My notes on SC’s 81-70 win over Brown
This was the first ever match-up between USC and Brown. Founded in 1764, Brown University is the 7th-oldest college in the U.S. and one of 8 Ivy League schools. Originally, the College of Rhode Island (in Warren, RI), it moved to Providence in 1770, was renamed in 1804, in recognition of a $5K gift from Nicholas Brown, Class of 1786. The campus spans 140-acres, home to 9731 students (6670 undergrads). Brown’s sports teams are the Brown Bears, the mascot is Bruno the Bear. It’s also Coach Lindsay Gottlieb’s alma mater.
Brown basketball in 119 seasons (1900-2022), has a record of 1088-1573, .409 and has played in just 2 NCAA tournaments - the inaugural tournament in 1939 and as Ivy League champs in 1986. Head coach Mike Martin (10th year) is 136-156 (.466). He was the Ivy League COY in 2019.
They came into the game 1-3 with losses to Colgate, Loyola (not Sister Jean’s school in Chicago, the one in MD), New Hampshire, and a win over Rhode Island, not the Atlantic 10’s Rhode Island University Rams, the Rhode Island College Anchormen (wonder if Will Ferrell played there? – haha).
1.5 hrs before tip-off and only a single student is in line (the ever-present Crash with yellow caution tape headband), a big departure from the long line of students that stretched around to the back of Galen Center for the first home game.
Entering the Founder’s Room, the crowd was not big, many apparently still suffering hangovers from the rivalry game loss. Assistant Jay Morris was guest speaker and immediately shut off any questions on player injury status. I thought “what is this, Lincoln Riley?” Entering the arena I note the usual DJ Malski, the basketball band, the Song Girls and a large Trojan Dance Force, including a new male dancer, who was pretty good and would’ve blended in, except for not having the same color outfit as the rest of the group. They should fix that. The press tables were almost full. I recognized several beat writers from local newspapers and websites. No NBA scouts for this one.
The Bears average 75.3 ppg (scoring margin +4.8) and shoot 40.4 FGs, 31.7%, 3FGs, 60.8% FTs. They get 44.5 rebounds/g, (+7.0 margin), 13.8 assists/g, 9.5 steals/g, 6.3 blks/g, 12.8 TOs/g (margin +2.2).
They are led in scoring by do-it-all Nana Owusu-Anane 18.5 ppg (49.1 FG, 36.4% 3FG, 69.2% FT), Kino Lilly Jr 16.0 ppg, (37.5% FG, 32.1% 3FG 50% FT) and Kalu Anya 10.3 ppg, (38.2% FG, 28.6% 3FG, 59.1 FT). Owusu-Anane also leads in rebounds at 9.8 rpg, (Anya next at 6.0 rpg. Lilly leads with 2.7 assists/g with Anya at 2.3, Owusu-Anane leads with steals 1.5 stpg and blocks 1.8 bpg.
SC averages 75.7 ppg, +9.7 margin (44.8% FG, 27.4% 3FGs, 80.6% FT) and 39.3 Rebounds/g (margin +2.3), 14.0 apg, 15.3 TO/g, (margin -1.6), 7.7 steals, 5.3 blocks/g
Super frosh, Isaiah Collier leads the team in scoring 20.0 ppg (50% FG, 28.6% 3FG, 87% FT), Boogie 17.5 ppg (44% FG, 30.8% 3FG, 81.8% FT), Kobe 16.0 ppg, 46.2% FG, 25% 3FG, 100% FT.
Kobe leads with 8.0 rebounds/g, Morgan 5.7 rpg, Boogie 4.5 rpg. Collier and Boogie are tied at 4.0 assists/g, with Kobe leading in steals at 4.0/g and Boogie at 3.0. Josh leads in blocked shots at 2.3 bpg, Hornery blocks 1.7/g.
Boogie and Kobe are back from injury and will start alongside Collier, Morgan and Hornery (coming off a career high 17-pts against UCI). DJ Rodman is not available due to a left foot injury.
