Bronny James will put USC basketball on national TV a lot more often
Bronny James, by committing to USC basketball on Saturday, has instantly changed reality for the Trojans and coach Andy Enfield on many different levels. Recruiting, the transfer portal, ticket sales, the composition of the 2023-2024 roster, Enfield’s career, the expectations for the coming season — you name it, Bronny has changed the landscape.
One of the many important ways in which Bronny James has instantly transformed USC basketball: increased media coverage. The Trojans just became a college basketball team ESPN and Fox and CBS will all want to put on their airwaves this season. Bill Walton is likely to call a lot more USC games this coming winter.
In a typical season, USC’s games against UCLA and Arizona would get ESPN treatment. Now, the Trojans are going to get a lot more than that.
Notably, something has already happened within hours of Bronny’s decision. That’s our lead item in this exploration of USC as a media magnet basketball program, something which is entirely new for the Trojans:
A NEUTRAL-SITE, MADE-FOR-TV GAME
Bronny James is expected to make his college debut for USC on Monday, Nov. 6 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, source told @Stadium.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) May 6, 2023
That didn’t take long. USC immediately gets a showcase national game at a neutral site. There will probably be others as well in the first two months of the season. Networks will want to cover Bronny. USC will want to show what it can do.
ADDED DETAILS
This will be a brand-new event to kick off the season hosted by the Hall of Fame, source told @Stadium https://t.co/NdMXETnrUo
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) May 7, 2023
USC’s opponent for this Nov. 6 opener hasn’t been announced yet.
PHOENIX GAME
Mar 28, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; McDonald’s All American West guard Bronny James (6) speaks with his father, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, after the game against the McDonald’s All American East at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
USC has played a netural-site game in Phoenix each of the last two seasons. One should expect that pattern to continue this December.
USC AT AUBURN
Mar 28, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; McDonald’s All American West guard Bronny James (6) shoots the ball during the first half against the McDonald’s All American East at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
The Trojans played Auburn this past December. Next December, USC goes to Auburn for the back end of the home-and-home series. That will be a nationally-televised game on ESPN.
NON-GALEN LOS ANGELES GAME
Mar 28, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; West guard Bronny James (6) passes the ball during the McDonald’s All American Boy’s high school basketball game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Expect USC to play at least one game in the Los Angeles Lakers’ arena, giving people a chance to see the Trojans in L.A., but in a building with a lot more seats than the Galen Center, which has a capacity of just over 10,000.
OTHER PAC-12 GAMES
May 6, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) meets with Bronny James following game three of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
USC-UCLA and USC-Arizona will be on the big networks, as they always have, but now USC-Washington and USC-Stanford — games against lower-profile Pac-12 teams — might get centerpiece treatment from ESPN and Fox.
EARLIER TIPOFF TIMES
Dec 11, 2021; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Sierra Canyon High School guard Bronny James (0) shoots during the first half against Perry High School at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
USC basketball weeknight games often start at 7, 7:30 or 8 p.m. local time. With Bronny James now at USC, expect a lot more tip times to move up to 6 p.m. so that Eastern time zone viewers can see more of the Trojans. USC basketball is going to become a lot more visible this season. That’s the Bronny Effect.
