Preseason Big Ten rankings for USC means Eric Musselman has no more excuses

USC basketball just got a big boost in CBS's Jon Rothstein Big Ten Rankings. He ranked the Trojans fourth in the conference even after their disastrous 12th-place finish last year, which had fans quite upset with the direction of the program.

Eric Musselman has had a rough start to coaching USC. The former Arkansas coach will be entering his third year leading the Trojans. He started his first season with a 17-18 record, and last season he showed promise with his team, but they could never get it together, leading to an 18-14 record. The team ended their campaign on an eight-game losing streak. Now, Musselman seems to have the pieces to turn it around.

Key returners for USC basketball can help move things in the right direction

The outlook for USC Basketball shot up once Alijah Arenas announced that he was coming back. Alongside him, Rodney Rice also decided to stay in LA for another year. These two will be the heartbeat of the Trojans offense.

Arenas sat out about half of the beginning of the season due to injuries. He only played 14 games, but quickly showed why he is the real deal. He averaged 14.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He's a shooting threat from anywhere on the floor and is known for using pace to his advantage.

Similarly, Rice sat out most of the season, only playing six games. In those games, he was the Trojans' leading scorer, averaging 20.3 points, six assists and 3.3 rebounds. Rice knows how to command the floor and create playmaking opportunities for himself and his teammates.

The last returner is Jacob Cofie, who shouldn't be overlooked. He played in every game last year while averaging 9.9 points and 6.8 rebounds. He was one of the only bright spots on defense last year, being able to make crucial stops and grab important rebounds.

New players will also be ready to make a splash for USC basketball

The Trojans' 2026 recruiting class features three All-Americans. They snagged a Top-10 ranked recruit in Christian Collins and added twins Adonis and Darius Ratliff. These three will help with the lackluster defense that the team had last year, and they add some serious height too. The Ratliff twins are both 7-0, and Collins is 6-foot-9.

When Musselman came to USC, he said he was going to use the same strategy that he had at Arkansas: focusing on the transfer portal. And use the portal he did. There are six new players on USC's squad from the portal. They already have their stars on the team in the returners and new freshmen, but the portal added depth that was severely needed.

The most notable transfers are guards KJ Lewis and Jalen Cox. Lewis brings defensive and offensive intensity, something that the team was lacking last season. He can be a scoring threat even if Arenas and Rice are on the bench. Cox will be used as a facilitator for the squad, having a pass-first mindset. This team has proven scorers from the starters to the bench, so if Cox focuses on his ability to be a playmaker, he can stand out.

For the first time, Musselman has a team with stars who can win. There will be no excuses for the Trojans this year. It's time for them to finally turn it around.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow