The Muss Bus hasn’t hit any potholes on the road to glory so far this season. No. 24 USC men’s basketball has accumulated 3 home conference wins, a special win at the Intuit Dome, a Maui Invitational tournament championship (3 wins in Hawaii), and most recently, a hard-fought conference road win up in Eugene.
But the Trojans haven’t faced anything quite like Saturday’s test just yet. That’s the case because it’s USC’s first conference home game, but it will test the Trojans’ resolve for reasons far deeper than that.
Here are five things to watch as the USC Trojans (8-0) take on the Washington Huskies (5-3) on Tuesday night and look to improve to 2-0 in Big Ten conference play:
A “homecoming” for Claude, Yates III and Pondexter
This one could get spicy.
Desmond Claude and Wesley Yates III were arguably USC’s two best players last season, the Trojans’ first under Eric Musselman. They are exactly the kind of players Musselman should want to build around as he looks to create a more continuous culture in the men’s basketball program.
But Quincy Pondexter, one of Musselman’s assistants last season, bolted for Washington and Claude and Yates III followed him.
Claude, Yates III and Pondexter were far from the only people who departed. Remember, Terrance Williams II is USC’s only rotational player that returned from last season’s roster. But their departures did hurt the most. And while the new Huskies are not facing a Trojan squad full of former teammates, Eric Musselman certainly hasn’t forgotten. And neither have Trojan fans.
Keep an eye out for some extra emotion in this one.
Rodney Rice: still hurt?
Hopefully this isn’t a trend we are following much longer. Rodney Rice missed his second straight game for the Trojans on Tuesday against Oregon after he was injured in USC’s Maui Invitational second round game against Seton Hall.
Chad Baker-Mazara has been excellent in Rice’s absence, scoring 23 points against Arizona State in the Maui Invitational final and 25 points in USC’s win over Oregon. But having Rice in the lineup will always make USC a more dangerous team. Here’s to hoping we see Rice in the lineup against Washington, or we at least get a more definitive update on his status.
Who’s the next unlikely hero?
Against Arizona State, Jaden Brownell stepped up seemingly out of nowhere to give USC the push it needed to win the Maui Invitational championship. Brownell scored 16 points on 6-11 shooting in the Trojans’ win over the Sun Devils.
The grad student forward had another solid outing against Oregon with 4 points on 4-10 shooting, but he was overshadowed by an even unlikelier hero.
Grad student guard Ryan Cornish, who had played only 8 minutes and scored 0 points the entire season before Tuesday night, had his number called and delivered. In 15 minutes, Cornish scored 5 points (2-2 shooting) and pulled down a rebound. Is it any coincidence that the Trojans won by exactly 5 points? I don’t think so.
Eric Musselman was very complimentary of Cornish’s effort after the game:
“I’m super impressed with our ability to win close games,” Musselman said. “This is now the fourth game in a row. We’re having limited bodies, but to be 8-0, win a road game, and our first Big Ten game. I’m super impressed with guys stepping up when their name is called. Tonight, it was Ryan Cornish.”
Jerry Easter II: coming into his own with Rice out?
Rodney Rice’s injury has necessitated a move into the starting lineup for Jerry Easter II. Remember, Easter II was the No. 42 ranked freshman in the entire country coming into the season. With Alijah Arenas sidelined with injury, Easter II is USC’s most exciting first year talent.
He had the best game of his young career against Oregon on Tuesday, recording a career-high 11 points and a career-high 7 rebounds.
Again, USC wants to get Rice back into the lineup ASAP, but if there’s one bright side to him missing time it’s that Easter II gets more meaningful minutes with the starters, which could help accelerate his development.
Musselman also sang Easter II’s praises after USC’s win over Oregon:
“We got great, great guard play from Jerry Easter, both defensively, and then Jerry gave us a lift offensively, getting to the basket. He had a huge offensive rebound.”
Does Washington continue its dramatic LA trip in similar fashion?
Don’t overlook Washington’s result against UCLA on Wednesday night. The Huskies took the Bruins down to the wire and lost by only two points, 82-80.
The Bruins are proving to be a more inconsistent team than everyone thought preseason when they were nationally expected to be capable of making a Final Four run. But they’re still a very talented team that could get much better as the season goes on.
So this will be a good USC versus UCLA measuring stick. If the game is close or Washington wins, it will be a clear sign that the Huskies are a tough team. If the Trojans win in blowout fashion, the Bruins may need to start getting worried about what might happen in the Battles of LA in February and March.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: 5 things to watch in USC men’s basketball challenge vs Washington
Reporting by Ethan Inman, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
