The USC Trojans are starting to find their footing in Big Ten play, and their latest road win over Wisconsin is a prime example of that growth. It wasn’t just a victory-it was a battle of star power, and USC came out on top by showing they could take a punch and punch back harder.
Let’s start with Nick Boyd. The Wisconsin guard, a transfer from San Diego State, put on a clinic.
In 38 minutes, he poured in 29 points, including 16 in the first half alone. That performance pushed him past the 1,500-point mark for his college career, and he did it with the kind of poise and shot-making that turns heads.
Boyd accounted for roughly 40% of Wisconsin’s total offense in the 71-point outing, and he did everything he could to carry the Badgers.
The problem for Wisconsin? The help just wasn’t there.
Outside of Nolan Winter and John Blackwell, the rest of the roster combined for only 19 points. And when the second half rolled around, the Badgers' offense went ice cold-shooting just 25.7% from the field and 21.1% from deep.
That kind of drop-off is tough to overcome, no matter how well your star is playing.
USC, on the other hand, showed balance and resilience. Chad Baker-Mazara matched Boyd’s scoring output with 29 points of his own, shooting 10-of-22 from the field and knocking down five of his 11 three-point attempts. He added 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal-filling the box score with the kind of all-around effort that winning teams need on the road.
But what really stood out was the support Baker-Mazara got from his teammates. It wasn’t overwhelming, but it was enough.
And that’s the difference. In a game where two stars went toe-to-toe, USC had just a little more around the edges-just enough to tilt the outcome in their favor.
That’s a sign of growth for a Trojans team that recently came up short at home against Northwestern and Nick Martinelli. This time, they didn’t fold. They finished.
Next up, USC heads to Iowa City for a Wednesday night clash with Bennett Stirtz and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. PT, and if the Trojans keep building on performances like this, they’re going to be a tough out in Big Ten play.