Eric Musselman – Syndication Server

USC comeback attempt falls short in Crosstown Showdown loss to UCLA

USC battled hard but was ultimately far too inconsistent against UCLA.

On Monday night, USC men’s basketball fell 82-76 to rival UCLA in the first Big Ten edition of the Crosstown Showdown.

After a back-and-forth first half, UCLA seemed to tack control of the game early in the second, going up by as much as 12. However, the Trojans did not give up, battling back and cutting the deficit to one with under two minutes left to play.

With 1:37 remaining, USC’s Saint Thomas went to the free throw line with the Trojans trailing 73-72 and a chance to give his team the lead. However, Thomas missed both shots, Sebastian Mack immediately hit a three on the other end, effectively putting the game out of reach for USC.

With the loss, the Trojans dropped to 12-8 overall and 4-5 in Big Ten play. UCLA, meanwhile, improved to 15-6 overall and 6-4 in conference.

Up next, USC welcomes No. 7 Michigan State to Galen Center on Saturday afternoon. The Trojans and Bruins will meet again on March 8 at Pauley Pavilion in the regular season finale for both teams.

Kobe Johnson returns to Galen Center wearing blue

If Kobe Johnson had gone anywhere else, it wouldn’t have been an issue, but he transferred to UCLA. Monday night should be spicy.

For three years, Kobe Johnson was a USC basketball fan favorite at Galen Center. A two-time team captain, Johnson was a strong leader and constantly remained humble. While the likes of Drew Peterson, Boogie Ellis, Isaiah Collier, and Bronny James naturally drew most of the attention, Johnson was always content to let them have the spotlight and let his play on the court speak for itself. However, this past offseason, that all changed when Johnson decided to transfer from USC to crosstown rival UCLA. In a heartbeat, he went from a player USC fans loved to one of the Trojans’ biggest villains.

When the Trojans host the Bruins at Galen Center Monday night, it will mark Johnson’s return to Galen Center. He will do so wearing a color USC fans cannot stand: UCLA light blue.

In the transfer portal era, fans are generally understanding when players decide to look elsewhere. Had Johnson transferred to just about any other school in the country, USC fans would have thanked him for his time in Cardinal and Gold and wished him the best of luck.

But even in today’s new age, rivalries remain the heartbeat of college sports. While transferring to a different school is widely viewed as normal and acceptable, switching sides in a rivalry is where most fans draw the line.

So when Johnson hears his name introduced at Galen Center Monday night, don’t expect a particularly warm welcome from the Trojan Family.

Previewing USC-UCLA hoops with UCLA Wire’s Jake Hamilton

Trojans Wire talked to UCLA wire about Monday night’s big game in the Galen Center. USC is in must-win mode.

Monday night, when USC basketball hosts UCLA, marks the first men’s basketball Crosstown Showdown of the season. It will mark the beginning of a new era in the storied rivalry. For one thing, it will be the first matchup between the schools as members of the Big Ten Conference. In addition, it will mark the introduction to the rivalry for Eric Musselman, who is in his first season as the Trojans’ head coach.

Ahead of the matchup, I spoke to UCLA Wire’s Jake Hamilton to ask him a few questions about the Bruins.

Adam: How has UCLA fared in adjusting to the Big Ten thus far?

Jake: UCLA’s first season in the Big Ten has been up and down. The Bruins have a nasty habit of playing up to their competition and playing down to it. With big wins against Oregon, Wisconsin, and Iowa, UCLA showed what they can be at their best. On the other hand, in their losses to Michigan, Nebraska, Maryland, and Rutgers, the Bruins look disjointed and, in some ways, lost. This upcoming stretch of games (Washington, USC, Oregon, and Michigan State) should be telling as to whether or not the Bruins can contend in the super-sized Big Ten.

Adam: Kobe Johnson made headlines when he transferred from USC to UCLA this offseason. What has his impact been for the Bruins thus far?

