Eric Musselman and USC Basketball Out to Prove the Doubters Wrong
Former Nevada coach Eric Musselman has taken over the reins of the USC Trojans basketball program and is inheriting a team that has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2017. Musselman, known for his success at the mid-major level, has a big challenge ahead of him as he tries to turn around a struggling USC program.
Roster Turnover
Musselman has already made significant changes to the USC roster, bringing in several transfers and junior college players. The most notable addition is Oregon transfer Addison Patterson, a 6’6″ wing who averaged 12.9 points per game last season. Musselman has also added some size to the frontcourt with the addition of 6’11” center Chevez Goodwin from Wofford and 6’10” forward Max Agbonkpolo from Saddleback College.
New Coaching Staff
In addition to the roster turnover, Musselman has also brought in a new coaching staff. Former NBA coach Tony Barbee will be the associate head coach, and David Miller, who was Musselman’s assistant at Nevada, will be the defensive coordinator. Musselman is hoping that his new staff can help him implement his up-tempo, pressure-defense style of play.
Tough Schedule
USC will have a tough schedule to navigate this season. The Trojans open the season with a game against Hawaii, but they will also play non-conference games against Oregon, Arizona, and Alabama. USC will also have to play a tough Pac-12 schedule that includes games against UCLA, Arizona, and Stanford.
Expectations
Expectations for USC are low this season. The Trojans were picked to finish 11th in the Pac-12 preseason poll, and they are not expected to make the NCAA Tournament. However, Musselman is confident that his team can exceed expectations. “We’re going to be a tough team to beat,” Musselman said. “We’re going to play hard and we’re going to compete every night.”
Outlook
It is too early to say what the future holds for USC basketball under Eric Musselman. The Trojans have a lot of potential, but they also have a lot of work to do. If Musselman can get his team to buy into his system and play hard, then USC could be a surprise team this season. However, if the Trojans struggle to adapt to Musselman’s style of play, then they could be in for a long season.
