2024 USC Men's Water Polo Season Outlook

Men's Water Polo | September 04, 2024

We all saw it. Another MPSF Tournament title. Another NCAA Tournament trip. Another impressive season's work by the USC men's water polo team to continue momentum for the Trojans.

Try as they might, opponents couldn't unsee what All-Americans Max Miller and Carson Kranz brought to the team last year in their fourth season of work. And they'll see even more of them in 2024 as the two captains top off their Trojan careers.

The scary thing is, it's tends to be what you don't see in the water that proves most dangerous, isn't it?

Enter Stefan Brankovic, Jack Martin and Robert López Duart — three not-so-secret weapons that we'll see officially capped up for the first time as Trojans in 2024.

Brankovic and Martin sat out their first season at USC and are now raring to go. López Duart brought his All-American accolades collected as a freshman at Long Beach State over to USC last spring.

"They will definitely have an impact on our game, and we're excited to add them to the team," USC head coach Marko Pintaric said. "Our team chemistry is on a high note, and we are really well balanced."

USC's three team captains — Miller, Kranz and Brankovic — will be leaders in and out of the water for the 2024 Trojans as they look to extend USC's run of NCAA Tournament appearances to 20 in a row. They'll have plenty of help with setting that course for success. USC's "senior" class is sizable, as Kranz and Miller enter their fifth seasons along with fellow veterans Tom McGuire and Reed Stemler along with true seniors Luka Brnetic, Jake Carter and Aidan Wattson.

"I have full trust in our senior group to lead our younger players in executing this season," Pintaric said. "The key for the season is to be consistent. It starts in our defense, and in keeping our poise and believing in each other as teammates so that we execute the game plan."
Speaking of defense, the backbone sits between the pipes, where Bernardo Herzer emerged with All-American honors in his first season of work for the Trojans. His talented fellow goalies Eric Hubner and Charles Mills battled injuries last season, but both put forth ferocious stands in goal while healthy. All signs are pointing toward a reliable corps in the cage in 2024, with that trio back for more along with incoming freshman goalie Nemo Pavoggi.

Pavoggi is one of three freshmen on the roster this season, joined by driver Taj Whitehead and utility Ben Mirisch. They — along with the activations of Brankovic, Martin and López Duart — help the Trojans reload after the graduation of Tony Nardelli, Joshua Waldoch and All-American Massimo Di Martire.

USC also benefits from the return of five players who scored 20 or more goals last year to account for almost half of USC's scoring. So firepower is far from a concern for these balanced Trojans. On the perimeter, the right side is taken care of with lefties Zach Bettino and Jack Vort along with right-handed attackers like Brankovic, Carter and Andrej Grgurevic, who also shines as a master of the counterattack. Opposite them, Trojan fans will enjoy the USC debut of López Duart and the rise of Luke Nelson, while key returners Kranz, McGuire, Wattson and Evan Ausmus boast the ability to strike from anywhere in the pool, and redshirt freshman Chase Landa is also set to factor into USC's offensive machine.

The two-meter slot will be a busy one, as USC has strength, depth and skill at both ends. Senior hole guard Brnetic, who trained with the Croatian National Team last summer, is tabbed as a cornerstone of Pintaric's defensive scheme along with fellow seniors Connor Cohen and Stemler. Sophomore Spencer Averitt brings back his intensity to that spot as well to bring extra depth in the hole.

Offensively, USC's top scorer in 2024, Miller, is back for year five of work in the center position. Junior Zac Crenshaw returns as well to bring size and experience to USC's two-meter attack, while Martin is cued up for his Trojan debut as a proven force and a deft left hand in front of the cage.

It all begins this week. The Trojans head to La Jolla for action at the Triton Invitational to set the stage for their 2024 campaign. In December, the waves will settle out in Palo Alto, where the Trojans aim to make their 20th NCAA Tournament run and ultimately raise their 11th NCAA championship trophy.

"Our teams are known for competing for national championships. We are always trying to be consistent from beginning to end, and our goal is to secure another spot in the NCAA Tournament," Pintaric said. "What excites me is the unity of this team. Our players are clicking together and have been putting in the work to become a great team."