USC’s basketball team found itself in a tough spot last Monday night, falling 82-76 at home to crosstown rival UCLA. It was a hard-fought game, but missed opportunities proved costly. Even without star player Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA showed there’s still a gap between the two programs.
This season has been a mixed bag for USC under new head coach Eric Musselman. At 12-8 overall and 4-5 in the Big Ten, the Trojans have been, in many ways, average. But with a new coach adjusting to a new conference, arguably the most competitive in the country USC is still searching for consistency. The concern for fans? Time is running out. With March Madness approaching, every loss makes their tournament hopes more precarious.
Junior guard Desmond Claude has emerged as a key player this season, averaging 16 points and four assists per game. Another standout for the Trojans is senior forward Saint Thomas, who has become a reliable double-digit scorer over the last four Big Ten games while also improving his assist numbers. His impact has been felt on both ends of the court, as he leads USC in rebounds and steals.
Redshirt freshman guard Wesley Yates III has also impressed, especially after an injury derailed season at Washington. He’s averaging 11 points per game on 48% shooting and has tallied 25 steals on the season.
Despite these individual performances, USC has struggled to play a complete game consistently. Free-throw shooting was a major issue against UCLA and likely cost the Trojans a win, as they shot just 57.9% from the line. In the final seven minutes, they went 3-for-9, allowing UCLA to pull away. Coach Musselman acknowledged the missed opportunities, saying, “We put ourselves in position to win, and we missed foul shots.”
Next up is a home matchup this Saturday against No. 7 Michigan State, another powerhouse led by coach Tom Izzo. If the Trojans hope to make a push for March, they need to find their rhythm fast, otherwise, their Tournament hopes could slip away.