Just a week ago, Eric Musselman appeared quite dejected.
Following his team’s frustrating loss to Northwestern, the USC basketball coach expressed multiple concerns. He seemed troubled as he detailed the issues in his squad.
Poor three-point shooting and free throw percentage. Two missed defensive assignments by guard Ezra Ausah. Chad Baker Mazara, who is only in sixth grade, fouled out in just 14 minutes. Injuries have made it tough for him to field a strong lineup.
At this stage, the Trojans were shifting from being a surprising force in the Big Ten to falling into disappointment; a once-promising 12-1 record now felt like a distant memory.
“How much does it hurt? How important is it?” Musselman pondered when asked about his message to the team. “That’s tough to answer. I know how much sleep I’ll lose tonight, but I can’t be there during the game; the injury from the last game still lingers.” This was in reference to their last matchup against Purdue.
Then came a much-needed turnaround.
Almost everything that went wrong against the Wildcats clicked into place against Wisconsin.
Ausah nailed his defensive responsibilities. Baker Mazara scored 29 points without fouling out. The Trojans demonstrated great teamwork, even managing to stay competitive despite having an off night shooting from distance.
Just three days later, USC mounted a comeback from a 17-point deficit against Iowa. They almost completed a road sweep, narrowly missing in the closing seconds. This performance hinted at the potential this team has for March if it manages to unite.
NCAA tournament status
For now, they’re in a decent position, but there is still a lot to accomplish.
The next month will be pivotal for USC, which has upcoming home games against Illinois and Oregon State, followed by a rivalry game against UCLA and a home contest against Nebraska. Winning at least three of these four matches would significantly enhance their postseason hopes.
Without any standout non-conference victories, Seton Hall and Arizona State are not options, so the Trojans must ensure they finish above .500 in the Big Ten. Achieving that would likely put them in a good spot for NCAA Tournament qualification for the first time since 2023.
Biggest revelation
Sophomore forward Jacob Coffey has excelled in his role, leading the team in rebounds.
His height at 6-foot-9 makes him a challenging opponent to defend, and he’s shown improvement compared to his freshman year at Virginia. This season he has recorded three double-doubles and four games with ten or more rebounds, leading the team in that regard.
Biggest disappointment
The season-ending shoulder injury to guard Rodney Rice back in November not only took out their leading scorer.
His absence forced other players to fill roles they weren’t accustomed to, making up for the loss of such a key offensive asset. With Rice’s minutes now divided among others, Baker Mazara and Ausah are the only ones consistently scoring in double digits.
Biggest problem
Inconsistency is proving to be a persistent concern.
The loss of Rice was further complicated by injuries to other players, including freshman Aliyah Arenas, who only debuted recently after a lengthy recovery from a knee injury. Musselman has had to juggle a variety of lineups, starting as many as 11 different players based on availability. Some players mentioned poor practice habits following the loss to Northwestern.
This patchwork strategy hasn’t translated into sustained success over the past month.
Season ceiling
A lot needs to align for USC to make an impact in the NCAA Tournament.
Keeping everyone healthy would be a critical first step. This would allow Musselman to solidify his lineup and clarify each player’s responsibilities.
With potential star Aliyah Arenas, the son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, fully back from injury, the team may find another gear as the season progresses.
