Cold shooting and turnovers doom USC in stunning loss to Florida Gulf Coast

A decade in the past, when “Dunk Metropolis” first captivated the nation, its blistering tempo and high-flying model turned Florida Gulf Coast right into a March marvel — and, within the course of, satisfied USC of a vibrant future with Andy Enfield as its coach.

9 seasons at USC would imply loads of adjustments to that blueprint. However together with his Trojans frontcourt now depleted of the star 7-footers, Enfield had designs on returning to these roots in his tenth, spreading the ground with 4 guards, choosing up the tempo and firing away from deep, not all that in contrast to what Dunk Metropolis had accomplished all these years in the past.

It took all of 1 November evening for these plans to be derailed — accomplished in by the unique Dunk Metropolis itself in a disastrous season-opening defeat, 74-61, to Florida Gulf Coast at Galen Middle.

“I assumed we had been ready to play tonight, but it surely didn’t appear to be it,” Enfield mentioned. “That’s on me.”

It will be tough to think about a extra disturbing debut for USC, which opened the earlier season on a 13-0 tear, beating opponents by a median margin of 15 factors earlier than its first critical sniff of adversity in January.

This season, adversity got here swinging quickly after the opening tip of USC’s opening recreation. After an eight-for-12 begin from the sphere set the Trojans on what appeared like a clean path to victory, they had been completely trampled on the offensive finish, outdone on the glass, 46-35, and usually outworked by Enfield’s former crew.

At one level, USC went eight minutes and not using a area aim, watching as a three-point lead dissolved into an 18-point deficit. There was little the Trojans might do as shot after shot clanked away.

“Our offense simply went right into a deep freeze,” Enfield mentioned.

The deep photographs by no means dropped, as USC shot an abysmal two for 18 from lengthy vary earlier than Boogie Ellis hit a desperation three-pointer on the buzzer. The tempo by no means turned up both.

USC’s guards struggled to provoke the Trojans’ new model of offense, failing to push the tempo whereas USC’s forwards sprinted the ground, making an attempt to get in place.

“We didn’t play quick,” Ellis mentioned. “We type of bought away from it.”

Ellis had 19 factors to steer USC in scoring and completed with zero turnovers, however the remainder of the Trojans’ backcourt struggled mightily all through. Senior Drew Peterson added simply seven factors, whereas sophomore Reese Dixon-Waters went one for 5 from the sphere.

Enfield put the brunt of the blame for USC’s inept offense on his guards, whom the Trojans want to hold the load this season if they’ve any hope of bouncing again from Monday’s setback.

“They’ve to attain,” Enfield mentioned. “Our large guys did their job tonight, however we’ve got to have the ability to make performs for one another on the offensive finish.”

One large man, specifically, made fairly an impression. Josh Morgan was named the Massive West Defensive participant of the 12 months as a freshman at Lengthy Seaside State earlier than transferring to USC forward of the 2020-21 season. That pedigree was placed on show Monday as Morgan blocked seven photographs, one in need of the USC faculty document. He added six factors and 9 rebounds.

However Morgan’s block social gathering shortly was a wake, as Florida Gulf Coast buried USC throughout its second-half drought.

As he confronted the crew after his first season-opening loss since 2015, Enfield was confused. “We simply didn’t have it tonight,” he mentioned. “There’s not rather a lot else to say proper now.”