The USC Trojans (3-1) are facing the BYU Cougars (3-1) in a first-round game at the Battle 4 Atlantis held in the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in The Bahamas on Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. PT. The game will air on the ESPN2 with Kevin Fitzgerald and Carolyn Peck calling the action.
COMING ATTRACTIONS — USC is bringing in the No. 6 ranked men’s basketball recruiting class for the 2023-24 seasons, according to Rivals.com. Leading the way is 247Sports.com No. 1 overall recruit point guard Isaiah Collier from Atlanta, Ga. His teammate from Wheeler High in Marietta, Ga., forward Arrinten Page, the No. 55 player overall according to ESPN.com, has also signed an NLI to continue their collaboration in L.A. Rounding out the class is the No.53 overall player according to On3.com guard Silas Demary Jr. from North Carolina.
FACING BYU — USC will open play in the Battle 4 Atlantis facing BYU (3-1) on Nov. 23 at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas. BYU is coming off an 87-73 home win over Nicholls on Nov. 19. BYU also has wins at home over Idaho State (60-56) and Missouri State (66-64), with its lone loss coming at San Diego State (82-75). BYU has three players averaging in double figures, led by sophomore forward Fousseyni Traore at 12.5 points per game. USC is 8-3 all-time against BYU, winning the last four meetings. USC won the last meeting 79-53 on Dec. 1, 2020 at the Legends Classic in Uncasville, Conn.
ON DECK AT THE BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS — The second game for the Trojans will be a Thanksgiving contest on Nov. 24 against either Butler (3-1) or Tennessee (2-1) and the final game on Nov. 25 will be against one of four teams: Dayton, Kansas, NC State and Wisconsin. The combined record of the eight teams competing at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament is currently 25-5.
IT STARTS WITH DEFENSE — USC held Mount St. Mary’s to 36.8 percent shooting and has held all four opponents this season to under 40 percent shooting. USC held 22 of its 34 opponents during the 2021-22 season to under 40 percent shooting. USC held the opposition to a 39.0 shooting percentage during the season, 14th in the country. USC held its first 12 opponents during the 2021-22 season under 40 percent shooting in each game and to a combined 35.2 shooting percentage, which was second in the country. The Trojans were the first team in the last 15 seasons to hold its first 12 opponents to under 40 percent shooting in each game.
PETERSON & 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. Both Peterson and senior guard Boogie Ellis were named to the 2022-23 Pac-12 Preseason All-Conference first team.
BLOCK PARTY 2023 — USC has 29 blocks in the first four games of the 2022-23 season, led by Joshua Morgan’s 16 blocks. USC is currently tied for sixth in the country with an average of 7.2 blocks per game. Morgan is tied for fourth in the country with his 16 blocks. Morgan had 7 blocks vs. FGCU on Nov. 7 which tied him for fifth on USC’s all-time single game blocks list
