined the [[Pacific Coast Conference]]. The Trojans then won their first conference title in 1928 under Calland's leadership, edging past the Washington Huskies in the second and final game of the conference championship series. With a see-sawing score for most of the game, Charley Bone buried two shots in the last minute to secure the 27–26 victory and begin a new era of achievement for USC basketball.<ref>{{cite news|last=Loughan|first=Tom|title=Trojans Win Title|url=http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll104/id/17973/rec/7|newspaper=Daily Trojan|date=7 March 1928}}</ref>

===The Sam Barry era (1929–50)===
<!-- [[WP:NFCC]] violation: [[File:Sam Barry.jpg|thumb|right|170px|Basketball Hall of Fame coach Sam Barry.]] -->
When football assistant and basketball head coach [[Leo Calland]] left USC in the summer of 1929 to become the football head coach and athletic director of the [[University of Idaho]], legendary USC football coach [[Howard Jones (American football coach)|Howard Jones]] found himself in need of a new assistant and the university in need of a new basketball head coach. Jones recommended [[Sam Barry]], one of his former assistants at the [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|University of Iowa]] who had also coached [[Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball|Hawkeye basketball]] for seven years. Barry agreed to follow Jones west, once more joining his football staff while also taking control of the basketball program.

====Building a national power (1929–41)====
<!-- [[WP:NFCC]] violation: [[File:Lee Guttero.jpeg|thumb|right|170px|USC 2-time All-American Lee Guttero.]] -->
Barry brought with him an aggressive style of play uncommon outside the Midwest.{{Citation needed|date=May 2015}} His strategic innovations would lay the groundwork for the [[Triangle offense]] and his campaign to do away with the center jump after each basket would change the game forever.{{Citation needed|date=May 2015}} "It is rumored that other conference coaches are eyeing the Trojans with no little anxiety," the Daily Trojan mused in the lead up to Barry's first season.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldman|first=Harold|title=S.C. Will Open Local Casaba Season Friday|url=http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll104/id/20013/rec/2|newspaper=Daily Trojan|date=3 December 1929}}</ref> The Trojans finished the 1929–30 season with an overall record of 15–5. USC defeated the Washington Huskies in three games to win the [[Pacific Coast Conference|PCC]] championship for the second time in school history. Guard Johnny Lehners and center [[Jess Mortensen]] received [[All-America|All-America honors]] at the end of the season, becoming the first two All-Americans in program history.

Producing three more All-Americans ([[Jerry Nemer]], [[Lee Guttero]] [2-time], [[Eddie Oram]]), USC dominated the PCC South Division for much of the 1930s, with five straight division titles from 1932 to 1936 and a title in 1939. In 1935 the Trojans also won the conference title with a victory over [[Oregon State Beavers men's basketball|Oregon State]] in [[Corvallis, Oregon|Corvallis]]. After falling to the Beavers in the first game of the series, USC won the second to tie the series. USC won the third contest by a score of 32–31, with All-Southern Division forward Ernie Holbrook making the game-winning shot in the final seconds of the game.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trojans Battle Way to Championship, 32–21|url=http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll104/id/48395/rec/3|newspaper=Daily Trojan|date=12 March 1935}}</ref>

USC won its ninth division title in 12 years in the 1939–40 season after defeating Oregon State in two games at the [[Shrine Auditorium]]. Led by All-American [[Ralph Vaughn]], USC received its first invitation to the eight-team [[1940 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] and was considered a favorite to challenge for the national title.{{Citation needed|date=May 2015}} The Trojans defeated [[Colorado Buffaloes|Colorado]], 38–32, in the first round to face [[Phog Allen|Phog Allen's]] [[University of Kansas|Kansas]] in the semi-finals. Senior Keith Lambert gave the Trojans the lead with less than a minute remaining in the game, but [[Howard Engleman]] scored with 16 seconds remaining to give Kansas the 43–42 win.<ref>{{cite news|title=SC Loses In Second Game At NCAA Hoop Playoffs|url=http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll104/id/56446/rec/47|date=25 March 1940}}</ref>

====World War II and the coaching carousel (1942–45)====

In January 1942, Barry, then-head coach of the three major sports at USC, enlisted in the [[United States Navy|Navy]] as a [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|lieutenant commander]] and was appointed athletic director for the Navy's western V-5 physical training school in [[St. Marys, Georgia]]. Assistant coach Julie Bescos assumed head-coaching responsibilities in Barry's absence, finishing the season until he too left for service in the Navy later in 1942. Jack Hupp, two-time All-Southern Division forward for USC in 1935 and 1936, was then named head coach in October, but in November he joined the Air Force. Ernie Holbrook, Hupp's former teammate and star of the 1935 PCC champion team, then became head coach after the first game of the season and led the Trojans to a 23–5 record and their tenth PCC South Division title in the 1943–44 season. [[Gene Rock]] and Ted Gossard were named All-Americans. The following year, however, Holbrook was called to service in the [[United States Army|Army]], becoming the fourth USC basketball coach to leave for military service in two years.

Bobby Muth, a former teammate of both Hupp and Holbrook, was chosen to be the newest replacement head coach.<ref>{{cite news|title=Muth Succeeds Holbrook As Cage Coach|url=http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll104/id/60090/rec/5|newspaper=Daily Trojan|date=5 January 1944}}</ref> Muth struggled to match the performance of his predecessor, with no returning players from 1943's division-winning team due to the war. In his first year as head coach, he managed a disappointing 8–12 record, USC's first losing record in 11 years.

