The USC Trojan men’s basketball team begins its 2023-2024 season on Monday night in Las Vegas against the Kansas State Wildcats.
The Trojans won’t have Bronny James or Vince Iwuchukwu available, since both players are dealing with health problems. Bronny is recovering from cardiac arrest brought on by a congenital heart defect. He has had a medical procedure to repair his heart and is in the process of recovering, but he won’t be available for several more weeks.
Iwuchukwu is recovering from back problems suffered late last season. He also underwent an offseason medical procedure and could be back in early December, maybe as early as late November if everything goes well.
The Trojans don’t have their full roster, but they do have one of the most hyped backcourts in the country with Isaiah Collier, Boogie Ellis, and Kobe Johnson. That backcourt figures prominently in our keys to victory for the Trojans against a Kansas State team which made the Elite Eight last season.
Here are the five keys to victory for USC: