USC’s trip to Berkeley on Wednesday night feels like a throwback with a twist.
What used to be a regular conference matchup now lands as an early-season nonconference test, with the 21st-ranked Trojans visiting California at Haas Pavilion. USC is 2-0 after wins over Milwaukee and Wichita State, while the Golden Bears also come in unbeaten, giving both teams a chance to grab an eye-catching result against a familiar name from a very different era.
The Trojans have already shown plenty of scoring punch in the first week. They rolled past Milwaukee 95-63 to open the season, then handled a tougher challenge against Wichita State in a 93-86 win on November 8. That second game mattered more than the opener because USC had to work through a much tighter contest, and putting up 93 points again hinted at how dangerous the offense can be.
A big part of that attack has come through the backcourt. USC’s two starting guards, Rodney Rice and Alijah Arenas, have combined to take 49.6% of the Trojans’ shots in their first two games.
Eric Musselman’s squad aims to go 3-0 tonight against Cal in Berkeley.
For California, this is a chance to make a statement of its own. Beating a ranked former conference rival at home would give the Golden Bears an early boost before ACC play begins, and it would do so against a team that still carries the weight of a national ranking.
The broader backdrop is conference realignment, which has reshaped the sport and turned old Pac-12 matchups into cross-country nonconference dates. USC is now in the Big Ten, California in the ACC, so this meeting no longer has the old conference stakes attached to it. Still, the shared history gives the game a different edge than a typical November matchup.
Tipoff is set for 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
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