The USC Men's Basketball Team Is 2-0 And They Look Like A Tournament Team

It looked and felt like a game that befits the month of March.

Competing in a close, physical battle, the No. 21 USC Men's Basketball team outlasted Wichita State 93-86 in the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic, held at the Tahoe Blue Event Center in Stateline, Nevada, on Sunday night.

It came down to backcourt play and free-throw shooting. And those are two things the Trojans showed off in their win over the Shockers.

Veteran guard Rodney Rice and second-year, soon-to-be NBA lottery pick Alijah Arenas combined to score 62 of their team's 93 points. Both established career highs, with Rice scoring 32 and Arenas adding 30. It's the first time since 2015 that two USC players have scored at least 30 points in the same game. The Trojans actually lost that contest to Colorado. Against Wichita State, however, the two combined for 62 points and 10 assists, while the rest of the team contributed 31 points and four assists.

Rice also became the third USC player in the past 20 seasons to record at least 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a game.

That's the type of production that can help USC make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

In March, teams face unfamiliar opponents, often with very little time to prepare or make adjustments. Having reliable guards who can read defenses, recognize mismatches, and run the offense becomes vital when the script goes off platform and game plans break down.

A point guard like Rice is essentially a coach on the floor. He can control the tempo, make decisions, and get teammates involved. Meanwhile, Arenas has the ability to create his own shot regardless of who's defending him. His combination of skill, athleticism, and basketball instincts gives the Trojans another weapon when the half-court offense stalls or perimeter shots stop falling.

And that's especially important in tournament basketball. When things get tight, you need guards who can break down a defense off the dribble, create opportunities in the pick-and-roll, get to the basket, draw fouls, and convert at the free-throw line.

USC did plenty of that against Wichita State. As a team, the Trojans went 37-for-42 from the charity stripe. Rice and Arenas accounted for 29 of those makes, converting 29 of their 32 attempts.

Strong guard play is essential in the NCAA tournament. Good backcourts dictate tempo, execute under pressure, and handle the unique demands of single-elimination basketball. If Rice and Arenas can stay healthy and on the floor together, Eric Musselman's third season at the helm could see the Trojans dancing in March and, hopefully, April.

Especially if the freshman Ratliff twins continue to show that they are more than just a recognizable family name. They have the skills and confidence to contribute, and they look ready to handle the rigors of a Big Ten season.

The Trojans still have a long way to go before an NCAA tournament appearance becomes a reality. There will be tougher opponents, difficult road games, and plenty of opportunities to discover what this team is really made of.

But after two games, USC has shown something encouraging. It has experienced guards who can take over a game, a backcourt capable of producing points in bunches, and enough supporting talent to make things interesting.

It's early, certainly. Nobody is handing out tournament invitations in November.

But two games into the season, the Trojans look the part.