USC Trojans

From Hoopedia

The University of Southern California (commonly referred to as USC, SC, Southern California, and incorrectly as Southern Cal), located in the University Park neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university. Undergraduate enrollment is 17,000.

USC athletics participates in the NCAA Division I Pacific Ten Conference. The nickname of USC's teams is Trojans. The phrase "USC Trojans" also refers to the University of Southern California student body in general. The women's athletic teams are referred to as "The Women of Troy."

The colors of USC are cardinal and gold, which were approved by USC's third president, Rev. George W. White, in 1895. In 1958 the shade of gold, which was originally more of an orange color, was changed to a more yellow shade. The letterman's awards were the first to make the change.

Both men's and women's teams began playing in the newly constructed Galen Center (capacity 10,258) on the USC Campus in Los Angeles, California in November 2006. Previously they played for many years in the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

USC's cross-town rival is UCLA, with whom there is fierce athletic competition.

1 Men's Basketball
- 1.1 Notable alumni
- 1.2 Coaches
2 Women's Basketball
- 2.1 Notable alumnae
- 2.2 Coaches

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Men's Basketball

The USC Trojans men's basketball program is currently coached by Tim Floyd. Other Staff: Phil Johnson, Bob Cantu, Gib Arnold, Rob Brooks, Rudy Hackett, Eric Perea.

Sam Barry coached the men's team between 1930 and 1950 (interrupted by World War II service) and won the conference title three times.

The USC Trojans are 15-5 (5-2 in the Pac-10) and are 4-2 vs Top 25 teams. Key players include G-F Nick Young, G Gabe Pruitt, F Taj Gibson and G Lodrick Stewart. Some memorable moments from this season include beating #8 Wichita State 60-56, #13 Washington 86-79 and #17 Oregon (away) 84-82. The Trojans lost to #2 UCLA 65-64 on a last second shot by Aaron Afflalo but five days later they defeated #11 Arizona 80-73.

Things are only looking up for the Trojans as they have already received top-rated recruit O.J. Mayo, and on January 22, 2007 they finally became a ranked team coming in at #25 in the AP poll. A feat which hasn't been accomplished since the 2000-01 season. On February 5th, 2006, the Trojans were ranked #19 in the AP Poll. USC is also accuring senior guard OJ Mayo, from Hunnington High School next season, who is acclaimed as the best prospect of the 2007 recruiting class.

Additionally, USC has advanced to the sweet sixteen in the 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. The Trojans have not advanced this far since 2001, and before that in 1979. It is a remarkable start to Tim Floyd's career at USC, considering that in his second year of tenure, he has already lead his team further than anyone's expectations. The fifth-seed Trojans mauled the Arkansas Razorbacks in the first round, 77-60. They then humbled a highly-touted, fourth-seeded University of Texas team, 87-68.

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Notable alumni

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Coaches

The following are the USC Men's Basketball coaches who've led the Trojans against conference competition. Prior to fielding conference teams, USC Men's Basketball was also coached by notable USC coaches as Dean Cromwell (baseball) and Elmer "Gloomy Gus" Henderson (football).