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USC basketball ends up at No. 9 in coaches poll; Noah Baumann to transfer

USC's memorable run to the Elite Eight ended a week ago, and in putting this season and that feat in perspective, here's something else to consider.

USC landed at No. 9 in the final USA TODAY coaches poll released Tuesday -- which the program announced as its highest ever finish in those rankings.

However, the 1970-71 team finished No. 5 in both the AP and coaches polls, the 1960-61 team ended up No. 7 in the AP and No. 5 in the then-UPI coaches poll and the 1991-92 team was No. 8 in the final AP and No. 6 in the coaches poll.

Still, the No. 9 ranking reiterates this team as one of the best in program history. (The final AP poll has not been released yet).

See the full coaches poll here.

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At 25-8, this Trojans team also tied for the second-most wins in program history, while the Elite Eight appearance was just the second for USC since the 1950s when the tournament was a much different event.

From any angle, this was truly a USC basketball season for the record books, led by one of the greatest players in history in freshman phenom Evan Mobley. The 7-footer swept the Pac-12 Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards, becoming the first Pac-12 player and only the second major conference player ever to accomplish that feat.

Mobley averaged 16.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. He'll be off to the NBA as a projected lottery pick in the upcoming draft.

USC should return his older brother Isaiah Mobley (9.9 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game), veteran guard Drew Peterson (9.8/5.0), point guard Ethan Anderson (5.7 PPG), and developing forward Max Agbonkpolo (3.9 PPG) from its rotation, while guards Tahj Eaddy and Isaiah White and forward Chevez Goodwin will have decisions to make after playing key roles as grad transfers. They have the option to return for another year if they choose.

Noah Baumann hits transfer portal

Meanwhile, guard Noah Baumann has entered the transfer portal. Baumann was a productive 3-point sharpshooter for two seasons at San Jose State before transferring to USC and sitting out a season waiting to be eligible to play this season.

He never could get himself going, though, averaging 3.6 points and 11.1 minutes over 31 games this season. He hit 25 of 71 3-pointers (35.2 percent).

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