USC Initiates Three-Game Homestand Against California on Wednesday”

January 5, 2024Last Updated: January 5, 2024

The USC Trojans (6-7, 0-2) are set to face the California Golden Bears (4-9, 0-2) at the Galen Center on January 3 at 7:00 p.m., and the matchup will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network, featuring J.B. Long and Don MacLean as commentators. USC is currently experiencing a challenging start to the Pac-12 season, having lost its first two conference games, marking the first instance since the 2015 season.

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Additionally, the team has not faced three consecutive Pac-12 losses since the 2014 season when it began with a 0-5 conference play record. This season also marks the first time USC is below .500 after 13 games since the start of the 2013 season when it had a 5-8 record.

USC

USC will be playing its first home game since December 10, following a series of away matches, including four consecutive road games, a rarity since the 2002 season. In the past 44 days, USC played only two home games, adding to the challenge.

The team’s recent stretch included seven out of nine games away from the Galen Center. Notably, USC has played only five home games in its first 13 games this season, a situation shared with ASU and Villanova among Power 6 teams.

The USC Trojans, having achieved a school-record 95 wins over the previous four seasons, face the California Golden Bears with the latter coming off a home loss to Arizona State on December 31. USC holds a favorable record against the Bears, having won the last 10 encounters. After the California game, USC will face the Stanford Cardinal on January 6 at the Galen Center, following Stanford’s game against UCLA on January 3.

Coach Andy Enfield, in his 11th season at USC, has amassed a 211-136 record, ranking fourth on USC’s all-time wins list. The Trojans will aim to strengthen their defense after allowing Oregon State to achieve a 59.6 shooting percentage, the highest against USC since December 29, 2017. Boogie Ellis, despite facing a recent injury, continues to shine with an average of 18.8 points, ranking 14th nationally for three-pointers made per game.