Jake: Johnson has struggled to find a rhythm thus far with the Bruins, averaging only 7.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. One of the culprits for Johnson’s minimal impact is the Bruins’ offense. UCLA has a lot of mouths to feed at the guard position between Skyy Clark, Dylan Andrews, and Sebastian Mack. The Bruins have a “committee” backcourt in many ways. In most cases, the Bruins feed the hot hand. Johnson is due for a breakout game in a UCLA uniform, perhaps against his former team. That said, the clock is ticking for the senior to make a statement on the Bruins.

Adam: Unlike in years past, UCLA’s roster is not filled with high-profile players. Who are some guys that USC fans should familiarize themselves with ahead of the game?

Jake: Sebastian Mack and Eric Dailey Jr.

When Mack gets minutes, he can score in bunches, scoring ten or more points in ten games for the Bruins this season. The sophomore guard is streaky as a scorer, something that could be huge in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments. The problem? Mack, in his somewhat limited role with the Bruins this season, is a volume shooter. And when Mack can’t make good on his three-point attempts, he can become a liability on offense. However, no team in the Big Ten should want to face the Bruins on a night when Mack is hot. That’s for sure.

Dailey Jr. is a reliable two-way player for the Bruins. He is a relatively consistent scorer and can routinely score in the double digits. Shooting over 50% from the field and over 33% from three, Dailey Jr. is a solid contributor for the Bruins and is leaned on heavily when they need a bucket. Unfortunately, Dailey Jr. often finds himself in foul trouble. Dailey Jr. has fouled out twice this season and committed four fouls in five of the Bruins’ eighteen games. For Dailey Jr. to have a pronounced impact this season, he will need to be more polished and avoid unnecessary fouls.

Adam: What is your prediction for the game?

Jake: Nearly every statistic is identical between the Bruins and the Trojans thus far this season. From points per game to field goal percentage to rebounds, the two Los Angeles programs are neck and neck. That said, UCLA’s defense will be the deciding factor. Allowing only 64.7 points per game to opponents, the Bruins should manage to slow down Desmond Claude and the Trojan offense. Having dug their way out of a four-game losing streak in the Big Ten, the surging Bruins will eke out a narrow win against the Trojans, 72-67.

Eric Musselman’s comments on road games ring strong after Nebraska win

Eric Musselman is succeeding in getting his team to compete in hostile Big Ten environments.

On Wednesday night, USC men’s basketball took down Nebraska on the road. With the victory, the Trojans and Eric Musselman improved to 12-7 on the season and 4-4 in Big Ten play.

USC is also 3-1 on the road in conference play—an impressive accomplishment given the significant travel that comes with playing in the conference. Last week, head coach Eric Musselman discussed the challenges of playing on the road in the Big Ten.

“It’s not tripping up our women’s team, right?” Musselman said. “They’re super talented, they’re well-coached, and they’re going out and kicking butt when they have to travel.

“Eventually, we’ve got to get to that point. Men’s game, you’re not going to win by 30 on the road all the time. But we have to figure out how to go on the road, like we are, and compete.”

USC will be back at home next week to take on crosstown rival UCLA and Michigan State. The Trojans will then hit the road again the following week to visit Northwestern and Purdue.

USC men’s basketball gets another big win, takes down Nebraska on the road

USC already has several road wins in Big Ten play. The Trojans are punching back in their new conference.

After falling short against a very good Wisconsin team on Saturday, USC men’s basketball is back in the win column in the Big Ten. On Wednesday night, the Trojans traveled to Nebraska and took down the Huskers, 78-73. The victory improved the Trojans to 12-7 on the season, 4-4 in conference play. Three of USC’s four conference losses have come against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25.

It was another big night for Desmond Claude, who led the Trojans with 21 points. Wesley Yates III added 17 points of his own, while Reshaun Agee had 14 and eight rebounds. Nebraska native Saint Thomas, playing in his home state, had 11 points, five rebounds, and four assists.

