Here’s who USC men’s basketball will play in its Big Ten schedule
Trojans will retain home-and-away matchups next season against former Pac-12 foes UCLA, Oregon, and Washington
Luca Evans (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — They need to play with some characteristics of the Big Ten, Eric Musselman emphasized. Physicality. Rebounding. Discipline.
But Musselman’s teams, dating to Arkansas and Nevada, have long taken on an identity wholly unto themselves, playing with much of the unbridled energy he carries inside his 5-foot-7 frame. They are long. They are athletic. They play fast, on both ends. And Musselman, speaking about the men’s basketball program he wanted to build at USC in his introductory presser earlier this month, made clear the Trojans’ style will be a fusion of all concepts.
“Stylistically, we got to have some of the Big Ten characteristics, but also we want to be different,” Musselman said, “so that when we play teams in conference – maybe it’s not a steady diet of what they see every night.”
USC, any way you slice it, is set to be far different than what the Big Ten is accustomed to, a hastily constructed, transfer-heavy roster in the wake of a massive coaching change. And on Wednesday, the Big Ten released the first look into those conference matchups, solidifying the skeleton of USC’s schedule and who they’ll play at home and on the road in their first foray into a new conference.
In keeping with all other 18 members of the conference, USC will play 20 games in the Big Ten. Fourteen individual matchups will be split evenly between home and away, with six home-and-away matchups against a set of old foes: UCLA, Oregon, and Washington, preserving their former Pac-12 ties in the new Big Ten.
Dates and times will be released at a later date.
Here’s the breakdown of USC’s 14 individual Big Ten opponents, with last year’s overall and conference records:
Iowa (19-15, 10-10)
Michigan (8-24, 3-17)
Michigan State (20-15, 10-10)
Minnesota (19-15, 9-11)
Ohio State (22-14, 9-11)
Penn State (16-17, 9-11)
Wisconsin (22-14, 11-9)
AWAY
Illinois (29-9, 14-6)
Indiana (19-14, 10-10)
Maryland (16-17, 7-13)
Nebraska (23-11, 12-8)
Northwestern (22-12, 12-8)
Purdue (34-5, 17-3)
Rutgers (15-17, 7-13)
ocregister.com
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Big Trojan target heading elsewhere — former established starting MICH ST DT Derrick Harmon commits to transfer to ORE James Crepea (OregonLive.com) — The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Harmon (originally from Detroit Loyola) had 40 tackles (3.5 for loss) with 1.5 sacks and one pass breakup and a forced fumble in 12 games last season. He entered the transfer portal in Dec and visited Eugene back then, but returned to MICH ST for the spring before reentering the transfer portal. Harmon is entering his redshirt JR season with two years of eligibility remaining with the Ducks, who are not on USC’s schedule… Read more »
Oregon has significantly deeper pockets than we do. Harmon did not hide he was going to highest bidder. It is crazy that schools are dealing with agents just as much as players these days.
Desmond Claude, Big East’s Most Improved Player, is joining USC Jeff Borzello (ESPN) — Claude, a 6-6 guard, becomes the Trojans’ ninth transfer addition and 11th newcomer of the offseason, as new coach Eric Musselman moves closer to finalizing his first USC roster. Claude chose the Trojans after visiting USC’s campus last weekend. “It honestly felt like a perfect fit from the first call,” the backcourt playmaker said. “The academic support, basketball resources and basketball vision all seemed custom-made for me. Also, Coach Musselman has a proven track record over the past several years of helping big lead guards make… Read more »
It would be nice if usctrojans.com would have updated rosters. Guess there is no WiFi camping in Alumni Park!
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8. Isaiah Collier, USC
Isaiah Collier struggled early in the college basketball season, but quietly turned things around and finished well after an injury. He dropped down draft boards and has not been able to fully recover, perhaps influenced by the disappointment surrounding his team and former coach, Andy Enfield, now at SMU.
The 6-foot-5 PG is capable of initiating the offense, and could continue building on his improved efficiency numbers. The No. 1 player in the On3 Industry rankings has plenty left to unlock.
on3.com
Boy I hope Musselman is a good coach. The B1G is no slouch in BKB.