USC basketball has been through the wringer this season, and somehow, both the men’s and women’s programs are still standing - and very much in the NCAA Tournament conversation. That’s a testament to coaching, resilience, and a whole lot of duct tape holding things together as injuries keep piling up. Let’s break down where things stand, what’s gone right, and what’s made this season feel like a constant uphill climb in both programs.
Free Throws, Finally
Let’s start with a small but important win: USC’s free throw shooting is back on track. Earlier this season, the Trojans left way too many points at the line in games they could’ve won - think Purdue, Northwestern - and those misses were costly.
But in the recent win over Indiana, they finally flipped the script. The Trojans were steady at the stripe, and it made all the difference.
That’s the kind of basic execution that keeps bubble teams in the tournament picture.
Injury Bug, Meet USC
Unfortunately, the injury narrative just won’t go away. For both the men’s and women’s teams, it’s been a season of “what ifs” and “not again.”
JuJu Watkins was supposed to be the face of a Final Four run for USC women’s basketball. Her season-ending injury changed everything.
You don’t replace a player like Watkins - she’s a program-changer, and losing her for the year was a massive blow to USC’s ceiling. The fact that the team is still competing at a high level without her says a lot about the depth and coaching on that side.
Rodney Rice has been another big loss. The men’s team has been right there in several close games against quality Big Ten opponents, and you can’t help but think that with Rice on the floor, a couple of those narrow losses - Purdue, Iowa, Northwestern, even Washington - might’ve flipped the other way. He brings scoring, experience, and a steadying presence that this team has missed in crunch time.
Chad Baker-Mazara going down against Indiana is just the latest gut punch. He’s a veteran who’s been reliable all season, and with USC sitting on the NCAA bubble, every bit of experience matters. His absence tightens the rotation and forces younger players into bigger roles - ready or not.
Alijah Arenas is finally healthy, but he missed over two months earlier in the season. That’s a huge developmental gap for a young player who’s still figuring out the college game. Had he been available all year, both his individual growth and USC’s overall trajectory might look a lot different right now.
Coaching Through the Chaos
Despite the setbacks, both head coaches deserve serious credit. Lindsay Gottlieb just led the USC women to a statement win over No.
8 Iowa - a game that showed this team still has the firepower and defensive grit to beat elite opponents. On the men’s side, Eric Musselman has kept the ship afloat with key wins over Wisconsin and Indiana, even while juggling a rotating cast of available players.
If both teams can punch their tickets to March Madness, it would speak volumes about the job these coaches have done under tough circumstances. This hasn’t been a smooth ride, but it’s been a resilient one.
Bubble Watch: February Is Make-or-Break
Right now, both USC squads are on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble, but February is where things get real. The margin for error is razor-thin, and upcoming games loom large.
For the women, a road game at Northwestern is a must-win. For the men, a trip to Penn State could be a resume-maker - or a resume-breaker.
These are the games that separate tournament teams from NIT squads. One slip-up could change the entire postseason outlook.
Bottom Line
USC basketball has been dealt a rough hand this season - injuries to star players, narrow losses, and a conference schedule that doesn’t let up. But both the men’s and women’s teams are still swinging. They’ve shown they can compete with top-tier programs, and if they can stay healthy (or at least not lose anyone else), they’ve got a shot to make some noise in March.
There’s no magic ritual for good health, but if USC can avoid any more bad breaks, both squads are capable of finishing strong. The next few weeks will define their seasons - and possibly deliver one of the most impressive dual-coaching efforts we’ve seen in recent Trojan hoops history.