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The Three Torches 2/16: Play Ball
Today, Spring game is set for April 2024 and Trojan baseball set for season opener in Arizona
Zach Garrett
February 16, 2024
Good morning! It was an iconic meet-up in Doha, Qatar at the World Aquatics Championships as three Trojans met up before their events. Vaggelis Makrygiannis, Kasia Wilk-Wasick, and Krzysztof Chmielewski are all repping USC Swim at the international competition.
What else can you find in today's Brew?
🏈 Spring game is set for April 2024
⚾️ Trojan baseball set for season opener in Arizona
⚔️ And much, much more!
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🔼 Save The Date. The countdown is on! USC football announced that the annual Spring Game will take place April 20 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at Noon. This will be the only opportunity for Trojan fans to see the USC football team in the Coliseum before the 2024 season. USC's spring practices begin on March 19, and all practices are closed to the general public.
🔼 That’s A Dub. With USC men’s basketball back at home, the Trojans secured the 68-64 win over Utah. Three Trojans finished in double figures as freshman Isaiah Collier led the way with 15 points, adding on six assists and three steals. The Utes cut the lead to two in the closing minutes, but Joshua Morgan stuffed the game-tying layup attempt to seal the deal for USC en route to its four-point victory. After nabbing its fourth conference win of the season, the Trojans will host Colorado at the Galen Center on Saturday at 7 p.m.
🔼 Love and Wins. In the Trojans’ Valentine’s Day battle, USC men’s volleyball swept Concordia in straight sets for its ninth win of the season. The win improved the Men of Troy to 35-20 all-time in conference openers. USC out-hit Concordia, .425 to .268; the 11th time the Trojans have recorded a better hitting percentage than their opponent this season. USC also had the edge in kills (46-34), assists (43-32), and digs (30-24).
🔼 Back To Business. USC women’s water polo will make its return to the poll over the weekend as the team squares off against UC Irvine. The Women of Troy are coming off a fourth-place finish at the Triton Invitational. Just six games deep into 2024, USC's balanced scoring charge is led by Rachel Gazzaniga with 13 goals, followed by Julia Janov with 12 and Ava Stryker with 10. In all, 15 Trojans have scored at least one goal to date, including four with their first goals as Trojans.
🔼 Hitting The Oregon Trail. This weekend, the No. 10 USC women’s basketball squad will take a tour across Oregon to face off against the Ducks and Beavers for a pair of pivotal conference matchups. The Trojans will first square off against Oregon in Eugene to try and nab its ninth Pac-12 win of the season. Then on Sunday, USC heads into Corvallis to take on No. 11-ranked Oregon State. USC has its best start through 22 games in the Pac-12 era, its best start since 1983-84, and its best start in conference play since 2013-14.
🔼 Going For Gold. This week the USC track and field will compete at both the USATF Indoor Championships and Arkansas Qualifier. The women's team enters the week ranked No. 9 in the USTFCCCA rankings, while the men's team is currently ranked No. 7. The athletes heading to the Arkansas Qualifier will be provided with a chance to solidify their position on the NCAA descending order list and their chance of making it to the NCAA Indoor Championships or provide an opportunity to qualify, as the top 16 in each event get invited to the NCAA Indoor Championships.
🔼 Title Town. The No. 5 USC men’s tennis team is headed to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships taking place this weekend in New York City. The first round will see the Trojans take on No. 7 ranked Tennessee. The Trojans will be on a quest for their fifth National Team Indoor Championship title after previously winning the title in 2020 and claiming the championship in 1987, 1988, and 2012.
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Next Level. USC football has a reputation for sending its players to the next level, and the NFL Combine in Indianapolis is the first step in achieving the goal of hearing a Trojans’ name on draft night.
Our question today: do you know how many Trojans were invited to this year’s NFL Combine?
Think you got it? Scroll down to the bottom of this email for the answer!
⚔️ ONE BIG THING
It’s baseball time for the USC Trojans! USC baseball begins the 2024 season with three games in Arizona at the MLB Desert Invitational against BYU, Grand Canyon and Ohio State. It will be the first time USC will meet the Cougars and Buckeyes in baseball while the Trojans have a 2-2 record against GCU. Last season’s 34-22-1 record was a 9-win improvement from last season, its 17-13 Pac-12 record was a 9-win improvement and the Trojans' fourth-place finish was six spots better than their predicted 10th-place finish in the Pac-12 preseason poll. All three marks were the best by a USC team since 2015.
📚️ Read more about the probable pitching matchups and the players taking the field in 2024
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📅 LOOKING AHEAD
*All times Pacific
Friday, Feb. 16
⛳️ Men’s Golf @ John A. Burns Intercollegiate in Lihu’e, HI
👟 Track and Field @ Arkansas Qualifier in Fayetteville, AR | Live Stats
👟 Track and Field @ USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, NM
🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Tennessee @ 9:00am in New York, NY
🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Michigan State @ 2:00pm in Lansing, MI | Watch | Live Scoring
🏐 Men’s Volleyball vs. Concordia University Irvine @ 7:00pm in Los Angeles, CA | Tickets | Watch | Live Stats
🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Oregon @ 7:00pm in Eugene, OR | Watch | Live Stats
Saturday, Feb. 17
⛳️ Men’s Golf @ John A. Burns Intercollegiate in Lihu’e, HI
👟 Track and Field @ USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, NM
🏊️ Men’s Swim & Dive vs. Utah in Salt Lake City, UT
🥍 Lacrosse vs. Hofstra @ Noon in Carson, CA | Watch | Live Stats
🤽♀️ Women’s Water Polo vs. UC Irvine @ Noon in Irvine, CA | Live Stats
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Colorado @ 7:00pm in Los Angeles, CA | Tickets | Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Sunday, Feb. 18
🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Michigan @ 9:00am in Ann Arbor, MI | Watch | Live Stats
🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Oregon State @ Noon in Corvallis, OR | Watch | Live Stats
🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER
Answer: Five!
Wide receiver Tahj Boyd, offensive lineman Jarrett Kingston, running back MarShawn Lloyd, defensive back Calen Bullock, defensive end Solomon Byrd all received invites for the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.
⚔️ Have a great weekend, everyone!