USC fan brings up a fascinating point about Trojan revenue sports in a simple tweet

Football season might be over at USC, and Trojan fans who invested a lot into the 2022 season might still be stung by the way that season ended in the Cotton Bowl versus Tulane. However, one tweet from a USC fan should pick everyone up in the land of Troy.

It was impossible to avoid noticing how much better USC men’s basketball looked on Saturday against Arizona State. A team that frankly looked like an NIT team for much of the season suddenly looked not only like an NCAA Tournament team, but also a really good NCAA Tournament team — a No. 4 or No. 3 seed — in a blowout of ASU.

The final score was 77-69, but USC led 77-53 with under five minutes left before basically turning in early and allowing the Sun Devils to score the final 16 points. The contest was a rout. USC overwhelmed an ASU team that had been very strong to that point.

The difference was Vince Iwuchukwu, who played just 14 minutes but scored 12 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in that short period of time. The 14 minutes were still modest as a total sum, but a lot more than the six minutes he played the previous week against Utah and the five minutes he played against Colorado.

The main point: We got to see what Iwuchukwu is capable of.

That leads us to this USC fan tweet which is worth a larger conversation:

Let’s dive into this discussion, shall we?

USC TOP 10 IN FOOTBALL? SURE

Dec. 10, 2022; New York; Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams (right) poses for photos with his head coach Lincoln Riley during a press conference in the Astor Ballroom at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York, NY, after winning the 2022 Heisman Trophy. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

USC would love to make the four-team College Football Playoff next season, but if the Trojans don’t get there, they still have a very good chance of being a top-10 team. If they go 11-2 or 12-2 in this season’s Pac-12 (plus Notre Dame being a road game), they will finish in the top 10.

THE PATH TO THE TOP 10

Dec. 2, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada; Southern California Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) carries the ball against the Utah Utes in the second half of the Pac-12 Championship at Allegiant Stadium. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The path to a top-10 finish for USC football seems pretty clear: Win at least two of the four games against Notre Dame, Utah, Washington and Oregon. The Trojans will be massive favorites in the eight other games on the slate. Go 10-2. Then win the Pac-12 title game and/or the bowl game. That’s a top-10 season for sure.

It will not be a piece of cake, but it’s quite doable, even with the concerns about the defense. Saying USC will be top-four in 2023? That might be asking too much. Top 10? Not at all.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Jan. 21, 2023; Tempe, Arizona; USC Trojans head coach Andy Enfield reacts against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the second half at Desert Financial Arena. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

One thing USC will need in the upcoming offseason — with Boogie Ellis and Drew Peterson heading to the pros, either in the NBA draft or overseas in Europe or China — is an elite knockdown shooter. USC’s 3-point shooting is such a noticeable weakness the Trojans simply have to find upgrades in the portal. Recruiting shooters out of high school invites the possibility the speed of the college game will negatively affect a great high school shooter. Getting a proven collegiate shooter from the portal could more reliably patch a hole in USC’s offense. If Andy Enfield can do that, USC could gain one piece of a top-10 roster next season.

ISAIAH COLLIER

COLLIER COULD BE A TOP-3 PLAYER IN THE UNITED STATES

ARRINTEN PAGE AND ISAIAH COLLIER ARE HIGH SCHOOL TEAMMATES, A HUGE BONUS FOR USC

SILAS DEMARY

VINCE IWUCHUKWU

IWUCHUKWU'S IMPACT

Jan. 21, 2023; Tempe, Arizona; USC Trojans forward VIncent Iwuchukwu (3) hangs on the rim after misplaying a dunk against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half at Desert Financial Arena. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Iwuchukwu, unable to play a full season this go around, could probably use a full year of college basketball, playing regular minutes, before he goes to the NBA. Teams will want to see that he can handle the workload, which would reduce concerns about his health.

Yet, Iwuchukwu and his family might think that getting the NBA paycheck — even at a slightly to moderately reduced draft spot — is worth more than staying one more year at USC.

If Iwuchukwu comes back for a sophomore season, USC really will be loaded: Iwuchukwu, Arrinten Page, Isaiah Collier and Silas Demary plus role and bench players from the current roster would form a terrific team. USC being top-10 quality is a very real thing if Iwuchukwu comes back.

IF IWUCHUKWU COMES BACK, USC WILL HAVE AMPLE DEPTH

Nov. 7, 2022; Los Angeles, California; USC Trojans guard Reese Dixon-Waters (2) takes the ball down court as he is chased by Florida Gulf Coast Eagles guard Cyrus Largie (4) in the first half at Galen Center. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

If Iwuchukwu returns, Reese Dixon-Waters might come off the bench and play 20 minutes a game. He can play in short bursts and become highly effective.

Tre White could find a similar role. Malik Thomas could come off the bench for 15 minutes per game and provide instant offense. Kobe Johnson will definitely remain a rotation player.

Don’t forget Oziyah Sellers and Kijani Wright. USC could become a team that rolls out 10 or 11 players per game and distributes minutes relatively evenly. This would mean Iwuchukwu could play 25 to 30 minutes per game, and not need to be overextended. USC could wear down many opponents with the depth it could put on the floor.

Even if Iwuchukwu leaves for the NBA, the Collier-Page-Demary trio will be formidable and exciting. USC has the makings of a very strong roster next season, even if Iwuchukwu leaves.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Jan. 15, 2023; Los Angeles, California; Southern California Trojans coach Lindsay Gottlieb celebrates at the end of the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Galen Center. USC defeated Stanford 55-46. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

USC could have a top-10 women’s team next season. It’s not just football and men’s basketball. Let’s explain why in the slides below:

JUJU WATKINS

JUJU IS SPECIAL

USC DEFENSE

USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb watches the game against Oregon during the first half at Matthew Knight Arena Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 in Eugene, Oregon.

Lindsay Gottlieb is an elite head coach, but don’t forget assistant Beth Burns, who helps develop the USC defense. USC held Stanford to 46 points, and Washington State to 44. It allowed 54 to Washington but forced 22 turnovers and blocked 10 shots, including eight by Rayah Marshall.

USC is winning games at the defensive end of the floor, even while its offense struggles. The Trojans committed 20 turnovers against Washington and were minus-13 in assist-turnover differential. USC is still 15-4.

Imagine what will happen when USC’s defense is paired with JuJu Watkins next season. A top-10 ranking seems well within the realm of possibility.

USC would probably be a top-10 team right now had two one-possession losses to UCLA (by three points in one game and by one point in the other) gone in the other direction. USC would be 17-2 with a number of high-end wins.

Add JuJu Watkins to this level of defense? Yes, a top-10 placement for USC women’s hoops in 2024.

THE FAN HAS A POINT

Jan. 15, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans athletic director Mike Bohn (left) and guard Kayla Williams (4) celebrate at the end of the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Galen Center. USC defeated Stanford 55-46. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Bohn has hired rock-star coaches and let Andy Enfield do his thing on the recruiting trail in men’s basketball. It could all come to fruition in the next college sports cycle.

Three top-10 teams in the revenue sports? It’s not going to be easy, but it seems quite possible at USC.

Story originally appeared on Trojans Wire