Despite coming in a 17.5 pt underdog, Brown stayed competitive with SC and went from 15 pts down, 33-18, to down only 3 at the half, 35-32. SC made only 2 of its final 12 shots before the half to finish at 36.7% FGs, while Brown shot 32.4% FGs. 24 of SC’s points came from 8 made 3-ptrs (4 by Boogie, 3 by Collier and 1 by Kobe). If you thought, like I did that Collier’s biggest weakness was outside shooting and FTs, you have got to be impressed with how he has started out with 51.9% FG, 41.7% 3FG and 80.6% FTs – nothing short of amazing! But those teams-high 21 turnovers are a big concern and need to be corrected. Isaiah is aware and says those are freshman mistakes, indeed they are.
The second half saw more back and forth action, as Kino Lilly Jr’s three 3-ptrs (part of a team-high 24 pts), got the Bears to within 1 point at 69-68 with 3:30 remaining. SC would make clutch FTs (9 of 10) down the stretch and one Boogie 3-ptr to seal the win at 81-70.
The Trojans are converting 75.8% of their FTs this season. The Big 3 of Boogie, Kobe and Isaiah have lived up to their billing and are carrying the team averaging 21.0, 21.0 and 15.0 ppg, respectively. No other players are in double figures.
When Kobe and Boogie missed the UCI game due to injury, SC was an upset victim. SC relies on their guard trio for production. They need to get more out of their wings and bigs, both in scoring and rebounding. Bench scoring has been an issue and may continue to be so until Bronny returns.
Vince is rusty after his back surgery in the off-season and sitting out until fall camp. He will hopefully round into form by the conference season. Josh is shooting a high FGs% and averaging 8.3 ppg, but could really be a threat with better hands. He is simply not reliable receiving the ball in the paint. This lack of good hands issue extends to Kijani and Vince, all need to work on grip strength. I expect that Arrinten Page will get more time in future games as he has the most upside and best outside shooting of any of the bigs, not named Harrison Hornery. Hornery is much leaner, quicker and displays improved athleticism and confidence this year. He will be a key component in keeping defenses honest with his outside shooting.
Keeping defenses honest by making threes was supposed to be the role of Oziyah Sellers and DJ Rodman. They each had one good game, but also a disaster of a game against UCI (combined 1-18 FGs) that led to SC being upset.
Rebounding and keeping opponents from getting second chance points continues to be an issue. The bigs need to be better at this and the guards need to help out as well.
For the game, Brown shot 41% FGs (51.9% in the 2nd half), 27.3% 3FG (9-33) and 61.1% FTs.
SC shot 42.9% FG, 50% 3 FGs (12-24) and 65.6% FT (76.2% in the 2nd half).
Despite a pronounced height advantage, SC only outrebounded Brown 43-40 and had fewer points in the paint.
Notable
Isaiah Collier scored a season-best 24 points tonight and has 84 points in his first four games. It is the most points through the first four games by a Trojan freshman since O.J. Mayo totaled 97 during the 2007-08 season.
Kobe Johnson is still hobbled but came back from a 2-game absence to help his team, like the captain that he is, finishing with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, but no steals, although he had several deflections.
In an oddity, this was the first time that I can remember SC finishing a game with only 1 steal and that was by Arrinten Page. Strange.
Boogie after missing a game scored a season-high 28 points, matching a career high 6 three-pointers (5th time). He is so important to this team and deserving of the preseason accolades he has received. We need him healthy for us to go as far as we want to this season.
While it was disappointing that Hornery couldn’t follow up his career high game (only 1 pt), in his 2nd career start he set his career-high with 9 rebounds.
Vincent scored 7 pts and matched a career high 7 rebounds (had 7 at Oregon State last season).
Joshua Morgan scored 2 pts, had a block and 9 rebounds. He has 19 rebounds in USC’s last 2 games.
Despite being the most athletic player on the team Brandon Gardner can’t get on the court. I would like to see what he can provide with rebounds and rim protection, we may need him down the line
USC has now scored 80+ points in 3 of the first 4 games.
USC is ranked No. 23 in AP poll (down 7 for UCI loss), No. 34 in KenPom and No. 55 in NET (down 5)
USC’s next game will be on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23 vs. Seton Hall in the first round of the Rady Children’s Hospital Invitational held at the LionTree arena on the UCSD campus. Catch it on FS1 beginning at 2:30 p.m.
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