USC Sets Basketball Schedule

The USC men’s basketball team has announced its schedule for the 2015-16 season. Included are all of the nonconference games and the Pac-12 opponent and date windows for games. The Pac-12 schedule is expected to be finalized by September 1 when television assignments are finalized.

USC returns all five starters from last season’s team and its young and talented squad features just one senior. In addition, USC has added two top-60 recruits in forwards Chimezie Metu and Bennie Boatwright.

The Trojans will open their regular season with a home game against San Diego on Nov. 17 and will play 13 nonconference games before Pac-12 play. USC will also host Monmouth on Nov. 16, New Mexico on Nov. 21 and CS Northridge on Nov. 23 before heading to Florida to play in the Orlando Classic from Nov. 26-29, which also features Alabama, Dayton, Iowa, Monmouth, Notre Dame, Wichita State and Xavier.

USC will then play its only true road game before conference action on Dec. 3 when it will play at UC Santa Barbara in the Santa Barbara Events Center, commonly referred to as the Thunderdome for the loud and hostile environment it presents for opposing teams.

The final five nonconference games will also be at home: Dec. 7 against Idaho, Dec. 13 against Yale, Dec. 17 vs. Cal Poly, Dec. 21 against SIU-Edwardsville and Dec. 23 against Lafayette.

The Pac-12 Conference schedule is set as far as the conference opponent(s) and the week of each game, but specific dates will not be finalized until the television schedule is announced in early September. The Pac-12 proved once again last season that it was one of the toughest conferences in the country with three teams advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

The Trojans will begin the conference slate of games on the road the week of Dec. 30-Jan.3 at Washington and Washington State. The Trojans will then host the same two schools the week of Jan 27-31.

USC will play its first two Pac-12 home games vs. Arizona State and Arizona the week of Jan. 6-10. The Trojans will travel to the desert to play at Arizona State and at Arizona the week of Feb. 10-14.

The first matchup with rival UCLA will take place in Westwood the week of Jan. 13-17 and the Trojans will host the Bruins at the Galen Center the week of Feb. 3-7.

USC will travel up to Oregon to face Oregon and Oregon State the week of Jan. 20-24 and will host the Ducks and Beavers the week of March 2-5.

USC will face the Bay Area schools just one time during the 2015-16 season, traveling to Stanford and California the week of Feb. 24-28. USC will also face Utah and Colorado once during the season, hosting them the week of Feb. 17-21.

The Pac-12 Tournament will be contested at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas from March 9-12.

Current basketball season ticket holders and Galen Pass holders should look for renewal information at the beginning of July. Fans interested in purchasing new basketball season tickets can call (213) 740-1386 to be placed on the priority waiting list.

Nonconference:

Nov. 13 - San Diego

Nov. 16 - Monmouth

Nov. 21 - New Mexico

Nov. 23 - CS Northridge

Nov. 26 - vs. TBA (at Orlando Classic)

Nov. 27 - vs. TBA (at Orlando Classic)

Nov. 29 - vs. TBA (at Orlando Classic)

Dec. 3 - at UC Santa Barbara

Dec. 7 - Idaho

Dec. 13 - Yale

Dec. 17 - Cal Poly

Dec. 21 - Southern Illinois - Edwardsville

Dec. 23 - Lafayette

Pac-12 Conference:

Dec. 30-Jan 3 - at Washington, at Washington State

Jan. 6-10 - Arizona State, Arizona

Jan. 13-17 - at UCLA

Jan. 20-24 - at Oregon, at Oregon State

Jan. 27-31 - Washington, Washington State

Feb. 3-7 - UCLA

Feb. 10-14 - at Arizona State, at Arizona

Feb. 17-21 - Utah, Colorado

Feb. 24-28 - at Stanford, at California

March 2-5 - Oregon State, Oregon

March 9-12 - Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev.