Pac-12 Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season

1. USC Trojans

After a couple of seasons as third banana at the top, USC is looking to have the last laugh in the final season of the Pac-12. Andy Enfield is bringing back considerable talent and struck gold on the recruiting trail. This is an incredibly talented roster that can answer an opponent’s best shot from nearly every position.

The loss of perimeter scorer Drew Peterson is tough, but the consolation prize of Isaiah Collier, the number one guard in the 2023 class. Collier is as natural of a point guard as it comes, with dynamic court vision and quick twitch passing skills. He’s a dog on defense and has a decent shot profile as a pull-up shooter. Him and Boogie Ellis paired together is not getting enough recognition as one of the best backcourts in the country.

And Ellis completely changed the ceiling for this team when he decided to come back for one more season. The fifth-year senior had always been a guy who had great skill back to his Memphis days but the skills never fully translated until last season. He averaged 17.7 points and 3.1 assists last year while shooting 38.6% from outside. Having him and Collier play off of each other could be a dynamic problem with two-plus ballhandlers able to dice up defenders.

Health is still a factor with this team as sophomore Vincent Iwuchukwu is looking to play a full season after missing significant time from heart issues. He had offseason surgery as well so it’s hard to tell how far his game has progressed with limited time. He still has incredible potential as a top-30 recruit just a year prior. Iwuchukwu projects to be a solid defender and does offer elite athleticism should his offensive abilities get tapped this season.

Freshman Bronny James also is dealing with a scary incident related to heart issues and had surgery this offseason. It’s unclear when James will be ready to get back on the court. He offers solid decision-making and shooting. DJ Rodman is coming in from Washington State and offers even more shooting (38% from three last season) and valuable experience playing in the conference.

Guard Kobe Johnson big man Joshua Morgan are two of the better defenders in the Pac-12. Johnson will take the assignment of the best scorer of the other team and lock them up while contributing positively on offense (shot 39% from three last season). If the Trojans find a way to stay healthy, this team can not just contend to win the Pac-12, but go far in March.