USC Basketball: Trojans Enter Season Ranked 21st

The University of Southern California men's basketball team enters the 2026-27 season ranked No. 21 in the AP Top 25.

This preseason placement follows a campaign last year where the Trojans finished 12th in the Big Ten Conference. The squad retains core experience through three key players: 6-foot-5 guard Rodney Rice, 6-foot-7 guard Alijah Arenas, and 6-foot-10 forward Jacob Cofie. The roster also includes three freshmen who earned McDonald's All-American honors: Christian Collins and twins Adonis and Darius Ratliff.

Head coach Eric Musselman attributes the team's foundation to the veterans. "It starts with our three returners," Musselman said. "I think that between Rodney and Alijah and Jacob, they've really set the tone and the foundation."

Arenas faces scrutiny after a difficult freshman year. A torn meniscus kept him out for roughly the first half of last season, and a serious single-car crash in April 2025 hospitalized him for six days due to smoke inhalation. His shooting percentages were 34.1% from the field and 21.3% from three-point range. The son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas focused on rebuilding confidence during the offseason. "Rodney and Coach are actually the ones that kind of brought me back to myself," Arenas said. "Getting me back in the gym, keeping me here, showing me there's still hope. I'm still alive."

Rotational decisions will be complex due to the depth of talent. Musselman has already used two different starting lineups in three exhibition games. The combination of Rice, Arenas, Cofie, and the Ratliff twins appeared in two of those games. Rice, Arenas, and Cofie are expected to start consistently. Two players are currently injured: 7-foot-1 center Eric Reibe, who is recovering from foot surgery and expected back in January, and 6-foot-9 forward Christian Collins, whose return timeline is unknown.

The Ratliff twins, sons of former NBA All-Star Theo Ratliff, have inserted themselves into the starting lineup. Adonis Ratliff is 6-foot-11, while Darius Ratliff is 7-foot. In the exhibitions, Adonis recorded eight points and six rebounds in two starts. Darius posted 27 points and 16 rebounds in three starts. Arenas noted the unique physical presence of the pair. "They bring energy, they bring size, they bring athleticism," Arenas said. "They're very unique. Like, I've never played with guys that are two seven-footers that are always in the paint."

The team seeks to maintain the physicality that drove last season's performance. USC averaged 18.8 points per game from the free-throw line. Ezra Ausar, a 6-foot-9 forward and one of the team's most aggressive players, signed with the Miami Heat on Oct. 15. The current roster features six players who are 6-foot-10 or taller. Musselman acknowledges the youth of the group. "We're pretty young. If you look at our top seven in the rotation, we have a young group," Musselman said. "Physicality is something we're still growing."

The Trojans open the season against Milwaukee at the Galen Center. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. Monday. The game will be available on Big Ten Plus, USCTrojans.com, and radio.