USC opens season ranked No. 21 with a roster built on height and youth

The USC men's basketball team enters the 2026-27 campaign with a higher expectation than last year, sitting at No. 21 in the AP preseason polls after finishing 12th in the Big Ten conference. The Trojans face the University of Milwaukee at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Galen Center. This matchup marks the start of a season defined by a young core and a roster that stands out for its length.

Three veteran players form the backbone of the squad: 6-foot-5 guard Rodney Rice, 6-foot-7 guard Alijah Arenas, and 6-foot-10 forward Jacob Cofie. Head coach Eric Musselman credits these three with establishing the team's culture during the offseason. "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."

The roster also includes three incoming freshmen who were McDonald's All-Americans. Among them are twins Adonis and Darius Ratliff, sons of former NBA All-Star Theo Ratliff. Adonis is 6-foot-11 and Darius is 7-foot. Both players have already secured starting positions during the team's three exhibition games. Darius posted 27 points and 16 rebounds across those three starts, while Adonis recorded eight points and six rebounds in two starts.

Alijah Arenas faces scrutiny after a difficult freshman year. A torn meniscus kept him out for roughly the first half of last season, and he suffered a serious car accident in April 2025 that resulted in six days of hospitalization due to smoke inhalation. He shot 34.1% from the field and 21.3% from three-point range last year. Arenas says his teammates helped him rebuild his confidence during the break. "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."

Depth remains a factor in the rotation. The team has six players who are 6-foot-10 or taller. Two players currently injured are fighting for minutes. 7-foot-1 center Eric Reibe is recovering from foot surgery and is expected back in January. Freshman forward Christian Collins, who played at St. John Bosco, is also dealing with a foot injury with no set return date.

The Trojans lost key physical presence with the departure of 6-foot-9 forward Ezra Ausar, who signed with the Miami Heat on Oct. 15. Last season's team scored 18.8 points per game from the free-throw line. Musselman acknowledges the current group is younger. "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 team will lean on its size in the paint. Arenas notes the uniqueness of having two seven-footers on the floor together. "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 season begins Monday night against Milwaukee.