USC Men’s Basketball Picked Third In 2021-22 Pac-12 Preseason Poll

LOS ANGELES — The USC men's basketball team which went 25-8 last season and reached the 2021 NCAA Elite Eight has been picked to finish third in the 2021-22 Pac-12 preseason poll of media which cover the conference, it was announced at Pac-12 Media Day in San Francisco, Calif. today (Oct. 13).

Additionally, forward Isaiah Mobley was named to the 2021-22 Pac-12 preseason first team and guard Boogie Ellis was named to the conference's second team.

USC received 320 points and was picked to finish third in the league behind UCLA (404) and Oregon (373). The preseason ranking ties for USC's second-best ever, bettered only by the Trojans' runner-up pick in 2017-18. USC was picked to finish sixth in the 2020-21 season and went on to place second with a 15-5 record, percentage points behind Oregon (14-4). The remainer of the preseaon rankings have Arizona and Oregon State (245 points) tied for fourth, Colorado sixth (235), Arizona State seventh (224), Washington State eighth (221), Stanford ninth (151), Utah 10th (105), Washington 11th (85) and California 12th (44).

Mobley, a junior forward, averaged 9.9 points and 7.3 rebounds last season for the Trojans in 32 starts. During USC's Elite Eight run, Mobley averaged 16.0 points and made 10 of 15 shots from beyond the arc. Mobley's 233 rebounds last season rank second among returning Pac-12 players. He registered six double-doubles which tied for third among Pac-12 players.

Ellis, a junior guard, transfered to USC from Memphis this summer. He played in all 28 games for Memphis, making 15 starts, and averaging 10.2 points per game en route to being named AAC Co-Sixth Man of the Year. He made 51 three-point baskets and hit at a 38.6 percent from beyond the arc. Ellis finished third on the team in scoring and second in three-point baskets made. He became a starter in February and averaged 12.3 points in Memphis' fi nal 13 games. Ellis helped lead Memphis to the 2020-21 NIT title and led the team with 23 points in the championship win over Mississippi State

The Trojans - who were picked to finish third in the Pac-12 - landed two players on the Preseason All-Conference Team. pic.twitter.com/RThSpqFOoO

— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) October 13, 2021