Julie Bescos returned to USC after the war's end in 1945 as an assistant football coach, having earned a [[Silver Star]] for overseeing the rescue and evacuation of wounded sailors as a flight deck officer on the kamikaze-damaged [[USS Saratoga (CV-3)|USS Saratoga]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Krikorian|first=Doug|title=Long Beach's Julie Bescos did it all -- and a lot more|url=http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_12487484|newspaper=Long Beach Press-Telegram|date=30 May 2009}}</ref> He was posthumously inducted into the USC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007.

Former player and coach Ernie Holbrook died during combat in Europe. As a private in the 28th "Keystone" Infantry Division, Holbrook was killed during the early stages of the [[Battle of the Bulge]] in December 1944.<ref>{{cite web|title=Baseball's Greatest Sacrifice|url=http://www.baseballsgreatestsacrifice.com/biographies/holbrook_ernie.html}}</ref> Each year, the Ernie Holbrook Memorial Award is given in his memory to the team's most inspirational basketball player.

====Sam Barry returns (1945–50)====

With the surrender of the Japanese in August 1945, Sam Barry was discharged from the Navy, receiving a Naval Commendation for his work in the physical and military training of Navy personnel in the South Pacific.{{Citation needed|date=May 2015}} He then returned to his pre-war post as head basketball coach. Barry never managed to truly to regain his pre-war success, however. Before the war, Barry compiled a win–loss record of 208–95, winning 68% of his games. In games after the war, his winning percentage fell to 58%, with an overall record of 68–49. Despite this decline in performance, Barry's teams still finished second in the division in all but one season during the final five years of his career.

Barry's 1949–50 USC team produced another All-American in [[Bill Sharman]]. On September 23, 1950, while scouting for football at Memorial Stadium in [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]], Barry suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 57. He remains USC's all-time winningest coach, with an overall record of 260–138. In his 17 years as head coach, his teams won eight division titles and three conference titles, and featured eight All-Americans. His 40 consecutive wins over crosstown rival UCLA stand as the longest winning streak by any coach against a single opponent in the history of college basketball.{{Citation needed|date=May 2015}}

===The Forrest Twogood era (1951–66)===
In the wake of Sam Barry's sudden death in September 1950, USC turned to assistant coach Forrest Twogood, who had previously been the head coach at the [[Idaho Vandals men's basketball|University of Idaho]] and the [[San Francisco Dons men's basketball|University of San Francisco]].  Mr Twogood had worked as an assistant to Barry, coaching the Trojan freshmen, and had played for Barry at the [[Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball|University of Iowa]].

====The Final Four (1954)====
{{tone|date=May 2015}}
{{more citations needed section|date=May 2015}}
{{quote box
| halign   = left
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|quote     = <poem><span style="font-size:2em; font-family:'Times New Roman',serif; font-weight:bold;"></span>{{pad|.8em}}Hail Welsh! Hail Pausig! Hail Irvin! Hail Hammer! Hail Psaltis! Hail Carr! Hail Twogood! Hail the Trojans! <br />SC is 1954 undisputed Pacific Coast Conference basketball champion.<span style="font-size:2em; font-family:'Times New Roman',serif; font-weight:bold;"></span></poem>
{{pad|1.6em}}—Jack McCurdy in the Daily Trojan, March 9, 1954  <ref>{{cite news|last=McCurdy|first=Jack|title=Troy PCC Champion|newspaper=Daily Trojan|date=9 March 1954}}</ref>
}}

Two weeks before the 1953–54 season's end and in third place in the PCC, USC won two games against then-second-place [[California Golden Bears men's basketball|California]]. The Trojans' next and final conference series of the regular season came against the first-place [[UCLA Bruins men's basketball|UCLA Bruins]]. Coming into the series, [[John Wooden]]'s Bruins—winners of four division titles in five years—were on a 13-game win streak, had not been defeated at home all season, had not lost both games of a series at home in six years, and needed just one win in two games to secure the division title.

USC's third team All-America center, Roy Irvin, scored 29 points in the first game in leading the Trojans past the Bruins, 79–68. In the second contest, another strong performance from Irvin saw the Trojans with the lead late in the game, until UCLA tied the score in the final minute. Trojan substitute Chet Carr made a 10-foot jump-shot in the waning seconds, securing the win and the Trojans' first outright division championship in 11 years.<br />
[[File:1954 Troy PCC Champion.jpg|framed|left|The Daily Trojan following USC's PCC championship.]]
USC faced the [[Oregon State Beavers men's basketball|Oregon State Beavers]] and their 7-foot, 3-inch center, Wade Halbrook in the PCC Championship series to determine which team would represent the PCC in the NCAA Tournament. In the opening game of the series, the Trojans contained Halbrook and came away with a 65–47 victory. In the second game, Halbrook scored 12 points and stifled the USC offense with his rebounding and defense. The Beavers outscored the Trojans 20–6 in the final ten minutes of the first half, and despite a third-quarter comeback attempt, USC was defeated for the first time in six games.

The final game was a close affair throughout. Halbrook and Irvin led their teams' efforts in the final minutes, trading baskets and the lead until Irvin's hook shot gave the Trojans the lead for good with under a minute remaining. Two free throws from captain Dick Welsh with 27 seconds remaining secured the 48–45 win for USC.

USC advanced to the 16-team NCAA Tournament and began tournament play in Corvallis, where the Trojans defeated [[Idaho State Bengals men's basketball|Idaho State]] in the first round, 73–59. In the second-round game, the Trojans faced the [[Santa Clara Broncos men's basketball|Santa Clara Broncos]], a team that had played in three consecutive NCAA Tournaments. The game was closely contested throughout, with 13 lead changes and eight ties. The third quarter saw a forward surge from the Trojans, which the Broncos matched as the quarter closed. Santa Clara entered the final 40 seconds of a low-scoring fourth quarter with a three-point lead. USC's Irvin was fouled as he scored on a lay-in, and his made free throw tied the game at 57–57. The score remained tied at the end of the regulation period. In the final minute of the overtime period, the Trojans again trailed by three points. Welsh scored to bring the Trojans within one point of Santa Clara. Guard Tony Psaltis then tied the score at 65–65 with a free throw, forcing a second overtime period.

