With the College Basketball 2009-2010 Season just around the corner, we are providing season previews & predictions for all NCAA basketball teams to give you the betting edge this year. Follow the best College Basketball Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2009-2010 basketball season preview. Be sure to bookmark SportsbookBuzz.com your source for Sportsbook Reviews. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the College Basketball in our recommend online sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2009 NCAA Basketball Season Previews here.
2009-2010 USC Preview Picks, & Odds.
USC 2008-2009 Record: 22-13, 9-9
USC 2008-2009 Post Season: NCAA
USC Coach: Kevin O’Neill (First year at USC, 171-180 overall)USC Projected Starters:
- Donte Smith, Junior, Guard, 2.3 points per game
- Dwight Lewis, Senior, Guard, 14.4 points per game
- Marcus Simmons, Junior, Guard, 1.9 points per game
- Leonard Washington, Sophomore, Forward, 6.1 points per game
- Alex Stepheson, Junior, Forward, DNP last season
USC Player to Watch: Dwight Lewis
USC Key Losses: F DeMar DeRozan F Taj Gibson, G Daniel Hackett, F Keith Wilkinson
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2009-2010 USC Season Preview
USC administrators didn’t have to wait long for Kevin O’Neill’s answer after they asked about his interest in their coaching job. The fact that the Trojans were being investigated by the NCAA for alleged misdeeds under former coach Tim Floyd didn’t sway O’Neill, working in the Memphis Grizzlies’ front office, in the least.
O’Neill doesn’t have a clue as to when the issues with the NCAA will be resolved. The NCAA, it seems, has set up a field office at SC, as it also is investigating the school’s football program because of well-publicized allegations concerning Heisman Trophy winning running back Reggie Bush.
O’Neill now has a chance to run his own Pac-10 program, which was never the case at Arizona, where O’Neill struggled to gain traction in Lute Olson’s shadow.
Even with the departure of gifted underclassmen Daniel Hackett, Taj Gibson and DeMar DeRozan before he showed up on campus, O’Neill knows the program isn’t thread-bare in the talent department and he certainly won’t have to go far to look for recruits.
| 2009 USC Basketball Schedule | 2009 PAC-10 Basketball Preview USC Sportsbooks | PAC-10 Basketball Betting |
USC Backcourt
The most critical personnel issue concerns the point guard/playmaking position – namely, who is going to man it for the Trojans?
Hackett handled next to all of the team’s playmaking duties for the past few seasons and the guy projected to replace him – Lamont Jones – was released from his scholarship after Floyd’s resignation. Jones ended up at Arizona.
Donte Smith played little as a redshirt sophomore and freshman Percy Miller even less, but that’s who O’Neill has available until Charlotte transfer Mike Gerrity becomes eligible eight games into the season.
Marcus Simmons is a solid defender (his defense was a big reason the Trojans were the upset winners in the Pac-10 Tournament) who didn’t have to score during his two seasons in the program.
Dwight Lewis is an ideal wing but is better as a scorer than a playmaker.
USC Frontcourt
Assuming Lewis and Simmons get the nod as the starting wings – aka off guards or small forwards – O’Neill will have several options he can utilize to round out his front line.
Sophomores Leonard Washington and Nikola Vucevic were productive at varying moments last season and both could start from the early going. Washington accomplishes with power what Vucevic achieves through slick post play. North Carolina transfer and former Southern California (Harvard-Westlake in North Hollywood) prep standout Alex Stepheson gives the Trojans a strong shot blocker and rebounder.
Kasey Cunningham’s college career has been stunted because of knee issues, but he gives O’Neill another formidable inside presence if he can steer clear of orthopedic surgeons.
2009-2010 USC Predictions
The Trojans don’t have a lot of wiggle room, personnel-wise but are capable of being competitive in every conference game and winning a decent percentage of them.
But how much will those ever-present investigator ‘shadows’ continue to linger over the program and what will be the impact? Stay tuned ….
USC Finish in the PAC-10: 9th
USC Projected Post-season Tournament: CBI/CIT
USC Betting Odds
USC Odds to Win 2010 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament: +20000
USC Odds to Win the PAC-10: +4000
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