USC basketball is wasting no time making noise in the new season, with standout performances coming from both the men’s and women’s teams - plus a couple of familiar faces doing damage in the NBA.
On the men’s side, Rodney Rice set the tone with a two-way kind of week. In his season debut, the scoring wasn’t the headline.
The playmaking was. He finished with 9 assists and 15 points, then followed that up in game 2 on Sunday with a much louder offensive night: 32 points and 9 assists.
Rice looks like the engine for the Trojans, the guy who can get everyone else rolling and still take over when the moment calls for it. USC is in good hands with its senior.
Alijah Arenas has been just as impressive, and maybe even more encouraging because of how quickly the growth has shown up. He’s now strung together two strong games, and his second outing of the season against Wichita State was the clearest sign yet that he’s the Trojans’ scorer this year.
Arenas poured in 30 points, finding his rhythm and getting to his spots with ease. After two games, the expectation that he can average 20 points per game and lead USC in scoring looks even stronger.
The women’s team has its own star power, and Juju Watkins reminded everyone what that looks like after returning from injury. Her season debut last Monday was solid, with 20 points that came pretty naturally, even if she wasn’t fully overwhelming the game.
Then she flipped the switch in her second game of the week. Against Utah State on Sunday night, Watkins delivered 32 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 steals.
That’s the version USC will need if it wants to chase a title.
Freshman Saniyah Hall is already adding to the buzz. In her first two games, she scored 20 points, and that early production has made an immediate impression. She’s not just fitting in alongside USC’s bigger names - she’s showing she belongs in that conversation.
The USC pipeline is also showing up in the NBA. Onyeka Okongwu was a force on the boards this past week, posting a double-double in 3 of his 4 games.
His best night came Friday against the Washington Wizards, when he put up 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 steals. That’s the kind of impact the Atlanta Hawks need from him going forward.
Evan Mobley turned in a similarly productive week for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Against the Philadelphia 76ers, he posted 22 points and 6 rebounds, helping Cleveland hand Philadelphia its second loss of the season.
He also had 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks against the Oklahoma City Thunder last Wednesday. For the Cavaliers, Mobley’s best version is the one that changes games on both ends, and this is another season where his next step matters.
In Other News...
Indiana Faces One Offensive Concern Fans Cant Ignore Vs USC
ESPN analyst Greg McElroys preview of No. 9 Indiana against No. 18 USC centered on a familiar sort of late-season tension: one team bringing a sturdy defense, the other trying to sort out its offense while the quarterback picture remains unsettled. McElroy sounded confident in Indiana on that side of the ball, even as he weighed the recent form of both programs and the key players who could end up deciding the matchup.
For USC, the bigger concern is less about the name on the jersey than the rhythm of the offense itself, especially with the uncertainty under center and the struggles that have shown up in recent games. Indiana has its own offensive issues to clean up after a recent slide in the rankings, but this game still feels like one where the Trojans ability to get organized on offense may determine whether they can keep pace with a Hoosiers team that has earned respect for how it defends. [Read more 🡒]
USC Just Landed A Recruit Who Could Boost Womens Golf Fast
USC womens golf added an important piece to its future with the signing of Eliana Saga, one of the nations top junior players and a member of the U.S. Junior National Team. She arrives with a rsum that already includes international experience and multiple top finishes, and she becomes the Trojans first signee in the class of 2027.
For Justin Silversteins program, the timing matters as much as the talent. Landing a player with Sagas profile gives USC an early foundation for the next recruiting cycle, and it signals the kind of ceiling the Trojans are aiming for as they keep building toward the seasons ahead. [Read more 🡒]
USC Is Bringing Real Swagger Into Its Biggest Test Yet
USCs week of preparation for Indiana has come with a little extra edge, and not just because of whats at stake. Defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart and running back Waymond Jordan both talked about the Trojans trash-talking culture as part of the way the team gets ready, a sign that this group is leaning into the kind of swagger that can travel well when the pressure rises.
The timing matters because this is one of those games with real College Football Playoff implications, and USC is walking into it as the underdog. The availability picture adds another layer, with tight end Walter Matthews questionable for the Trojans while Indiana is dealing with its own issues, including the absence of starting running back Turbo Richard and an uncertain quarterback situation because of injury. [Read more 🡒]