A single point—coming on a free throw from USC's Welsh during the first 30 seconds of the second five-minute overtime period—provided the winning margin for the Trojans. In the same year the NBA introduced the 24-second shot clock, Santa Clara held the ball to stall the game for four minutes and seven seconds. With 17 seconds remaining, the Broncos' Ken Sears attempted to drive to the basket. Several Trojans surrounded him and forced a turnover. Time expired and the Trojans advanced to the [[Final Four]] in Kansas City.

USC faced the [[Bradley Braves men's basketball|Bradley Braves]] in the [[Final four|Final Four]] game. The Trojans maintained a lead for most of the contest, but Bradley mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter. Holding a one-point lead with one minute remaining, the Trojans were without leading scorer Roy Irvin, who had fouled out of the game. Bradley scored five unanswered points in the final minute to take a 74–70 lead, securing the win. USC's Jack Dunne scored with six seconds remaining, but the score was not sufficient to erase the Trojans' deficit. USC fell to [[Penn State]] in the national third-place game, 70–61, after the Trojans' late comeback attempt, begun as they trailed by 20 points, fell short.

The USC student-run newspaper, the Daily Trojan, reflected on the season:
::The fact remains that what they already have done is simply phenomenal. They have defied all the "impossible," "can't do," "never," and "too much" odds to rise to this station today. On their way they won the PCC Southern Division, Pacific Coast Conference and NCAA Western Regional titles. This should seem "enough" for a team that was once pronounced "dead."
::::- Jack McCurdy, March 19, 1954

===The Bob Boyd era (1967–79)===

In a 13-year career as head coach of the USC basketball team his teams went 216–131 overall and played in the post-season four times (the 1979 NCAA playoffs, 1973 NIT and 1974 and 1975 Commissioner's Conference tourney). His 1971 team, which went 24–2 and was ranked fifth in the nation (USC was ranked first at midseason), is regarded among USC's best (he also won 24 games in 1974). His wins over UCLA in 1969 and 1970 were the UCLA's first losses in Pauley Pavilion, built in 1966. He was twice named the conference Coach of the Year. He sent ten players into the NBA, including Paul Westphal and Gus Williams.

===Morrison and Raveling (1980–94)===

In seven seasons at USC, [[Stan Morrison]] had a record of 103–95 and finished first in the Pac-10 in 1985. [[George Raveling]] took over the program in 1987, leading the Trojans to two NCAA tournament appearances. He compiled a 115–118 overall record in eight seasons.

===The Henry Bibby era (1995–2005)===

In 1995, Former UCLA great [[Henry Bibby]] was named head coach of USC men's basketball. In ten seasons, Bibby had an overall won-loss record of 131–111 at USC. He led his 1997, 2001 and 2002 teams to the NCAA tournament, including an "Elite Eight" appearance in 2001, but was fired after four games into his final season.

===Recent success===

USC advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in the [[2007 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament]], led by future NBA players [[Nick Young (basketball)|Nick Young]], [[Taj Gibson]], and [[Gabe Pruitt]], with [[Tim Floyd]] as their head coach.  This was the first time since 2001, and the second time since 1961.  This team defeated [[Kevin Durant]] and the [[Texas Longhorns men's basketball|Texas Longhorns]] before facing [[Tyler Hansbrough]] and the UNC Tar Heels in the Sweet Sixteen. USC had built a sizable lead in the first half against UNC before multiple questionable foul calls against Taj Gibson forced USC to sit Taj Gibson for an extended period of time in the second half, whereby the Tar Heels were able to take the lead and win the game.

====2007–08====
{{main|2007–08 USC Trojans men's basketball team}}

In the 2007–08 season, USC featured guard [[O. J. Mayo]] from [[Huntington High School (West Virginia)|Huntington High School]]. He had been ranked by several major sports publications as the top prospect of the 2007 recruiting class.  During the 2007–2008 season, the Trojans played the [[2007–08 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team|Kansas Jayhawks]] and the [[Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball|Oklahoma Sooners]] at home.  They also played in the [[76 Classic|Anaheim Classic]] from November 22–25, 2007.  Each night, USC played a team from the [[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]], [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East]], [[Southeastern Conference|SEC]], and [[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]].  Additionally, they had a return game against the [[South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball|South Carolina Gamecocks]] in [[Columbia, South Carolina]]. After the regular season and Pac-10 Tournament had ended, USC earned a #6 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Trojans were seeded against the #11 seed [[Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball|Kansas State Wildcats]]. This first-round game gained heavy media attention because of the matchup between college phenoms [[O. J. Mayo]] and [[Michael Beasley]]. Although the game was relatively close throughout the first half and early second half, the Wildcats came away with the victory by a score of 80–67. As expected by many, Mayo entered the NBA draft at the end of the 2007–08 season. He was selected as the 3rd overall lottery pick by the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]]. The Trojans finished the 2007–08 season with a record of 21–12. However, on January 3, 2010, the University concluded its internal investigation over allegations that Mayo received improper benefits during his stay at USC in 2007–08. The University concluded that Mayo did receive improper benefits and that head coach Tim Floyd was an active participant in ensuring that Mayo continued to receive money and gifts on behalf of a sports agent, in violation of NCAA rules. Therefore, USC declared Mayo ineligible to play in 2007–08, and USC Basketball has voluntarily vacated all regular season wins from the 2007–08 season. The USC record for 2007–08 thus is 0–12, a result of the peculiar scoring rules for marking vacated wins as no contests.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2010/01/usc-basketball-imposes-major-sanctions.html | work=Los Angeles Times | title=The Fabulous Forum | date=January 3, 2010}}</ref>

