The 2020–21 USC Trojans men's basketball team represented the University of Southern California during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by eighth-year head coach Andy Enfield, they played their home games at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California as members of the Pac-12 Conference. They finished the season 25–8, 15–5 in Pac-12 Play to finish in 2nd place. They defeated Utah in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament before losing in the semifinals to Colorado. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated Drake, Kansas, and Oregon to advance to the Elite Eight where they lost to Gonzaga.
Previous season
The 2019–20 USC Trojans ended the season at 22–9 overall, and a 11–7 Conference record for a tie for 3rd Place with Arizona State. They were set to take on Arizona in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament. However, the remainder of the Pac-12 Tournament, and all other postseason tournaments, were cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Off-season
Departures NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for Departure Kyle Sturdivant 1 G 6'3" 200 Freshman Norcross, GA Transferred to Georgia Tech Jonah Mathews 2 G 6'3" 205 Senior Santa Monica, CA Graduated Elijah Weaver 3 G 6'6" 210 Sophomore Cocoa, FL Transferred to Dayton Daniel Utomi 4 G 6'6" 225 GS Senior Houston, TX Graduated/signed to play professional in Finland with Kauhajoki Karhu Quinton Adlesh 10 G 6'1" 200 GS Senior Arroyo Grande, CA Graduated Charles O'Bannon Jr. 13 G 6'6" 210 RS Sophomore Compton, CA Mid-season transferred to TCU Onyeka Okongwu 21 F 6'9" 245 Freshman Chino Hills, CA Declared for the 2020 NBA draft; selected 6th overall by the Atlanta Hawks Nick Rakocevic 31 F 6'11" 225 Senior Chicago, IL Graduated
Incoming transfers Name Num Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School Chevez Goodwin 1 F 6'9" 225 Redshirt Senior Columbia, SC Transferred from Wofford. Will be eligible to play immediately since Goodwin graduated from Wofford. Tahj Eaddy 2 G 6'2" 165 Redshirt Senior West Haven, CT Transferred from Santa Clara. Will be eligible to play immediately since Eaddy graduated from Santa Clara. Isaiah White 5 G 6'7" 210 Redshirt Senior Rancho Cucamoga, CA Transferred from Utah Valley. Will be eligible to play immediately since White graduated from Utah Valley. Drew Peterson 13 G 6'8" 195 Junior Libertyville, IL Transferred from Rice. Peterson was granted a waiver for immediate eligibility. Will have two years of remaining eligibility. Joshua Morgan 24 F 6'11" 210 Sophomore Sacramento, CA Transferred from Long Beach State. Under NCAA transfer rules, Morgan will have to sit out the 2020–21 season. Will have three years of remaining eligibility. Reggie Parris 32 G 6'3" 190 Junior Denver, CO Transferred from San Diego. Will join the team as a walk-on. Amar Ross 55 G 5'7" 150 Junior Long Beach, CA Transferred from Bethesda. Will join the team as a walk-on.
2020 recruiting class
2021 Recruiting class
Roster
Team Recognition Andy Enfield John R. Wooden Pac-12 Coach of the Year Naismith Trophy Men's Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List Evan Mobley Pac-12 Player of the Year Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year All-Pac-12 First Team Pac-12 All-Freshman Team Pac-12 All-Defensive Team Pac-12 Freshman of the Week (Week 2, Week 3, Week 7, Week 9, Week 11, Week 13) Pac-12 Men's Basketball Preseason Media First Team All-Conference Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Watch List Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 Watch List NABC Player Of The Year Watch List Naismith Trophy Watch List Naismith Defensive Play of the Year Award Watch List Naismith Player of the Week (Week 13) Naismith National Player of the Year Semifinalist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch List Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Top 10 Finalist NCAA Player of the Week Pac-12 Player of the Week (Week 11) - 2nd player in the conference, after Onyeka Okongwu, to ever be recognized as player of the week and freshman of the week during the same week. Tahj Eaddy All-Pac-12 Second Team
Injuries E. Anderson wasn't available for the UConn game due to back spasms. He remained on the sidelines until his return on January 14, 2021 against Washington.
Schedule and results
!colspan=9 style=| Regular season
!colspan=9 style=| Pac-12 Tournament
!colspan=9 style=| NCAA tournament
Rankings
Note: AP does not release post-tournament rankings ^ Coaches did not release a Week 1 poll.
References