All season the same issues have caused problems for the USC Trojans men's basketball team. They have been poor on the defensive side of the floor, and rebounding has been almost nonexistent. It has driven head coach Andy Enfield insane on a game-to-game basis, and it's seen USC drop multiple games that they could have won. The Trojans are now on a six-game losing streak after dropping another Pac-12 Conference matchup to the Oregon Ducks."The coach was as fiery as he’s been all season in the postgame press conference, eschewing a postgame statement and skipping right to questions, going on a two-plus-minute-long mini-tirade when asked if he felt this USC team was buying into him and the staff enough. He pointed, fair and firm, to the Trojans’ lack of rebounding toughness after surrendering 17 offensive boards to Oregon, reaching back to the past to the days of Chevez Goodwin and Isaiah Mobley and Onyeka Okongwu and a program that’s long been known in his tenure for high-energy bigs." Per Luca Evans of The Orange County RegisterEnfield didn't hold back after the game ended, calling out his big men for their lack of rebounding. He has been outspoken all season long, but it went to a new length here.“Our four bigs are not very good defensive rebounders — in fact, they’re poor,” Enfield said.Asked #USC coach Andy Enfield after loss to Oregon tonight if this team was buying into him/coaching staff enough.
Gave a two-minute-long, passionate response touching on lack of rebounding. Enfield: “Our four bigs are not very good defensive rebounders. In fact, they’re poor.” https://t.co/9RdvOcCFGa pic.twitter.com/Dod6ex3ZxW— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) February 2, 2024 The lack of effort at times has caused issues for the Trojans. This team was supposed to be much better, but injuries have also taken their toll.“If our bigs rebound, they’ll play more minutes,” Enfield said. “And guys all want to play. Our guys – they always blame the coaching staff when they don’t play minutes.”Per Andy Enfield via The OC RegisterMaybe Enfield's comments will spark something in the USC players. No matter what it does, something needs to change for this team. The year is quickly slipping away from them, and it seems that they may be looking at a lost season.
Source: https://www.si.com/college/usc/basketba ... oss-ml0802
