USC Basketball: Trojans On Rise In Expert’s New NCAA Rankings

A starry freshman class could take the Trojans to the next level.

Your USC Trojans' future is looking up, at least if one pundit is to be believed.

After losing to the Michigan State Spartans in the Round of 64 during last spring's NCAA Tournament, the Trojans opted for some massive regrouping this spring, and now appear poised to drastically improve from a bummer of a showing in March Madness.

Jon Wilner of The Bay Area News Group has made some drastic to his list of the top 25 college men's hoops teams in the nation since his last rankings, doled out during March Madness. Your USC Trojans, boasting some stellar new additions in five-star guard Isaiah Collier, four-star guard Bronny James, and four-star forwards Brandon Gardner and Arrinten Page, are massive beneficiaries.

USC is ranked eighth overall by Wilner. 

Bill Self's loaded Kansas roster gets top honors. Last year's two NCAA Finalists, the eventual champion University of Connecticut Huskies and the team they vanquished, the San Diego State Aztecs (boasting a defecting USC guard, Reese Dixon-Waters), are listed just ahead of the Trojans. Thanks in part to the surprise return of SDSU guards Lamont Butler and Jaedon LeDee, who tested out the NBA draft this spring before ultimately withdrawing from consideration, the Aztecs (sixth) are actually ranked ahead of UConn (seventh).

"The other basketball team in Los Angeles is one of the offseason’s biggest winners. The Trojans possess an elite backcourt as returning guard Boogie Ellis joins forces with rookies Bronny James and Isaiah Collier, the nation’s No. 1 recruit," Wilner writes. "The frontline is loaded with long defenders — keep a close eye on Vince Iwuchukwu, a former five-star prospect — to give USC first-class court balance."