New coach. New conference. New roster. New chapter for USC basketball.
The tradition continues! CBB Review is again ranking the top 100 teams heading into the new college basketball season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: USC basketball.
What an offseason in college basketball it was. The biggest news came when John Calipari, esteemed Kentucky coach decided to leave the program and head to the University of Arkansas. In order for that to happen though, Eric Musselman took the USC job, surprising many, but bringing joy to South California.
He wasn’t left with much. Only one player returns from last year’s team, Harrison Hornery. He was 9th in minutes played last year. Surprisingly though, Musselman only brought in one Power 5 transfer, with that being Desmond Claude from Xavier.
This team brings in some high-level scorers. Nine players scored double-digit points for their teams last year, including four who averaged 15 points per game. Expect at least eight of the ten rotation players to be seniors, which will prove to be beneficial, especially in a tough conference like the Big Ten.
Since 1961, USC has only made the second weekend three times. In the last six tournaments, Musselman has done it four times. This is why USC is so excited to have him. With the talent pool in California, Muss has a chance to turn this program into a powerhouse. He’ll have to take it one season at a time though, and this season might be a stepping stone.
Click here to learn more about our preseason top 100 teams heading into the 2024-25 college basketball season.
Head coach:Â Eric Musselman (1st season at USC, 10th season overall)
2023-24 record: 15-18 (8-12)
2024 postseason finish:Â No postseason
Notable departures:Â
- Boogie Ellis (16.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.0 APG)
- Isaiah Collier (16.3 PPG, 4.3 APG, 2.9 RPG)
- Kobe Johnson (10.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.3 APG)
- DJ Rodman (8.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.3 APG)
- Joshua Morgan (5.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.3 APG)
- Vince Iwuchukwu (5.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 0.6 APG)
- Oziyah Sellers (5.2 PPG, 0.9 RPG, 0.6 APG)
- Bronny James (4.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.1 APG)
Notable non-conference games:Â
- vs. Cal (Nov. 17)
- vs. Saint Mary’s (Nov.28)
- vs. Arizona State OR New Mexico (Nov. 29)
Projected Rotation
PG: Bryce Pope (6-3, 185, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 18.3 PPG, 3,9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.0 SPG (UC San Diego)
SG: Desmond Claude (6-6, 205, Jr.)
2023-24 stats: 16.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.1 SPG (Xavier)
SF: Terrence Williams (6-7, 225, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 12.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 39.7 3P% (Michigan)
PF: Saint Thomas (6-7, 220, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 19.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 47.2 FG%, 86.8 FT% (Northern Colorado)
C: Josh Cohen (6-10, 250, Jr.)
2023-24 stats: 15.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 54.4 FG%, 34.4 3P% (UMass)
6: Chibuzo Agbo (6-7, 225, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 13.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 0.8 APG, 40.9 3P% (Boise State)
7: Clark Slajchert (6-1, 170, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 18.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 42.2 3P% (Penn)
8: Matt Knowling (6-6, 2oo, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 11.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.6 APG, 56.7 FG% (Yale)
9: Harrison Hornery (6-10, 230, Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 3.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.7 APG
10: Rashaun Agee (6-8, 225, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 13.3 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 57.0 FG%, 68.0 FT% (Bowling Green)
USC Basketball team MVP: Desmond Claude
As mentioned earlier, USC basketball only brings in one Power 5 recruit. They brought a darn good one though in Claude. Claude averaged over 16 points and had several huge scoring performances. He scored 30 against Georgia in the first round of the NIT, and 26 in the first round of the Big East Tournament against Butler. What is impressive is the jump he took from freshman to sophomore year. He increased his scoring by just under 12 points a game and improved his free throw shooting from 57% to 79%.
USC won’t have a clear team MVP, especially early in the season with all the new talent. However, down the stretch, they’ll look to Claude to win them some Big Ten matchups.
USC Basketball make-or-break player: Clark Slajchert
Slajchert has been great all three years in college, but last year he was truly special. He averaged 18 points a game, but what really stood out was his 42.2 three-point percentage. They always say the one thing that translates is shooting, and if he can shoot it at that level at USC, he can be a really valuable asset to this team.
Bryce Pope is the projected starter, but if Slajchert comes out early and succeeds, he can easily earn that spot and not look back. If USC can have a high-volume shooter like him, it will allow the rest of their high scoring offense to do what they do best.
Key analytic: Defensive Efficiency
In the three seasons Musselman made second weekend, Arkansas finished top 20 in KenPom’s defensive efficiency. Last year, he finished 134th and the team finished under .500. The one year USC finished Top 20, they went to the Elite 8. So, there is definitely a direct correlation between having a good defense and overall success.
With a new roster, communication is always a concern, and that is usually prevalent on the defensive end. Claude and Agbo are the only real plus defenders on the team, but Muss’ defense will ensure that it won’t be an issue. They don’t have to finish top 20, but a top 50 defense to pair with what should be a high-scoring offense can lead to a successful season for this USC basketball program.
USC Basketball 2024-25 projections
Projected conference finish: 14th in the Big Ten
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Round of 64 Exit