[SamuelMcF]

USC proving today's winning formula. Their top 6 are 3 juniors (5*, 4*, 3* sixth man) and 3 transfers. That's how you build a competitive starting lineup in today's CBB landscape.

USC team final rankings in the Andy Enfield era, per kenpom.com:
2013-14: 151
2014-15: 151
2015-16: 49
2016-17: 53
2017-18: 51
2018-19: 82
2019-20: 55
2020-21: 6
2021-22 (so far): 15

Enfield took over a failing program, restored it to respectability in year 3, but it wasn't until year 8 that USC became elite. In his first six years, USC made the NCAA tournament twice with an overall record of 1-2. Also made it to the second round of the NIT another year. Don't know how many other schools with USC's ego would have stuck with Enfield, but he has a 5* and two 4* freshmen scheduled to arrive this fall. #1 class in the conference so far, #5 nationally.

Usc is the best team in the conference, by along shot.

That's my take, too.  And Cal played them tough; will be pleasantly surprised if Stanford does.

Cal ended up losing by 14, but the first half was indeed close. USC was only favored by 5.5 so they destroyed the spread. "Played them tough?"

USC has had a total creampuff schedule. The teams that have, by what I assume to be your actual definition, "played them tough" (were either winning or within 5 at halftime):
- Washington State
- Long Beach State
- UC Irvine
- Cal (was down 5 at half before losing by 14)

My only surprise here was Utah not on the list as they were getting creamed at halftime, since the rest of USC's opponents have been jokes. As it turns out, though, Utah is really really REALLY bad. By the way, they beat Cal. (Although I don't like the transitive property in MBB so that's not entirely fair.)

Thus, I will not be surprised at all if we "play them tough" in the 1H given the above list. We "played tough" with Baylor (down 6 at half), Colorado (down 5 at half), Oregon (winning at half), and in our two Hawaii games. 

I will, however, be pleasantly surprised if we end up winning or even losing close, much like Cal did not either. USC is favored by 5, so in fairness Vegas views this game with a similar eye as the Cal game.

[SamuelMcF]

USC proving today's winning formula. Their top 6 are 3 juniors (5*, 4*, 3* sixth man) and 3 transfers. That's how you build a competitive starting lineup in today's CBB landscape.

USC team final rankings in the Andy Enfield era, per kenpom.com:
2013-14: 151
2014-15: 151
2015-16: 49
2016-17: 53
2017-18: 51
2018-19: 82
2019-20: 55
2020-21: 6
2021-22 (so far): 15

Enfield took over a failing program, restored it to respectability in year 3, but it wasn't until year 8 that USC became elite. In his first six years, USC made the NCAA tournament twice with an overall record of 1-2. Also made it to the second round of the NIT another year. Don't know how many other schools with USC's ego would have stuck with Enfield, but he has a 5* and two 4* freshmen scheduled to arrive this fall. #1 class in the conference so far, #5 nationally.

Usc is the best team in the conference, by along shot.

That's my take, too.  And Cal played them tough; will be pleasantly surprised if Stanford does.

Cal ended up losing by 14, but the first half was indeed close. USC was only favored by 5.5 so they destroyed the spread. "Played them tough?"

USC has had a total creampuff schedule. The teams that have, by what I assume to be your actual definition, "played them tough" (were either winning or within 5 at halftime):
- Washington State
- Long Beach State
- UC Irvine
- Cal (was down 5 at half before losing by 14)

My only surprise here was Utah not on the list as they were getting creamed at halftime, since the rest of USC's opponents have been jokes. As it turns out, though, Utah is really really REALLY bad. By the way, they beat Cal. (Although I don't like the transitive property in MBB so that's not entirely fair.)

Thus, I will not be surprised at all if we "play them tough" in the 1H given the above list. We "played tough" with Baylor (down 6 at half), Colorado (down 5 at half), Oregon (winning at half), and in our two Hawaii games. 

I will, however, be pleasantly surprised if we end up winning or even losing close, much like Cal did not either. USC is favored by 5, so in fairness Vegas views this game with a similar eye as the Cal game.