Trojans Wire explains No. 16 USC’s identity ahead of matchup with Colorado

USC’s identity is clear: The Trojans are an effort-and-defense team. They win by forcing bad shots, not allowing second-chance points, not allowing many free throws, and generally disrupting opposing offenses with length and sound defensive rotations. When the rotations are crisp and defenders are staying with shooters, USC has the length to bother opponents on a consistent basis. Look at the win over San Diego State on Nov. 26 as a textbook example of how well USC functions when its defense is locked in and fluidly communicating. USC depends on Isaiah Mobley, Boogie Ellis, and Chevez Goodwin for its offense and its rebounding. When Drew Peterson and Joshua Morgan crash the glass and play strong defense as supporting-cast glue guys, USC becomes very tough.

Ultimately, USC lost its way on defense this past week. The Trojans need to make this Colorado game ugly. They have to make most games ugly, since they lack the three-point shooting and elite offensive firepower needed to keep pace in a shootout. They also can’t commit turnovers which lead to easy baskets at the other end. Stanford crushed them in that facet of competition. The Oregon game unraveled partly because of that deficiency. If USC is giving away possessions and points, it will almost certainly lose. When USC plays airtight ball, even if its shots aren’t falling, it will still win because of extra possessions it gains and because opponents don’t get anything easy at the offensive end of the floor.