USC Basketball Drops Out of AP Top 25

USC basketball’s time in the AP Top 25 was short-lived after two consecutive road losses dropped the Trojans from the rankings.

In one week, out the other. USC basketball spent all of seven days as a ranked team for the first time since 2008 before losing their No. 21 spot after losses to Oregon on Thursday and Oregon State on Sunday.

The Trojans still received some votes in this week’s AP poll, placing them 30th in the rankings. The Pac-12 now has just two teams in the rankings — Arizona at No. 18 and Oregon at No. 23.

USC has not been ranked in the AP Top 25 in consecutive weeks since December of 2007, according to ATVN’s Connor McGlynn.

The week started poorly in Eugene when the Trojans, who have excelled with an uptempo attack, were given a taste of their own medicine by the Ducks. In an 89-81 loss, Oregon’s scoring pace was too much to handle for Andy Enfield’s squad. Despite a late comeback attempt they did not have the fire power to finish it off.

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Then on Sunday, USC took a 40-36 lead into the half, but lost their scoring touch in the second period and were soundly beaten by Oregon State, 85-70. Another late push was doused by an 8-0 Beaver run to put the game away.

The two losses dropped the Trojans to 15-5 on the season with a 4-3 mark in Pac-12 play. They now sit third in the Pac-12 standings behind Oregon and Washington.

USC has a rematch with Washington on Saturday, but before they can get revenge for their blown 22-point lead against the Huskies earlier this season they’ll have to dispatch Washington State for the second time on Thursday night.