Basketball can be a weird game. If you walked into the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas back in April 2025, you would've seen something most people didn't expect: a blowout that basically redefined how we look at usc vs tulane basketball. It wasn’t just a regular-season game. It was the first round of the inaugural College Basketball Crown.
The Trojans absolutely dismantled the Green Wave 89-60.
Honestly, looking at the box score now, it feels even more lopsided than it did in person. USC shot a staggering 63.6% from the field. That’s not just "hot" shooting; that’s basically a layup drill. When a team hits over 60% of their shots in a postseason tournament, you’ve gotta wonder what happened to the defense.
The Night Rashaun Agee Became a Problem
Most of the hype going into that usc vs tulane basketball game was about the backcourts. Everyone wanted to see the guards run. Instead, they got a masterclass from the big man. Rashaun Agee was essentially unguardable. He finished with 27 points on 10-of-12 shooting.
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He didn't just score; he bullied people.
He added nine rebounds and four blocks for good measure. It was one of those performances where the opposing coach, Ron Hunter, just had to throw his hands up. Tulane tried to go small, they tried to double, but Agee just worked them.
Breaking Down the Tulane Collapse
Tulane came into that game with a decent bit of momentum. They had finished fourth in the AAC and had won four of their last six. Rowan Brumbaugh was their engine, and he actually played alright, finishing with 11 points and seven assists. But the rest of the team? They went cold.
The Green Wave shot 33.9% as a group.
You can't win like that. Asher Woods tried to carry the load with 18 points, but the efficiency just wasn't there. They turned the ball over 13 times in the first half alone. By the time they settled in, USC was already halfway to the finish line.
The "Muss Bus" Effect and USC’s New Era
It’s impossible to talk about usc vs tulane basketball without talking about Eric Musselman. The guy is a maniac—in a good way. Since he took over the USC program, the energy has shifted. He’s been hitting the transfer portal like his life depends on it.
The 2025-26 roster is basically a "Who's Who" of veteran transfers and high-upside freshmen.
Look at the names he’s brought in. Chad Baker-Mazara is averaging nearly 20 points a game this season. Rodney Rice is facilitating like a pro. Then you’ve got Alijah Arenas, the five-star freshman and son of Gilbert Arenas. Even though Alijah is still finding his rhythm, the talent is undeniable.
USC has moved to the Big Ten now, so they aren't seeing Tulane in the regular season anymore. The Trojans are currently 14-3 as of January 2026. They already won the Maui Invitational. They're playing a much more physical brand of ball than we saw in the old Pac-12 days.
Why Tulane Still Matters in the AAC
Don't let the 29-point loss to USC fool you. Tulane is a solid program. Ron Hunter has them playing a very specific, annoying style of defense that usually forces a lot of turnovers. They didn't do it against USC, but they've done it to plenty of others.
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They’re currently sitting at 11-4 in the 2025-26 season.
They just beat East Carolina 79-70. Brumbaugh is still the guy, but watch out for Scotty Middleton and Curtis Williams Jr. They’ve added some length on the wings that they didn't have last year. They’re still a threat to win the American, especially if they can keep their rotation healthy.
What We Learned from the History
Surprisingly, before that 2025 blowout, these two teams hadn't played much. In fact, that was their first-ever meeting on a neutral court. USC leads the all-time series 1-0.
It’s a small sample size, sure.
But it set a tone. For USC, it was proof that Musselman’s system could work with a brand-new roster in a high-pressure tournament. For Tulane, it was a wake-up call about the physical gap between mid-majors and the new "Super Conferences."
Key Stats That Actually Matter
If you’re betting on these teams or just trying to sound smart at a bar, keep these numbers in your back pocket:
- Paint Dominance: USC scored 50 points in the paint during their last matchup. Tulane only had 24.
- Transition Efficiency: USC is currently top 60 in the country in points per possession.
- Turnover Margin: Tulane usually relies on a +3 or +4 margin to win. When they went even with USC (14-14), they lost by 30.
Looking Forward: Will They Play Again?
Right now, there isn't a scheduled usc vs tulane basketball game for the rest of the 2026 season. Unless they meet in the NCAA Tournament or another postseason invitational, we’re left with the memories of that Vegas massacre.
USC is focused on a brutal Big Ten schedule, facing teams like Purdue and Michigan State. Tulane is trying to claw their way back into the Top 25 through the AAC.
If they do meet again, expect it to be a lot closer. Tulane has addressed their lack of size, and USC is still adjusting to the nightly grind of the Big Ten.
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Actionable Insight for Fans:
If you're following these teams, keep a close eye on the transfer portal movements in April. Both Musselman and Hunter are aggressive recruiters. USC's success is built on "plug-and-play" veterans, while Tulane is finding success by keeping their core together for multiple seasons.
Watch the shooting percentages for Tulane's guards. If they stay above 42% from the floor, they are a lock for a postseason bid. For USC, it’s all about the health of their frontcourt. When Rashaun Agee or Ezra Ausar are off the floor, the Trojans look like a completely different (and much worse) team.
Stay updated on the live standings through the official Big Ten and AAC sites, as the 2026 tournament seedings are going to be wild this year.