USC Trojans

LOS ANGELES -- It's safe to assume that head coach Kevin O’Neill would just as soon forget the 2011-2012 USC men’s basketball season altogether. Hit hard by injuries, the Trojans were flat-out difficult to watch at times as they struggled in just about every phase of the game, ultimately finishing with just six wins and a school-record 26 losses, including just one victory in Pac-12 play.

In looking at the upcoming season then, the first bit of good news would appear to be that the only way for O’Neill’s squad to go is up.

And while the Trojans were picked to finish ninth in the Pac-12 preseason poll, indications point toward a much improved team in 2012-2013. To bring an up-tempo and much more physical brand of play to the fold that simply wasn't possible a year ago with such a depleted roster, but the Trojans are a collection of unfamiliar faces that O’Neill believes could exceed all expectations.

“Overall, I couldn’t be more impressed with our group so far,” O’Neill said. “We’ll see what happens going forward, but I like what I’ve seen out of them in terms of maturity, and I like what I’ve seen out of them in terms of them being a work team. And those are the things that are going to be important for us.”

But perhaps the biggest individual reason for O’Neill’s optimism is the player that he’ll having running the show at point guard, Jio Fontan.

Maurice Jones -- last season's starting point man -- transferred to Iowa State, but the Trojans undoubtedly get better at the position with the return of Fontan, who missed last season after suffering a torn ACL. A true court general who averaged 10.5 points and 3.9 assists per game two years ago, the senior leader can do it all -- shoot, distribute the ball and play lights-out defense.

“I feel like we have the best point guard in the league -- I would say that anytime, anywhere -- in Jio,” O’Neill said.

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The ESPN RecruitingNation team has released its basketball recruiting rankings for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 classes. Jabari Parker (Chicago/Simeon), Julius Randle (Dallas/Prestonwood) and Andrew Harrison (Richmond, Texas/Travis) are the top three prospects in the ESPN 100. Read more about how the rankings were complied here.

• View the 2013 ESPN 100 here
• View the 2014 ESPN 60 here
• View the 2015 ESPN 25 here

LOS ANGELES -- After losing five of their top seven scorers from last season’s team, the USC men’s basketball team was expected to struggle offensively. When team leader Jio Fontan went down with a knee injury during a preseason exhibition game in Brazil, thoughts shifted to whether the Trojans would be able to score at all.

USC coach Kevin O’Neill echoed those sentiments during Pac-12 media day, when his said his team would continue to play tough defense, but baskets would likely be scarce. O’Neill spoke at length about how the Trojans would lean heavily on point guard Maurice Jones and how they’d go only as far as the sophomore point guard could take them.

Through 17 games, it hasn’t been very far. Jones has played much of this season as if he has been forced to literally carry the team on his back. He has been asked to play point guard and be the team’s leading scorer -- a combination that doesn’t often lead to successful offense. He has also rarely been able to catch his breath, as he has played fewer than 35 minutes in just one game this season.

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Despite a valiant second-half comeback, the USC Trojans (5-9 overall, 0-1 Pac-12) couldn't overcome the California Golden Bears (11-3, 1-0), falling 53-49 in the conference opener for both teams.

Trailing by 10 points with 5:24 to play, USC closed to 50-49 with 44 seconds remaining on the strength of an an 11-2 run. The Trojans elected to play defense rather than foul during the final Cal possession and were rewarded with a block by center Dewayne Dedmon with 10 seconds remaining. But Cal's Allen Crabbe grabbed the rebound and was fouled during a 3-point attempt, and the subsequent free throws provided the final margin.

The Trojans trailed 31-19 at halftime, thanks to another 20 minutes of offensive struggles. USC shot 33.3 percent from the field and missed all four of their 3-point attempts to go along with nine turnovers. USC shot 33.9 percent from the floor in the game and just 46.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Sophomore point guard Maurice Jones once again led the Trojans with 17 points -- the only USC player to score in double figures. He added four steals and four assists. Aaron Fuller scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds.

The USC Trojans (5-8) begin Pac-12 play Thursday, as they travel to Haas Pavilion to take on the California Golden Bears (10-3) at 6 p.m. PT.

To say the Trojans have struggled offensively this season after losing senior guard Jio Fontan to a preseason knee injury would be an understatement. USC has scored more than 66 points just once this season and have been held to fewer than 42 points on three occasions.

USC ranks last in the Pac-12 in scoring (55.8 points per game), assists (9.7), 3-pointers made (4.3), rebounds (29.3), free throws made (10) and free throws attempted (16.4) per game. The Trojans also rank last in the conference in field goal percentage (.419) and free throw percentage (.610), Sophomore point guard Maurice Jones leads the Trojans with 14.9 points per game, while junior Aaron Fuller averages 11.9 points.

The Bears will rely on a talented backcourt that features their three leading scorers, guards Allen Crabbe (15.8 points per game), Jorge Gutierrez (13.8 points) and Justin Cobbs (12.6 points).

It has been a very slow start for the Trojans -- as well as the Pac-12 in general -- but USC will look to begin generating some momentum as the conference slate gets underway.

Utilizing their usual stingy defense, the USC Trojans (4-4) held UC Riverside (2-5) to just 11 points in the second half and were able to cruise to a 56-35 victory.

The 35 points were the fewest allowed by the Trojans this season, as Greg Allen (11 points, three 3-pointers) and Alexis Moore (10 points) paced them offensively. It was a balanced attack with center Dewayne Dedmon out with a foot injury, as Aaron Fuller scored nine points and Byron Wesley and Garrett Jackson each finished with eight.

Defensively, the Trojans forced 15 turnovers and held the Highlanders to 34 percent from the floor.

This was USC's second consecutive win after three straight losses, including a very disappointing defeat at the hands of Cal Poly. The Trojans will look to continue their current winning streak as they travel to Minnesota to take on the Golden Gophers this Saturday.