Eric Musselman’s first full offseason is drawing to a close. Armed with only one returner from last season, the USC men’s basketball head coach has developed a team that he describes as “super unselfish”.
That one returner is graduate forward Terrance Williams II, and he’s excited about how the Trojans have gotten bigger down low and gained more shooting in the offseason.
“We got big fours, fives, big threes,” Williams said after practice Wednesday. “I think we didn’t have that last year… [and] we didn’t really have that much shooting at the guard position outside of a couple [of] players.”
Currently at the guard position, junior UNC Asheville transfer Jordan Marsh is finding his place in the USC rotation. He says that he considers coming to USC “a big jump, especially coming from a mid-major school,” but he doesn’t seem to play with any trepidation on the court.
To supplement the Trojans’ post presence, Musselman has brought in 7′4″ junior center Gabe Dynes. Dynes led the nation in blocks (104) last season at Youngstown State and could play a key role in this new-look lineup.
When asked about how he contends with Dynes’ sheer size and rebounding, all Marsh could do was laugh.
“Me,” he said, “I’m not going down there with Gabe.”
A standout that’s impressed Musselman so far? Auburn transfer and graduate guard Chad Baker-Mazara, who awed in practice with his high-flying and seemingly-impossible trick shots.
“[I’m] trying to let the guys know, ‘Don’t even let him get an attempt up if you’re going against him,’” Musselman said. “I don’t know how to describe it. It’s falling down. It’s not the right rotation. It’s legs going one way, and arms going another way, but it goes in.”
Playmakers like Baker-Mazara will be key for the Trojans as Williams recovers from a wrist injury he sustained early last season. It’s been a frustrating road back and rehab has been longer than expected, but he wants to be back in top shape for USC’s exhibition opener at LMU on Oct. 18.
That exhibition matchup is the first of two for the Trojans this season, after which they’ll travel to Grand Canyon to take on the Lopes. USC then hosts Cal Poly at Galen Center for its season opener, set for Nov. 3.