====2008–09====
The 2008–09 Trojans team featured the 3rd-ranked recruit in the nation according to [[Rivals.com]], All-American forward [[DeMar DeRozan]]. USC also received a commitment from point guard [[Romeo Miller|Percy Romeo Miller, Jr]] aka Lil Romeo, the son of [[Master P]]. The team opted not to have an October 17, 2008 [[Midnight Madness (basketball)|Midnight Madness]] celebration.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/college/basketball/la-sp-madness17-2008oct17,0,3319514.story|title=No 'Midnight Madness' for UCLA, USC basketball teams|access-date=2008-12-01|date=2008-10-17|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|author=Pucin, Diane}}</ref>

Building upon the success of previous years, the Trojans defeated [[Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball|Arizona State]] in the [[2009 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball tournament|Pac-10 Championship Game]] and clinched their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance.  They defeated [[2008–09 Boston College Eagles men's basketball team|Boston College]] to reach the second round, where they lost 74–69 to eventual runner-up [[2008–09 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team|Michigan State]].

===Sanctions===
On January 3, 2010, USC announced that it had implemented self-imposed sanctions for violations of NCAA rules related to Mayo.<ref name=USCSanctions>USC, [http://uscnews.usc.edu/university/usc_announces_self-imposed_sanctions_on_mens_basketball_team.html USC Announces Sanctions on Men's Basketball Team], January 3, 2010, Accessed March 16, 2010.</ref>  The sanctions include a one-year ban on postseason competition following the 2009–2010 regular season, a reduction of one scholarship for the 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 academic years, and reductions in the numbers of recruiting days and coaches participating in off-campus recruiting through 2011.  The school also vacated all wins earned during the 2007–2008 season, due to Mayo's ineligibility at that time.

===Andy Enfield and return to prominence (2013–present)===

After becoming the first head coach to lead a 15-seed to the Sweet 16, guiding his [[Florida Gulf Coast Eagles men's basketball|Florida Gulf Coast Eagles]] to upsets of [[Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball|Georgetown]] and [[San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball|San Diego State]], [[Andy Enfield]] was hired as the new head coach at USC on April 1, 2013. Enfield replaces interim coach Bob Cantu, who substituted for fired coach Kevin O'Neill, terminated after a 7–10 start to the Trojans' season. The Trojans had finished the season 14–18 and had missed the NCAA Tournament the previous two years.

Enfield's first two assistant hires were Tony Bland from SDSU with a reported contract of $300,000 per year, and [[Jason Hart (basketball)|Jason Hart]] from Pepperdine University.  Both have strong reputations as recruiters.<ref name=Enfield_assistants>[https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-usc-basketball-tony-bland-accepts-offer-to-join-staff-report-says-20130410,0,5502891.story USC]</ref>

On September 26, 2017, federal prosecutors announced bribery, soliciting a bribe and wire fraud charges against assistant coach Tony Bland.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/la-sp-usc-tony-bland-20170926-story.html| title = USC assistant coach Tony Bland among 10 charged in college basketball corruption probe|website=Los Angeles Times|author-first1=Nathan|author-last1=Fenno|date=26 September 2017}}</ref>

On April 4, 2024, Enfield was replaced by Eric Musselman, who departed from being the head basketball coach for the University of Arkansas.

==Facilities==

[[File:11-11-06-GalenCenter-inside.jpg|right|thumb|260px|USC men playing a pre-season game against the [[Cal Poly Pomona Broncos|Cal Poly Broncos]] at [[Galen Center]].]]The stage of [[Shrine Auditorium]] served as home court for USC basketball for much of the 1940s. However, the nature of hosting a basketball game in a theater meant that visibility was limited except in the center section of the audience. "If you had a seat on the extreme right or left, you missed seeing one basket," said Alex Omalev, a Trojan forward from 1940 to 1943. The score was kept by two men seated on an elevated platform and a gun blast marked the end of each half.<ref>{{cite news|last=Belch|first=Ben|title=Reign and Shrine|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-feb-19-sp-hooprivals19-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=19 February 2006}}</ref> <br />
Beginning in 1949  the [[Pan-Pacific Auditorium]] in the Fairfax District hosted USC basketball until 1959 at which point the Trojans moved into the nearby Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, where they would remain for close to the next 50 years.

USC had talked about building an on-campus arena for the better part of a century and that dream finally came to fruition when [[Louis Galen]], successful banker and long-time Trojan fan, donated a total $50 million to ensure the facility was built. They broke ground in 2004 and the [[Galen Center]] officially opened its doors in 2006, becoming the new home of USC basketball.

The facility is 255,000 square feet (23,700 m2), with a 45,000 square foot (4,200 m2) pavilion, and has three practice courts and offices. The seating capacity is 10,258, and there are 22 private suites. Total construction cost was an estimated $147 million.

The first men's basketball game was held on November 16, 2006 against the University of South Carolina. The first sellout crowd was the men's basketball game against the UCLA Bruins on January 12, 2007 with an attendance of 9,682. On January 31, 2008 the USC men's basketball game against the Arizona Wildcats set the arena's attendance record with a crowd of 10,258 in attendance. That record has been matched four times since: February 17, 2008 vs UCLA; January 11, 2009 vs UCLA; January 9, 2011 vs UCLA, and February 13, 2022 vs. UCLA (which also saw the largest student section to date).

