Alijah Arenas ought to assist USC make a transfer for March Insanity

Simply final week, Eric Musselman appeared like a defeated man.

As he met with reporters after his staff’s horrific loss to Northwestern final week, the USC basketball coach referenced one deficiency after one other. His face wore a pained expression as he ticked them off.

Horrible three-point and free-throw capturing. A pair of blown defensive coverages by guard Ezra Ausar. Sixth-year senior Chad Baker-Mazara fouled out in solely 14 minutes. An incapability to search out 5 gamers worthy of taking the court docket collectively amid a collection of accidents.

At that time, the Trojans have been trending towards going from a shock Huge Ten staff to a disappointment, their 12-1 begin a distant reminiscence after 4 losses in six video games.

“How a lot does it damage? How a lot does it matter?” Musselman stated when requested about his message to his staff. “I imply, that’s all — I can’t reply any of that. I understand how a lot sleep I’m going to get tonight, however I’m not on the market, so there was positively not sufficient damage after the final recreation” in opposition to Purdue.

What occurred subsequent introduced some much-needed elation.

Virtually every part that went mistaken in opposition to the Wildcats went proper in opposition to Wisconsin.

Ausur didn’t blow vital defensive assignments. Baker-Mazara scored 29 factors with out fouling out. The Trojans performed cohesively, permitting them to resist a horrible capturing evening from lengthy vary.

Three days later, USC practically accomplished a street sweep after getting back from 17 factors down in opposition to Iowa earlier than falling quick within the closing seconds. It was one other glimpse of what this staff may be capable of do in March if it pulls every part collectively.

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Right here’s a take a look at the place the Trojans stand and what they should do to complete the season on the upswing:

NCAA event standing

Safely in for the time being, there stays loads of work to do.

A vital stretch comes subsequent month, when USC faces Illinois and Oregon at dwelling adopted by a street recreation in opposition to rival UCLA and a house recreation in opposition to Nebraska. Profitable three of these 4 video games would considerably improve the staff’s postseason resume.

The Trojans’ lack of eye-catching nonconference victories — Seton Corridor and Arizona State don’t qualify — would require a end above .500 within the Huge Ten. If that occurs, contemplate them a lock for his or her first NCAA event berth since 2023.

Largest revelation

Sophomore ahead Jacob Cofie has thrived in a three-and-D function whereas additionally main the staff in rebounding.

His size as a 6-foot-9 wing participant has made him arduous to defend and his manufacturing is up throughout the board from his freshman season at Virginia. He’s notched staff highs with three double-doubles and 4 video games with 10 or extra rebounds.

Largest disappointment

Guard Rodney Rice’s season-ending shoulder damage in late November did greater than deprive the Trojans of their main scorer.

His absence had a cascading impact, forcing everybody else to shift into new roles whereas making an attempt to make up for the lack of such a gifted offensive participant. Even with Rice’s minutes being divvied up amongst others, the staff has solely two gamers — Baker-Mazara and Ausar — averaging double figures in factors. 

Largest difficulty

Consistency is an ongoing concern.

The lack of Rice has been compounded by accidents to a handful of different gamers. There’s additionally been the delayed begin to the season of freshman Alijah Arenas, who made his school debut final week after recovering from a summer season knee damage.

Musselman has been compelled to roll out a hodgepodge of lineups primarily based on availability, beginning 11 totally different gamers. Just a few of them alluded to unhealthy apply habits on the staff after the loss to Northwestern.

It hasn’t been a components for sustained success over the past month.

Season ceiling

Getting previous the primary weekend of the NCAA event goes to require lots of issues coming collectively.

Retaining everybody wholesome can be an important place to start out. That may permit Musselman to solidify his lineup and provides his gamers extra outlined roles.

Arenas rounding into kind after such an extended layoff may elevate this staff given his pedigree as a five-star highschool prospect and the son of three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas.