The USC Trojans men's basketball enter the 2026 season with something to prove and, more importantly, the roster to back it up. After a frustrating 2025 campaign under Eric Musselman, the Trojans are flipping the narrative with one of the more complete offseasons in the Big Ten. This time a year ago, USC was trying to make a brand-new transfer-heavy roster work on the fly. Now, it’s building with purpose and gaining ground on rival UCLA Bruins men's basketball in the process. Last season told a very different story. USC opened 12-1 and looked like a legitimate contender early, even winning the Southwest Maui Invitational. But injuries derailed momentum, leading to an 18-14 finish and a missed NCAA Tournament. Nov 14, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Southern California Trojans guard Rodney Rice (1) shoots a free throw during the first half of the Hall of Fame Series game against the Illinois State Redbirds at Intuit Dome.…