==Coaches==
The following are the USC men's head basketball coaches who have led the Trojans against conference competition. Prior to fielding conference teams, USC men's basketball was also coached by notable USC coaches such as [[Dean Cromwell]] who was a track and field and baseball coach as well as [[Gus Henderson|Elmer "Gloomy Gus" Henderson]] who also coached baseball and football at USC.
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Bill Hunter (1922)
* Les Turner (1923–27)
* [[Leo Calland]] (1928–29)
* [[Sam Barry]] (1930–41, 1946–50)
* Julie Bescos (1942)
* Ernie Holbrook (1943–44)
* Bobby Muth (1944–45)
* [[Forrest Twogood]] (1951–66)
* [[Bob Boyd (basketball)|Bob Boyd]] (1967–79)
* [[Stan Morrison]] (1980–86)
* [[George Raveling]] (1987–94)
* [[Charlie Parker (basketball)|Charlie Parker]] (1994–1995)
* [[Henry Bibby]] (1995–2005)
* [[Jim Saia]] (2004–05, interim head coach)
* [[Tim Floyd]] (2005–09)
* [[Kevin O'Neill (basketball)|Kevin O'Neill]] (2009–2013)
* Bob Cantu (2013, interim head coach)
* [[Andy Enfield]] (2013–2024)
* [[Eric Musselman]] (2024–present)
{{div col end}}

==Postseason==

===NCAA tournament results===
The Trojans have appeared in twenty [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA Tournaments]] (with one appearance vacated), including two Final Four appearances. USC's combined record is 17–21* (17–20).<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/usc/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/history-13.pdf|work=2012-13 USC Men's Basketball Media Guide}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=USC Trojans|Year|Record|Seed|Round|Opponent|Result}}
|- align="center"
| [[2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2023]] || 22–11 || #10 || First Round || #7 Michigan State || L 62–72
|- align="center"
| [[2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2022]] || 26–7 || #7 || First Round || #10 Miami (FL) || L 66–68
|- align="center"
| [[2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2021]] || 25–8 || #6 || First Round<br />Second Round<br />Sweet Sixteen<br />Elite Eight || #11 Drake<br />#3 Kansas<br />#7 Oregon<br />#1 Gonzaga || '''W''' 72–56<br />'''W''' 85–51<br />'''W''' 82–68<br />L 66–85
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2017]] || 26–10 || #11 || First Four<br />First Round<br />Round of 32 || #11 Providence<br />#6 SMU<br /> #3 Baylor || '''W''' 75–71<br />'''W''' 66–65<br />L 78–82
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2016 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2016]] || 21–13 || #8 || First Round || #9 Providence || L 69–70
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2011]] || 19–14 || #11 || First Four || #11 VCU || L 46–59
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2009]] || 21–12 || #10 || First Round<br />Second Round || #7 Boston College<br />#2 Michigan State || '''W''' 72–55<br />L 69–74
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2008]]* || 21–12 || #6 || First Round || #11 Kansas State || L 67–80*
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2007 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2007]] || 25–12 || #5 || First Round<br />Second Round<br />Sweet Sixteen || #12 Arkansas<br />#4 Texas<br /> #1 North Carolina || '''W''' 77–60<br />'''W''' 87–68<br />L 64–74
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2002]] || 22–10 || #4 || First Round || #13 UNC Wilmington || L 89–93 <sup>OT</sup>
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[2001 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2001]] || 24–10 || #6 || First Round<br />Second Round<br />Sweet Sixteen<br />Elite Eight || #11 Oklahoma State<br />#3 Boston College<br /> #2 Kentucky<br /> #1 Duke || '''W''' 69–54<br />'''W''' 74–71<br />'''W''' 80–76<br />L 69–79
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1997]] || 17–11 || #11 || First Round || #6 Illinois || L 77–90
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1992]] || 24–6 || #2 || First Round<br />Second Round || #15 Northeast Louisiana<br />#7 Georgia Tech || '''W''' 84–54<br />L 78–79
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[1991 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1991]] || 19–10 || #10 || First Round || #7 Florida State || L 72–75
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1985]] || 19–10 || #8 || First Round || #9 Illinois State || L 55–58
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1982]] || 19–9 || #9 || Round of 48 || #8 Wyoming || L 58–61
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[1979 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1979]] || 20–9 || #7 || Round of 40<br />Second Round || #10 Utah State<br />#2 DePaul || '''W''' 86–67<br />L 78–89
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[1961 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1961]] || 21–8 || N/A || Round of 24<br />Sweet Sixteen<br />Regional 3rd Place || Oregon<br />Arizona State<br />Loyola Marymount || '''W''' 81–79<br />L 71–86<br />L 67–69
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[1960 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1960]] || 16–11 || N/A || Round of 25 || Utah|| L 73–80
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[1954 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1954]] || 19–14 || N/A || Sweet Sixteen<br />Elite Eight<br />Final Four<br />National 3rd Place Game || Idaho State<br />Santa Clara<br />Bradley<br />Penn State || '''W''' 73–59<br />'''W''' 66–65 <sup>2OT</sup><br />L 72–74<br />L 70–61
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[1940 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1940]] || 20–3 || N/A || Elite Eight<br />Final Four || Colorado<br />Kansas || '''W''' 38–32<br />L 42–43
|}
''*'' 2008 tournament appearance and loss to Kansas State were vacated due to NCAA penalty. The revised record is 12–17 all-time.

