Do Yourself a Favor and Go to a USC Men’s Basketball Game
By: Nancy Aguilar ‘22
If you have never attended a USC basketball game before, stop what you’re doing right now and make plans to go to the next home game. There’s no reason not to and I promise you will have a great time. Basketball games are COMPLETELY FREE for all students, all you have to do is present your ID and your trojan check/vaccination card. That's it and you’re ready for a great time. Unfortunately, the last home game—against the Arizona Wildcats—just happened on March 1st so you will have to wait until next season. But I will break down why basketball games are so fun and worth attending.
Free stuff
Yes, you’ve read that right. FREE STUFF! Apart from being a free ticket, oftentimes they will give out USC merchandise on a first come first serve basis for attending. And—since basketball isn’t as popular as football, you’re sure to get a free item if you arrive on time. Granted, big games—like versus UCLA—do get full quickly so it’s best to go early on those days.
Me and my friend Ruby :))
Me and my friend Kelsey at the Washington Game!
Student Section Engagement
There’s a lot more engagement in the student section than there is in football games or any other USC sports games I’ve attended and this is because they have interactive games during every break. The most basic kinds of games are the ones played on the big screen—like ‘basketball shuffle’—where they hide a symbol under one of many objects and the audience has to try to find it after it’s been shuffled. But they also have games where audience members can go on the court and play games as well. Free throw competitions, cup stacking, potato sack races, lip sync battles and more. They even have the option to compete against the basketball players themselves! The players do some pre-recorded activities that are put on the big screen and audience members can face them head on. This is an activity that keeps the audience engaged and entertained even during the break time and down times in the actual game. In addition to this, they also have dance cams and other activities where they catch fans off guard and play jokes on the big screen. This kind of audience engagement is unlike any other sport I’ve seen on campus.
Music
DJ Malskiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii <3 (wearing a t-shirt that was given away this season)
One of the biggest things that sets basketball games apart from other sporting events is the prevalence of the music in the stadium. The speakers are all over the place and the sound is ever present in the moment which really helps to liven up the audience and the mood. There’s a DJ and he goes by DJ Mal-ski and he is really excellent in how effectively he livens up the audience and interacts with the students and the players as well. He has nicknames for some of the players and he pokes fun at the opposing team. It makes going to the games consistently a very connected and family experience because it’s an ongoing relationship that goes on between the people on the court and the observers.
The players
Our entire basketball team is amazing and I’m super proud to call them Trojans. They’re No. 16 in the PAC-12 currently and they put on a great fight against Arizona who has the No. 2 standing. Here were some of the top scorers in the most recent home games versus Arizona and Washington. Though these guys are only seven out of the entire team, I urge you all to check out the rest of the team on the USC Men’s Basketball Roster because no doubt these men will make a mark on our school’s history.
Isaiah Mobley
Isaiah ‘Iceman’ Mobley
I’ve been watching USC basketball since freshman year and Isaiah Mobley is a veteran and mentor for the team in every sense of the word. I’ve seen his growth as not only a team member but as a leader for his fellow teammates and how he masterfully is able to maintain his team’s spirit high and continue to push through tough moments in a game. He had 21 points and 9 assists in the last two home games.
Chevez Goodwin
Chevez Goodwin ✌️
A newer team member but with the poise and discipline of a seasoned veteran, Chevez is a valuable asset on the team especially when they’re in a rut or when hopes are low. He consistently rises to the occasion and I can’t wait to see how he grows in his time at USC. He had 34 points and 2 assists in the last two home games.
Boogie Ellis
BOOGIE
BOOGIE. He’s a firecracker on the court and the definition of what it means to be an up and coming force on the field. He surprises everyone on the court with his energy and willpower in the toughest moments in the game. He scored 18 points and had 2 assists.
Ethan Anderson
Ethan Anderson :’)
Ethan is a veteran on the court. His poise and strategy is a force to be reckoned with on the court and you know something big is going to happen when he comes to the court. He scored 2 points and had 3 assists in the last two games.
Drew Peterson
Drew 😤 Peterson 😤
Drew is this season’s rising star, he’s had a great season and you may have heard of him even if you’re not that into basketball. He’s always a valuable asset on the team and he scored 24 points and had 11 assists on the field.
Max Agbonkpolo
Max ‘BONK’ Agbonkpolo (I gave him this nickname)
Max shined especially during the Arizona team, scoring points when we needed them most and he’s a wildcard on the field. He’s proven himself to be a necessary member of the team and he scored 17 points and 3 assists in the last two games.
Isaiah White
Isaiah “3pt Prince” White (I also gave him this nickname) — shout out to Jonah Matthews, the current USC 3 point record holder.
This is my personal opinion but I think Isaiah has an untapped potential for being a three-point leader on the court. He’s a veteran on the team as well and he is sure to grow in his time on the field. He scored 9 points in the last two home games.
Do yourself a favor and GO TO A BASKETBALL GAME. I promise you even if you’re not into sports, the marching band, the dancing and the atmosphere around is one of the best experiences out there. Plus, you're not out in the scorching sun like you are at the Colosseum. Fight on USCHoops and fight on Trojans!
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