In a deeply talented pool of collegiate basketball, USC’s impressive early-season resume has been met with curious silence.
The Trojans cracked the AP Top 25 poll at No. 24 this week, which marks their first ranking since November 2023. The team’s 7-0 record matches their best opening since the 2021-22 season where they began 13-0. However, the Trojans are conspicuously absent from the national conversation.
Never mind that they’ve won several straight games. Never mind that they captured the Southwest Maui Invitational Championship last Wednesday. And never mind that they’re putting up numbers that place them among the NCAA’s elite.
The Trojans are first in the nation in made free throws per game (23.0), second in free throw attempts (32.3) and third in blocks (7.4). They’ve averaged 91.9 points per game, good for 21st nationally and second in the Big Ten. They’re also one of just 25 undefeated teams remaining in college basketball.
The team’s record is a reflection of their relentlessness. The Trojans have clawed out three one-possession victories in their past four contests, proving they can win with grit and composure.
In Hawaii, USC’s depth and resilience was on display with junior guard Rodney Rice sidelined due to a shoulder injury sustained in the semifinal game.
Yet somehow, the narrative hasn’t caught up to the numbers.
Graduate guard Chad Baker-Mazara, the tournament’s MVP, rose to the occasion with 23 points on 56% shooting. Graduate forward Jaden Brownell delivered a season-high 16 points, hitting crucial shots when the game hung in the balance. Sophomore forward Jacob Cofie anchored the defense with three blocks and interior pressure that stifled Arizona State’s offensive rhythm.
Cofie is fourth in the conference in blocks per game (2.43), and Rice is dishing out six assists per game, fifth-best in the Big Ten. He is also averaging 20.3 points tied with Baker-Mazara for 30th in the nation.Senior forward Ezra Ausar leads the conference and ranks sixth nationally with a 69.9% field goal percentage.
These players aren’t just solid contributors. They are difference-makers performing at an elite level on a national stage.
The Trojans have built something special in these opening seven games—a balanced attack, defensive tenacity and championship pedigree.
But the questions are legitimate: Can USC’s hot start translate against the grind of Big Ten competition?
The Trojans are positioned seventh in the 18-member conference with powerhouses No. 1 Purdue and No. 3 Michigan leading in the poll. No. 7 Michigan State boasts a physical offensive attack capable of dismantling opposing defenses.
Tomorrow night in Eugene is the first opportunity for the Trojans to make their mark on the Big Ten. Win there and the narrative starts to shift. String together victories in Big Ten play, and suddenly, the nation has no choice but to notice.
The team has earned the right to prove themselves on a bigger stage. Now it’s time to see whether this quiet storm can make some noise.