College Basketball Insider Picks USC Trojans To Win Pac-12 This Season

This could be the year.

Big Ten Network analyst Andy Katz has predicted that the rejuvenated 2023-24 USC Trojans will win the Pac-12 conference this year.

This comes as a little bit of a surprise. In the Pac-12's preseason media poll, 18 of 26 voters predicted that the Arizona Wildcats would finish first in the conference. USC was only picked by four voters, tied with UCLA for a very distant second.

Katz, however, isn't a typical media member. His expertise in college basketball specifically adds significant merit to his prediction. 

In terms of breaking down his opinion, Arizona and UCLA are the two teams that truly stand a chance outside of USC. 

Arizona enters this season down most of their starters from their 2022-2023 Pac-12 winning squad, as Cedric Henderson Jr., Courtney Ramey, Kerr Kriisa, and First-Team All-Pac-12 selection Ąžuolas Tubelis have all left the program. 

Center Oumar Ballo is the last man standing, and he'll be joined by breakout candidate and returning guard Kylan Boswell, as well as former North Carolina point guard Caleb Love. 

The Wildcats also added Paulius Murauskas, a 6-foot-8 freshman who has already played in the top Lithuanian basketball league, and Motiejus Krivas, a 7-foot-2 center who has spent the least couple of seasons competing for Lithuania both domestically and internationally. 

UCLA is more uncertain, as they lost their entire core from their deep March Madness runs, leaving them with talent, but questions about how they'll fit together. Given the Bruins' size, however, they're a tough matchup for anyone. 

To that end, Arizona looks like a clear-cut frontrunner to win the Pac-12, as they try to three-peat. 

USC has advantages against the Wildcats, highlighted by the Trojans' guards. 

Isaiah Collier and Boogie Ellis are going to be one of the nation's top backcourts, and should pose matchup nightmares for anyone they face. 

Arizona on the other hand, should have one of the nation's top frontcourts yet again, as Oumar Ballo and the 7-foot-2 Krivas should pose a problem for the Trojans.

USC's success will likely depend almost entirely on the impact that Collier makes, as his playmaking, athleticism, and shot-creation skills should all boost the Trojans previously-average offense considerably. 

With USC being a defense-first team, expect that to continue to be a bright spot. 

If the offense can truly be unleashed, however, and the on-ball responsibility of Boogie Ellis is reduced, while off the ball, big men Kijani Wright, Vince Iwuchukwu, and Joshua Morgan are utilized well as lob threats, the Trojans' could have national championship prowess, and that journey often begins with winning one's conference. 

It all depends on Collier. Can the top-ranked recruit rise to the occasion?

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