USC football season is in full swing, but it’s now college basketball season as well. The new campaign for USC men’s basketball begins with Monday’s opener at the Galen Center against the Cal Poly Mustangs.
Let’s get you set for this game and give you a taste of what to expect. Here are five things to know — and watch for — when the Trojans take the court in Game 1 of the new season under coach Eric Musselman:
Cal Poly international flavor
Cal Poly fast pace
USC’s different identity
Last season’s USC team was an offense-first team. This season’s team should be defined by defense. Losing Alijah Arenas to injury and losing Wesley Yates and Desmond Claude in the transfer portal takes away a lot of scoring punch. USC will need to play the way Mick Cronin’s UCLA teams normally do: Win rockfights. The Trojans might be able to win a game against Cal Poly in the 80s, but against good teams, they will want to play in the 60s or low 70s, occasionally the high 50s.
Chad Baker-Mazara
Chad Baker-Mazara isn’t just a good player who made a Final Four run with Auburn last season; he is 25 years old, with a physically developed body and a ton of experience. Early in the season, Baker-Mazara needs to lead this team while younger and less experienced players find their footing.
Better November
Last season, USC struggled in November and badly damaged its chances of making the NCAA Tournament. Eric Musselman had to hastily throw together a roster after Andy Enfield’s departure for SMU created a mass exodus. This season, Musselman had more time to construct his roster. That roster construction process needs to lead to a much faster start, so that USC can be a legitimate bubble team in mid- and late February.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: 5 things to watch in USC men’s basketball season opener vs Cal Poly
Reporting by Matt Zemek / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