Following Wednesday’s victory, the Trojans have now won three of their past four games. Up next: the first Crosstown Showdown of the season against UCLA on Monday night, January 27, at Galen Center. USC is still not in good position to make the NCAA Tournament. However, if USC can deliver wins in Galen against UCLA and then several days later against Michigan State on February 1, the Trojans will definitely be in the middle of the bubble conversation.

Eric Musselman calls out USC fans over Galen Center atmosphere

Eric Musselman knows why USC men’s basketball lacks an electric home crowd.

It’s been an up-and-down season for USC men’s basketball thus far. After Saturday’s home loss to Wisconsin, the Trojans were clearly not in the NCAA Tournament field heading into Wednesday night’s matchup with Nebraska.

One thing that has remained relatively constant for USC men’s basketball is the less-than-imposing atmosphere at Galen Center. The Trojans have drawn more than 7,000 fans for just one home game so far, and that was a game against Michigan with a heavy contingent of Wolverine fans.

Following Saturday’s loss, head coach Eric Musselman was blunt about the attendance at USC’s home games thus far. “We had no home-court advantage,” Musselman said. “That’s just how it is. It’s been that way. And we gotta continue to work as a program to make it more of a home-court advantage.”

To his credit, Musselman did imply that the team needs to play better on the court in order for fans to come. However, his comments felt like a challenge toward USC fans, who have never been great about showing out to basketball games in large numbers.

Fortunately for Musselman, the Trojans’ next home game is against UCLA—the one matchup that traditionally draws a large crowd at Galen Center. For the team’s remaining five Big Ten home games, however, attendance will likely depend on how the Trojans perform on the court, for better or worse.

Eric Musselman, USC players discuss playing time, finding a lineup that works

Allocating bench minutes is a work in progress for Eric Musselman at USC this season.

USC men’s basketball delivered back-to-back Big Ten victories this past week. After upsetting No. 13 Illinois on the road Saturday, the Trojans took down Iowa at home Tuesday night. The fun ended on Saturday in a loss to Wisconsin, but the Trojans definitely took some forward steps in their season.

In both the Illinois and Iowa games, the Trojans had at least three players play 35 or more minutes. Head coach Eric Musselman discussed leaving his starters in for the vast majority of the Iowa game, attributing his decisions to the influence of a notable NBA coach.

“Tom Thibodeau’s arguably one of my best friends,” Musselman said. “Check out the Knicks’ box scores.”

Following Tuesday’s game, both Saint Thomas and Desmond Claude noted that they asked for breathers in the second half, and Musselman told them both no.

Musselman did concede, however, that despite heavy minutes for the Trojans’ starters, “we have to develop our bench.”

Against Wisconsin, five USC players played at least 30 minutes, and three played at least 36 minutes. The one player other than the core five who played more than mop-up minutes was Kevin Patton, with 15.

USC’s comeback attempt falls short in loss to Wisconsin

USC lost a game it badly needed for its NCAA Tournament hopes.

The winning streak for USC men’s basketball is officially over. After back-to-back victories, the Trojans fell at home 84-69 Saturday to No. 24 Wisconsin. The loss dropped USC to 11-7 overall and 3-4 in Big Ten play.

After trailing by 15 at halftime, the Trojans went on a 17-4 run early in the second half to cut the deficit to three points. However, the Badgers immediately responded with an 8-2 run of their own that put the game back out of reach.

After three Trojans finished with more than 21 points on Tuesday against Iowa, no USC player had more than 19 Saint Thomas’s Saturday. Meanwhile, the Trojans struggled to contain Wisconsin’s John Blackwell, who had a game-high 28 points while also securing five rebounds.

USC will get some time off this week, as the Trojans will play just one game in the next eight days: a visit to Nebraska on Wednesday night. After that, it’s back home to host UCLA in the first Big Ten Crosstown Showdown a week from Monday.