===NCAA tournament seeding history===

''The [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] began seeding the tournament with the [[1979 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1979 edition]].''
{| class="wikitable"
!Years →
![[1979 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'79]]
![[1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'82]]
![[1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'85]]
![[1991 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'91]]
![[1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'92]]
![[1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'97]]
![[2001 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'01]]
![[2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'02]]
![[2007 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'07]]
![[2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'08]]
![[2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'09]]
![[2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'11]]
![[2016 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'16]]
![[2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'17]]
![[2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'21]]
![[2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|'22]]
|- align=center
|  style="text-align:left; background:#e3e3e3;"|'''Seeds→'''||7||9||8||10||2||11||6||4||5||6''*''||10||11||8||11||6||7
|}

===NIT results===
The Trojans have appeared in the [[National Invitation Tournament]] (NIT) five times. Their combined record is 3–5.

{| class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=USC Trojans|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}}
|- align="center"
| [[1973 National Invitation Tournament|1973]] || First Round || Notre Dame || L 65–69
|- align="center"
| [[1993 National Invitation Tournament|1993]] || First Round<br />Second Round<br />Quarterfinals || UNLV<br />Pepperdine<br />Minnesota || '''W''' 90–73<br />'''W''' 71–59<br />L 58–76
|- align="center"
| [[1994 National Invitation Tournament|1994]] || First Round || Fresno State || L 76–79
|- align="center"
| [[1999 National Invitation Tournament|1999]] || First Round || Wyoming || L 77–81
|- align="center"
| [[2018 National Invitation Tournament|2018]] || First Round<br />Second Round || UNC Asheville<br />Western Kentucky || '''W''' 103–98 <sup>2OT</sup><br />L 75–79
|}

===CCA/NCIT results===
The Trojans appeared in both the 1974 CCA Tournament and the 1975 NCIT Tournament.  Their combined record was 2–2.

{| class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=USC Trojans|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}}
|- align="center"
| [[1974 Collegiate Commissioners Association Tournament|1974]] || Quarterfinals<br />Semifinals<br />Finals || SMU<br />Bradley<br />Indiana || '''W''' 80–72<br />'''W''' 76–73 <br /> L 60–85
|- align="center"
| [[1975 National Commissioners Invitational Tournament|1975]] || Quarterfinals || Drake || L 70–80
|}

===CBC results===
The Trojans have appeared in the [[College Basketball Crown]] once.  Their overall record is 1–1.

{| class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=USC Trojans|Year|Round|Opponent|Result}}
|-
|[[2025 College Basketball Crown|2025]]|| First Round<br>Quarterfinals || [[2024-25 Tulane Green Wave men's basketball team|Tulane]]<br>[[2024-25 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team|Villanova]] || '''W''' 89–60<br>L 59–60
|}

==All-time record vs. former Pac-12 opponents==
The USC Trojans lead the all-time series vs. three of the former Pac-12 opponents. They trail the series vs. five opponents.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=USC Trojans|Opponent|Wins|Losses|Pct.|Streak}}
|-
!Opponent
!Wins
!Losses
!Pct.
!Streak
|-
|[[Arizona Wildcats men's basketball|Arizona]]
|42
|66
|.383
|USC 1
|-
|[[Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball|Arizona St.]]
|53
|42
|.564
|USC 1
|-
|[[California Golden Bears men's basketball|Cal]]
|124
|136
|.477
|USC 2
|-
|[[Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball|Colorado]]
|7
|9
|.438
|USC 4
|-
|[[Oregon State Beavers men's basketball|Oregon St.]]
|73
|63
|.537
|USC 6
|-
|[[Stanford Cardinal men's basketball|Stanford]]
|124
|125
|.498
|USC 1
|-
|[[Utah Utes men's basketball|Utah]]
|19
|22
|.463
|USC 2
|-
|[[Washington State Cougars men's basketball|Wash. St.]]
|74
|48
|.607
|USC 5
|}

=== Record vs. Big Ten Opponents ===
All-time series includes non-conference matchups.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=USC Trojans|Opponent|Wins|Losses|Pct.|Streak}}
|-
|[[Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball|Illinois]]
|6
|3
|({{Winning percentage|6|3}})
|USC 1
|-
|[[Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball|Indiana]]
|1
|1
|({{Winning percentage|1|1}})
|Indiana 1
|-
|[[Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball|Iowa]]
| 2
| 5
|({{Winning percentage| 2|5}})
| USC 1
|-
|[[Maryland Terrapins men's basketball|Maryland]]
| 0
| 3
|({{Winning percentage|0|3}})
| Maryland 3
|-
|[[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball|Michigan]]
| 1
| 0
|({{Winning percentage|1|0}})
| USC 1
|-
|[[Michigan State Spartans men's basketball|Michigan State]]
| 3
| 4
|({{Winning percentage| 3|4}})
| Michigan State 1
|-
|[[Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball|Minnesota]]
|2
|4
|({{Winning percentage|2|4}})
| USC 1
|-
|[[Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball|Nebraska]]
| 5
| 5
|({{Winning percentage|5|5}})
| USC 2
|-
|[[Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball|Northwestern]]
| 3
| 1
|({{Winning percentage|3|1}})
| USC 2
|-
|[[Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball|Ohio State]]
|3
|3
|({{Winning percentage|3|3}})
| Ohio St 1
|-
|[[Oregon Ducks men's basketball|Oregon]]
|69
|63
|({{Winning percentage|69|63}})
|Oregon 3
|-
|[[Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball|Penn State]]
| 0
| 2
|({{Winning percentage| 0|2}})
| Penn State 2
|-
|[[Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball|Purdue]]
| 2
| 2
|({{Winning percentage|2|2}})
| USC 1
|-
|[[Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball|Rutgers]]
| 2
| 0
|({{Winning percentage|2|0}})
| USC 2
|-
|[[UCLA Bruins men's basketball|UCLA]]
|109
|142
|({{Winning percentage|109|142}})
| USC 1
|-
|[[Washington Huskies men's basketball|Washington]]
|80
|72
|({{Winning percentage|80|72}})
|USC 9
|-
|[[Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball|Wisconsin]]
| 1
| 1
|({{Winning percentage|1|1}})
| Wisconsin 1
|}
* Note all-time series includes non-conference matchups.
** Vacated wins are not counted in this table.
Updated April 4, 2024

