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player ready...USC junior guard Drew Peterson spends most of his day playing basketball and talking to teammates and friends. The Libertyville graduate also is fixated on “trying to get my Xbox to work on the TV.”
He also can get very bored.
Rather than enjoying the sunshine, beach and scenery of Southern California, Peterson is booked for an extended period in the bubblelike environment in Indianapolis — the home base of the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
But he’s not in any rush to leave. He hopes to stay in Indianapolis through April 5.
That’s when the national championship game will be played. The Trojans (24-7) won their first two tournament games to reach the Sweet 16.
“We’ve been living this way for the last three months,” Peterson said of college basketball during the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s definitely taken a lot of commitment, trying to contain 15 college guys in the prime stages of life.
“It’s been crazy. I’ve missed a lot of class, so I spend my time trying to keep up with schoolwork. But there’s definitely a lot of sitting around. It definitely can get boring.”
After crushing Kansas 85-51 on Monday, the Trojans have had a six-day wait before they play Oregon in the Sweet 16 on Sunday night.
Peterson, who’s averaging 9.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists in his first season at USC, said it’s been a wild ride in his first foray in the NCAA Tournament. He played his first two seasons at Rice before transferring to USC last summer.
He scored 14 points in USC’s first-round win against Drake, and he had five points, eight rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes against Kansas. Peterson has started 28 of the 31 games this season.
“It’s definitely all surreal and euphoric,” he said. “I wasn’t born into a basketball family or life. I was just doing my thing and got my passion for basketball in my freshman year. I felt underrated in my early stages of my life, but now I’m playing on the biggest stage. I’ve had to prove myself and my game.”
USC coach Andy Enfield said Peterson showed his versatility in the game against Drake. Peterson has played both guard spots throughout the season.
“We posted Drew up in the first half,” Enfield said. “He got to the rim off ball screens. He was able to use his length and shoot over some people.”
At this point, Peterson is accustomed to the whirlwind. He placed his name in the transfer portal in March 2020 and committed to Minnesota in late April. A few days later, he changed his mind and picked USC.
He’s become a vital player for a diverse starting five that includes freshman superstar Evan Mobley, a likely top-five pick in the NBA draft.
“Definitely, from a year ago about to the day, I was putting my name in the portal, and now I’m in the Sweet 16,” Peterson said. “It’s been a crazy ride. I didn’t expect to be here. I wasn’t able to make any (college) visits, I wasn’t able to get to the gym and I was in the middle of one of the biggest decisions of my life trying to commit to a school.
“It’s one of those situations where everything happens for a reason. I’m loving life in Los Angeles and on the West Coast.”
Peterson said the win against Kansas is his favorite highlight of the season. USC was picked by the media to finish in sixth place in the Pac-12. Peterson said the Trojans — and the rest of the conference — have proved themselves in the tournament. Four Pac-12 teams are among the final 16.
“We came out ready to play against Kansas, a blue-blood school, and just demolished them to give us all the momentum,” Peterson said. “We have a great blend on our team. We have so much talent, yet everyone is unselfish. We’re ready to prove something. Oregon is a familiar foe. They took that conference championship from us.”
Peterson said he’s thrilled to represent Libertyville in USC’s quest to win a national championship.
“I’m trying to make a name in the town,” he said. “I take pride in being from Libertyville. I feel like it’s an awesome thing for me and my confidence and game to play on this stage. I always wanted to prove it on the big stage. There’s nothing like doing it in March Madness.
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“I’ve worked really hard, and to be able to reap some benefits is rewarding. I’ve gotten so much support from Libertyville.”
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.