USC is still behind the bubble pack in the chase for an NCAA Tournament bid. USC needs a three-game winning streak to truly put itself in the hunt.

USC basketball finding peak form before matchup vs. Wisconsin Badgers

The Wisconsin Badgers (14-3, 4-2 Big Ten) may have their hands full on Saturday afternoon when they take on the surging USC Trojans (11-6, 3-3 Big Ten).

USC is red-hot as of late. The team is the winner of two straight conference games, each in decisive fashion. It defeated Illinois 82-72, then Iowa 99-89. That has elevated it into a crowded middle tier of the Big Ten standings.

That stretch is a stark difference from USC’s early-season form. It began the year, its first under head coach Eric Musselman, with a narrow win over UT-Arlington, a loss to Cal, then three straight losses to Saint Mary’s (71-36), New Mexico (83-73) and Oregon (68-60), respectively. The team’s 5-4 start had it ranked near the bottom of the Big Ten with the likes of Minnesota and Washington.

An in-season improvement was expected as Musselman, who arrived with a terrific track record from five years at Arkansas, reshaped the roster and installed his system. That is especially the case as he orchestrated a top-down roster overhaul upon arrival — the Trojans returned just 5.4% of minutes and 3.6% of scoring from a 2023-24 group that finished the season 15-18.

This is an extended way to deliver this pregame thought: USC is currently playing much better basketball than its 11-6 record and middling KenPom (No. 66) and ESPN BPI (No. 58) rankings indicate.

Trojans Wire’s Matt Zemek recently gave a good look at that reality and the Trojans’ momentum entering Saturday’s game:

The Trojans have looked like a very good team the past few weeks. They gave Michigan, arguably the favorite to win the Big Ten, a tough battle before losing late. They won at Illinois, another Big Ten title contender. Tuesday, they raced past Iowa by 10 points, very neary scoring 100.

Desmond Claude and Wesley Yates are balling. The Trojans are attacking the glass and are playing with hunger. USC is now bagging some good wins. If the Trojans can keep stacking quality results, the NCAA Tournament — viewed as a longshot (at best) in late November — could become a realistic possibility.

Eric Musselman is figuring things out. He was viewed as a good hire for a reason.

Wisconsin and USC are set to tip-off at 3 p.m. ET, 2 p.m. CT on the Big Ten Network. The Badgers are in search of their seventh consecutive victory and fifth-straight in conference play. They may need their top form in order to achieve that result.

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Eric Musselman is beginning to show USC fans what is possible

Eric Musselman is showing why USC hired him. The results are beginning to flow in for the Trojans.

It was easy to be unimpressed with Eric Musselman and USC men’s basketball in late November. The Trojans got clobbered by Saint Mary’s and New Mexico and looked like a below-average team which was not ready to win. Yet, it was always logical to think that a roster comprised of transfers would need time to come together. Andy Enfield’s departure shredded the existing roster. Musselman had to build a new one from scratch. USC basketball players did not have any experience playing together. The first month and a half of the season figured to be choppy. The results indicated as much, with USC failing to win the biggest games on its schedule. However, Eric Musselman knew that with more time and more practice, these Trojans could become good.

We are seeing the fruits of patience and the return on investment we hoped for when Eric Musselman was hired at USC.

The Trojans have looked like a very good team the past few weeks. They gave Michigan, arguably the favorite to win the Big Ten, a tough battle before losing late. They won at Illinois, another Big Ten title contender. Tuesday, they raced past Iowa by 10 points, very neary scoring 100.

Desmond Claude and Wesley Yates are balling. The Trojans are attacking the glass and are playing with hunger. USC is now bagging some good wins. If the Trojans can keep stacking quality results, the NCAA Tournament — viewed as a longshot (at best) in late November — could become a realistic possibility.

Eric Musselman is figuring things out. He was viewed as a good hire for a reason.