==Retired numbers==
{{main|List of NCAA men's basketball retired numbers}}
The Trojans have retired seven jersey numbers.
{{multiple image
|align = 
|total_width = 300
|image1 = DeMar_DeRozan_2022.jpg
|image2 = SharmanatUSCjpeg.jpeg
|footer = DeMar DeRozan (left) and Bill Sharman, two USC players whose numbers were retired 
}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
| colspan="5" style= "{{CollegePrimaryStyle|USC Trojans|border=0}}" | '''USC Trojans retired numbers'''
|-
! width=40px style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|USC Trojans|border=0}}" | No.
! width=150px style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|USC Trojans|border=0}}" |Player
! width=100px style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|USC Trojans|border=0}}" |Tenure
! width= px style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|USC Trojans|border=0}}" |No. ret
! width= px style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|USC Trojans|border=0}}" |Ref.
|-
| rowspan=2| '''10''' || [[Gus Williams (basketball)|Gus Williams]] || 1972–1975 || 2016 || <ref>[https://www.sonicsforever.com/gus-williams Williams bio] at Sonicsforever</ref><ref name=scalref/>
|-
| [[DeMar DeRozan]] || 2008–2009 || 2020 || <ref>[https://reignoftroy.com/2020/02/12/demar-derozan-usc-basketball-jersey-retirement/ DeMar DeRozan’s jersey retirement is an odd move by USC basketball] By Alicia de Artola on reignoftroy.com - Feb 12, 2020</ref><ref name=scalref/>
|-
| '''11''' || [[Bill Sharman]] || 1946–1950 || 2007 || <ref>[https://news.usc.edu/tributes/bill-sharman/ Bill Sharman] at USC.edu</ref><ref name=scalref/>
|-
| '''19''' || [[Bob Boyd (basketball)|Bob Boyd]] || 1950–1952|| 2017 || <ref name=scalref>[https://www.ocregister.com/2022/08/27/southern-california-teams-retired-numbers/ Southern California teams’ retired numbers] By JIM ALEXANDER at "The Orange County Register" - August 27, 2022</ref>
|-
| '''23''' || [[Harold Miner]] || 1989–1992|| 2012 || <ref name=scalref/>
|-
| '''25''' || [[Paul Westphal]] ||1969–1972 || 2007 ||<ref name=scalref/>
|-
| '''44''' || [[John Rudometkin]] || 1959–1962|| 2010 ||<ref name=scalref/>
|}

==Notable players==
[[File:Brian Scalabrine of the Boston Celtics at NBA Media Day 2007.png|thumb|170px|[[Brian Scalabrine]]]]
[[File:Bill Sharman, Boston Celtics, signed.jpg|thumb|170px|[[Bill Sharman]]]]
[[File:Paul Westphal in 2014.jpg|thumb|170px|[[Paul Westphal]]]]
[[File:David Bluthenthal.JPG|thumb|170px|[[David Bluthenthal]]]]
[[File:Nikola Vucevic Dec 2013 (cropped).jpg|thumb|170px|[[Nikola Vucevic]]]]
* [[Tex Winter]] (1946–1947)
::Innovator of the triangle offense, nine-time NBA champion as an assistant coach (Bulls, Lakers), UPI Coach of the Year (1958), [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame|Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer]], [[National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame]]r, USC Athletics Hall of Famer, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame John Bunn Award (lifetime achievement) honoree, NBA Coaches Association Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, USC Athletics Hall of Famer.
* [[Bill Sharman]] (1946–1950)
::All-American, 2-time [[List of All-Pac-12 Conference men's basketball teams|All-Pacific Coast Conference]], PCC MVP, 4-time All-NBA First Team, 8-time NBA All-Star (1953–1960) NBA All-Star Game MVP (1961), 4-time NBA champion as a player (Celtics), NBA champion as a coach (Lakers), NBA Coach of the Year (1972), 5-time NBA champion as executive (Lakers), first coach to win championships in three different pro leagues (ABL, ABA, NBA), [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]]r as a coach and player, USC Athletics Hall of Famer.
* [[Alex Hannum]] (1943, 1946–1947)
::1948 captain, 2-time NBA champion as a coach (Hawks, 76ers), NBA Coach of the Year (1964),  ABA Coach of the Year (1969), [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]]r.
* [[Paul Westphal]] (1969–1972)
::1972 captain, All-American, 3-time All-Pac-10, NBA champion as a player (Celtics), 5-time NBA All-Star, 3-time All-NBA First Team, #44 retired by the Phoenix Suns.
* [[Gus Williams (basketball)|Gus Williams]] (1971–1975)
::All-American, 2-time All-Pac-10, NBA champion as a player (SuperSonics), 2-time All-Star, All-NBA First Team (1982), #1 Retired by the Seattle SuperSonics.
* [[Harold Miner]] (1989–1992)
::3-time All American, 3-time All-Pac-10, Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (1990), Sports Illustrated National Player of the Year (1992), Pac-10 Player of the Year (1992), 2-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion
* [[Brian Scalabrine]] (1998–2001)
::3-time All-Pac-10, Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year (1999), NBA Champion with the Boston Celtics (2008)
* [[David Blu]] (1998–2002)
::[[American-Israeli]] 2-time Euroleague Champion (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
* [[Nick Young (basketball)|Nick Young]] (2004–2007)
::2-time All-Pac-10
* [[Taj Gibson]] (2006–2009)
::2009 captain, 2-time All-Pac-10, Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year (2009), NBA All-Rookie First Team
* [[O. J. Mayo]] (2007–2008)
::2008 captain, All-Pac-10, NBA All-Rookie First Team. Mayo was also the recipient of improper benefits and USC was forced to vacate the 21 wins from the 2007–08 season.
* [[DeMar DeRozan]] (2008–2009)
::Pac-10 All-Freshman Team, Pac-10 Tournament Most Valuable Player (2009), NBA All-Star (2013–14, 2015–17).
* [[Nikola Vučević]] (2008–2011)
::2-time All-Pac-10, AP All-American Honorable Mention, NBA Rising Star, NBA All-Star (2019, 2021).
* [[Dewayne Dedmon]] (2011–2013)
::Multi year NBA starter.
* [[Chimezie Metu]] (2015–2018)
::2018 NBA Draft Second Round Draft Pick
* [[De'Anthony Melton]] (2016–2018)
::2018 NBA Draft Second Round Draft Pick
* [[Jordan McLaughlin]] (2014–2018)
:: 2018 First Team All-Pac-12, 3rd player in conference history to record over 1,600 points and 600 assists, current point guard for the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]]

