USC Basketball: Andy Enfield Sends Mixed Message to Team About Recent Play

A 4-11 conference record contributing to a measly 10-16 overall record has made for one of the most disappointing USC basketball seasons in recent memory. 

After a double-overtime loss to the Colorado Buffaloes that saw the Trojans get out-rebounded 47-22, head coach Andy Enfield spoke about their recent play.

“They work hard, they’re trying to be tough,” the coach said, “but the rebounding thing is not necessarily natural for a lot of guys.”

Per Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the LA Times 

Enfield's comment is more or less a shot at his squad, but he's not wrong. Their limited size, along with poor instincts and physicality have left them stranded on the glass even against similarly-sized teams, dramatically reducing their odds of winning. 

Of course, a lot of this also falls on Enfield himself. Many teams around the nation are similarly sized and rebound at a much higher level, with notable examples including Pac-12 foes like Oregon, who they were swept by this season. 

The team's defense has also taken a hit as what was once one of the nation's top defenses year over year has become awful, as personnel changes have improved the offense but hurt the aggregate product tremendously. 

It remains to be seen if Enfield is retained at season's end, but given what we've seen, it'd be the right decision to let him go. His lack of accountability and having nothing to show after over a decade at one of the best-funded institutions in the country is inexcusable. Plus, given the potential replacements that would come around, USC has a chance to upgrade significantly.