USC men's basketball has fans optimistic after strong start to season

The USC Trojans men’s basketball team is off to an outstanding start, winning nine of their first ten games and capturing the Maui Tournament championship. Their nine victories already place them more than halfway to last season’s total of 17 wins. The Trojans boast an impressive 6-0 record away from home and a 3-1 record at home, with their only loss coming in a valuable learning experience against Washington after surrendering an 18-point halftime lead. In conference play, they have split their first two games, holding a 1-1 record thus far.

Games to Know

USC has had plenty of thrilling games in the first ten of the season, but none quite like the 107-106 triple-overtime win over Troy. Despite having more talent, the Trojans struggled for much of the night and ultimately pulled off the win thanks to a spectacular three-point shot from Jordan Marsh at the buzzer. Another notable game was the 88-75 victory over former Pac-12 rival Arizona State in the final of the Maui Invitational. Ironically, this marked the Trojans’ largest margin of victory in the tournament, as they had edged their first two opponents by a combined total of just five points. The 76-84 loss to Washington stands out as an early-season setback that will linger for much of the year. While the Trojans appear to be on a trajectory that should secure them a place in the NCAA Tournament, squandering an 18-point halftime lead in a conference game is a lapse that cannot be overlooked. Nevertheless, they rebounded with a win over San Diego.

Players to Know

The Trojans have opened the season with two bona fide scorers in Chad Baker-Mazara and Rodney Rice. Baker-Mazara is averaging 21.9 points per game, while Rice is averaging 20.3. Rice injured his shoulder in Maui, has missed three games, and remains day-to-day. Leading the rebounding efforts are Jacob Cofie, averaging just under seven per game, and Ezra Ausar, just under six per game, along with his 17.2 points per game, third-best on the team. Before his injury, Rice led the team in minutes played and still holds the lead, though Baker-Mazara is closing in at just under 34 minutes per game. Earlier this season, Rice recorded his first triple-double, only the second in program history. USC also ranks in the top five nationally in blocks at the Division I level, averaging six per game, with Cofie leading the team at 2.2 blocks per game.