* [[Kevin Porter Jr.]] (2018–2019)
::2019 NBA Draft First Round Draft Pick
* [[Onyeka Okongwu]] (2019–2020)
:: First Team All-Pac-12, 2020 NBA Draft First Round Draft Pick
* [[Evan Mobley]] (2020–2021)
:: In his one season with USC, he led the Trojans to the Elite Eight. He was awarded Pac 12 Player of the Year, Pac 12 Freshman of the Year, Pac 12 Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All Pac 12, Pac 12 All Defensive Team, Pac 12 All Freshman Team, and was a Consensus Second-Team All American. Mobley was selected by the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] with the 3rd overall pick of the [[2021 NBA draft]].

==Records==

===Career leaders===
{| class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=USC Trojans|Rank|Points|3-pt FGs|Rebounds|Assists|Steals|Blocks}}
|- align="center"
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1. ||2,048 – Harold Miner <br />1990–92 ||247 – Jonah Mathews <br />2017–20  ||1,067 – Ron Riley <br />1970–72 ||779 – Brandon Granville <br />1999–2002 || 229 – Brandon Granville<br /> 1999–2002|| 253 – Taj Gibson <br />2007–09
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2. ||1,727 – Ronnie Coleman <br />1988–91||245 – [[Elijah Stewart]] <br />2015–18 || 916 – Nick Rakocevic <br />2017–20||738 – Jordan McLaughlin <br />2015–18 ||224 – Errick Craven <br />2002–05 ||195 – Sam Clancy <br />1999–2002
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 3. ||1,657 – Sam Clancy <br />1999–2002||243 – Bennie Boatwright <br />2016–19 || 896 – Taj Gibson <br />2007–09||409 – Larry Friend <br />1983–86 ||213 – Jordan McLaughlin <br />2015–18 ||168 – Chimezie Metu <br />2016–18
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 4.|| 1,648 – Jordan McLaughlin <br />2015–18||232 – Lodrick Stewart <br />2004–07 ||839 – Sam Clancy <br />1999–2002 ||398 – Duane Cooper <br />1988–89, 1991–92 || 208 – Stais Boseman <br />1994–97||129 – Rory O'Neil <br />2002–05
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 5. ||1,606 – Desmon Farmer <br /> 2001–04||218 – Brandon Granville<br /> 1999–2002 || 831 – John Rudometkin <br />1960–62||397 – Julian Jacobs<br />2014–16 || 204 – Jeff Trepagnier <br />1998–01||128 – Lorenzo Orr <br />1992–95
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 6.|| 1,542 – Bennie Boatwright <br /> 2016–19||203 – Desmon Farmer <br />2001–04 ||822 – Allen Young <br />1963–65 || 363 – Jacque Hill <br />1980–83||179 – Derrick Dowell <br />1984–87 ||125 – [[Elijah Stewart]] <br />2015–18
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 7.|| 1,524 – Wayne Carlander <br /> 1982–85||185 – Jordan McLaughlin <br />2015–18 ||821 – Ronnie Coleman <br />1988–91 ||363 – Daniel Hackett <br />2007–09 ||158 – Gabe Pruitt <br />2005–06 || 118 – Nick Rakocevic <br />2017–20
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 8.|| 1,486 – Nick Young <br /> 2005–07|| 179 – Gabe Pruitt <br />2005–07||806 – Derrick Dowell <br />1984–87 ||362 – Gus Williams <br />1973–75 ||148 – Lodrick Stewart<br /> 2004–06 ||116 – Rod Keller <br />1984–87
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 9.|| 1,484 – John Rudometkin <br /> 1960–62||176 – Harold Miner <br />1990–92 ||768 – Roy Irvin <br />1953–55 ||319 – Robert Pack <br /> 1990–91 ||134 – Sam Clancy<br /> 1999–2002 ||104 – Jeff Trepagnier <br />1998–2001
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 10.|| 1,483 – Derrick Dowell <br />1984–87||171 – [[David Bluthenthal]] <br />1999–2002 ||767 – Wayne Carlander <br />1982–85 ||313 – Dan Anderson<br /> 1972–74 ||132 – Jonah Mathews<br /> 2017–20 || 101 – Avondre Jones <br />1993–94, 1995–96
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

{{USC Trojans men's basketball navbox}}
{{University of Southern California}}
{{Big Ten Conference men's basketball navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Usc Trojans Men's Basketball}}
[[Category:USC Trojans men's basketball| ]]