Trojans MBB Lean on Health, Newcomers to Compete in Big Ten

Even though it is early October, the college basketball season is fast approaching. 

The USC Trojans take on North Carolina for an exhibition at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N. C. on Friday, Oct. 9, streamed on ACC Network. Exhibitions with fellow Power 4 conference contemporaries have been a growing trend as these teams prepare for the regular season.

An early player to keep an eye on among the Trojans is senior guard Rodney Rice. He enters the new season on the 11-man Preseason All-Big Ten Team, making him the first player under head coach Eric Musselman to earn all-conference preseason recognition. Rice averaged 20.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and a team-high 6.0 assists in six games last season, which ended early due to shoulder surgery. The Trojans will rely on a healthy Rice, along with Alijah Arenas and Jacob Cofie, to compete in the Big Ten this season. 

Cofie was named the Big Ten Preseason Defensive Player of the Year by Basket Under Review after a year that included 56 blocks (1.75 per game). He averaged 10.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks while also shooting 37.5% from three-point range over his last 10 games last season. 

Arenas, who is the son of NBA legend Gilbert Arenas, played only 14 games as a freshman after dealing with adversity from a car crash to other injuries. During his limited appearances, last season, Arenas averaged 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while making 13 starts. His best game came against Indiana, in which he scored 29 points in the home win. 

The Trojans reloaded through both the transfer portal and high school recruiting. The Trojans added KJ Lewis(Georgetown), Eric Reibe (UConn), and Jalen Cox (Colgate) from the transfer portal. Cox was an All-Patriot League First Team and All-Defensive Team selection last year. Reibe is a 7-foot center who came off the bench to support the Huskies in every game on their way to the national championship game. Lewis was the Hoyas' leading scorer averaging 14.9 points before his season ended with an injury. 

Christian Collins (No. 6, per ESPN), Adonis Ratliff (No. 23) and Darius Ratliff (No. 33) highlight the Trojans’ high school recruiting class, which ESPN ranked No. 7. 

The Trojans will be relying on a healthy starting five to make a run through the always-loaded Big Ten. Even with all those injuries to their returning players, the Trojans still finished 18-14 last season.