Look, if you expected the transition to the Big Ten to be a quiet, dignified affair for the USC Trojans men's basketball program, you haven't been paying attention to Eric Musselman.
The guy doesn't do "quiet."
He does energy. He does transfer portals. He does custom shoes and social media hype that makes traditionalists cringe. And right now, sitting in the middle of the 2025-26 season, he’s doing something else: winning more than anyone actually thought he would this early.
People saw the schedule—trips to Ann Arbor, East Lansing, and Bloomington—and figured the Trojans would be roadkill. Instead, as of mid-January 2026, USC is sitting at a respectable 14-3 overall. They just dismantled Maryland 88-71 at the Galen Center, and honestly, the score felt closer than the actual game.
The Chad Baker-Mazara Phenomenon
You can't talk about this team without starting with Chad Baker-Mazara. The Auburn transfer has been, frankly, ridiculous.
He’s currently leading the Big Ten in scoring at 21.9 points per game. That’s not just "good for USC" territory; that's "National Player of the Year conversation" territory. He’s the first player in the history of the USC Trojans men's basketball program to average over 21 points and 1.5 blocks per game. Think about that. USC has had some incredible athletes, but nobody has stuffed the stat sheet quite like this guy.
Take the recent game against Minnesota.
Down by one with less than 30 seconds left. The crowd in Minneapolis is screaming. Most players would settle for a contested jumper. Baker-Mazara? He puts his head down, draws the foul, and drains both free throws like he’s playing in an empty gym. He finished that night with 29 points and 8 assists.
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It’s that "Musselman Magic" where a transfer who was a high-level role player elsewhere suddenly becomes a superstar in Los Angeles. It happened at Nevada, it happened at Arkansas, and it’s happening right now at USC.
Living Life in the Big Ten
Transitioning to a new conference is usually a recipe for a losing season.
The Big Ten is a meat grinder of 7-footers and slow, methodical half-court offenses. USC, by contrast, wants to run. They want to turn you over. They want to make the game chaotic.
For a few weeks in early January, it looked like the Big Ten might have finally figured them out. Consecutive blowout losses to Michigan and Michigan State were a reality check. 51-80 in East Lansing? That’s a "welcome to the conference" punch in the mouth.
But then they bounced back.
The overtime win at Minnesota and the shellacking of Maryland showed that this roster has some serious grit. They currently hold a 3-3 conference record, which keeps them right in the hunt for a top-tier seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
Why the Defense is Different
Everyone talks about the scoring, but the real secret to why the USC Trojans men's basketball team is 14-3 is at the rim.
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Gabe Dynes.
The 7-foot-5 junior from Youngstown State is a literal human skyscraper. He’s not going to give you 20 points, but he changes every single shot within five feet of the basket. When you pair his rim protection with the perimeter tenacity of Rodney Rice, you get a defense that is surprisingly difficult to crack.
Recruiting: The Ratliff Twins and the Future
If you think this year is a fluke, look at what Musselman is doing on the recruiting trail.
He just signed the Ratliff twins—Darius and Adonis. These aren't just your run-of-the-mill recruits. We're talking about two 6-foot-11 athletes from New York who chose USC over the likes of Alabama and Arkansas.
Darius is the "traditional" big—a rim protector and a physical presence. Adonis is more of a jumbo wing who can shoot the lights out.
Musselman has also found a way to keep the local talent home. Landing Alijah Arenas, the No. 1 recruit in the country, was the shot heard 'round the college basketball world. Arenas is only a freshman, but he’s already showing flashes of why he's considered a generational talent. He’s smooth. He’s confident. He doesn't play like a kid who was in high school six months ago.
Misconceptions About the "Transfer Era"
There’s this narrative that you can’t build a "culture" with transfers.
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"They’re just mercenaries," the critics say.
But if you watch the USC bench after a big play, that argument falls apart. You see Ezra Ausar (the Utah transfer) chest-bumping walk-ons. You see Terrance Williams II (the Michigan transfer) coaching up the freshmen during timeouts.
Musselman doesn't just pick talented players; he picks players with chips on their shoulders.
Most of these guys were told they weren't quite good enough for the elite level at their previous stops. Now, they’re playing in the most visible media market in the world, and they’re playing with a level of desperation that's hard to match.
What’s Next for the Trojans?
The schedule doesn't get any easier.
Coming up this Saturday, January 17, No. 5 Purdue comes to the Galen Center. That is the ultimate litmus test. If USC can even stay competitive with a top-five team like the Boilermakers, it’s time to stop talking about "rebuilding" and start talking about a deep March run.
The reality is that USC Trojans men's basketball is no longer the "second sport" on campus.
With the football team in a period of transition, the basketball program has stepped into the spotlight. The Galen Center is actually selling out. Students are showing up. People are wearing "Muss Bus" shirts.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the Purdue Game: This is the most important game of the season. It will tell us if USC is a pretender or a legitimate Big Ten contender.
- Keep an Eye on the Rotation: Musselman is known for shortening his bench in late January. Watch to see which of the 10 transfers starts losing minutes as we head toward February.
- Follow the Ratliff Progress: Now that they've signed, their high school performances will give a preview of the 2026 frontcourt, which will need to replace departing seniors like Terrance Williams II.
- Check the Net Rankings: USC's non-conference wins (like the Maui Invitational title over Arizona State) are doing heavy lifting right now. Every conference win is a massive boost for their tournament seeding.
The era of USC being a "soft" West Coast team is over. This team is loud, they’re aggressive, and they’re making the Big Ten very, very uncomfortable.