ESPN.com - College Basketball - Preview Top 25 -- No. 19 USC

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Thursday, November 2
Preview Top 25 -- No. 19 USC

19. USC	LAST YEAR: 16-14	'99-00 RANK: NR
Why No. 19?: The Trojans probably think they should be higher. But No. 19 fits a team that has the talent, but hasn't proven over a long season that it can be a top 20 team. The Trojans have athleticism at every position, including the best athlete in the country in Jeff Trepagnier. They're healthy with the return of third-leading scorer Sam Clancy and reserve forward Jarvis Turner. The Trojans were 6-0 in the Pac-10 before Clancy and Turner went down. They ended up missing out on the postseason. Center Brian Scalabrine might be the most improved after toning up over the summer and increasing his range. The unheralded pair but, possibly team MVPs, are point Brandon Granville and forward David Bluthenthal. Everyone in the starting five seems to maximize their minutes. Will Climb If: The Trojans can pick up some key non-conference victories like Utah at the Wooden Classic, and possibly Iowa State and/or BYU in an underrated, but loaded field of the Pearl Harbor Classic in Hawaii in December. Getting through a tough three-game stretch at UCLA, Arizona and Arizona State early in the Pac-10 schedule could determine their fate in the race. Will Fall If: The Trojans lack of depth and injuries last season decimated their postseason chances. Getting through a rugged 18-game Pac-10 schedule is never easy, but the Trojans have little room for error. USC will get the national pub early in the season but its fame will be short-lived if it muddles through the non-conference. Unlike UCLA, Arizona or Stanford, USC isn't afforded the same type of comfort zone by polls, and ultimately, by a postseason selection committee. The Trojans finished .500 in the Pac-10 and two games above .500 and still didn't get an NIT bid. Bilas Breakdown \| HTV's Take \| Team Page

"I think that wisconsin should be at least in the top five after everyone doubted that they would make it to the Final Four, or even to the Sweet 16 (a year ago)."
Jay Woods, Ligonier, Ind.

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