The story didn’t go how USC fans wanted in 2024-25. In Eric Musselman’s first year as head coach, the Trojans finished with a 17–18 overall record and just seven wins in conference play. Nobody expected it to be smooth right away.
Musselman started with a gutted roster. Transfers came in late, giving him hardly any time to build chemistry. This season was supposed to be different: Musselman could finally show why he went 111–59 at Arkansas. But just as things looked decent, everything seemed to fall apart.
What Does Alijah Arenas’ Injury Mean for Eric Musselman and USC?
The biggest news is that Musselman’s best guard, USC’s five-star recruit Alijah Arenas, won’t play anytime soon. Arenas, the son of Gilbert Arenas, was one of the top prospects for USC, reclassifying to get on the team a year early. Now, he needs knee surgery.
The recovery is set for about six to eight months, which could mean Arenas misses the whole campaign. But not everyone is panicking. Jon Rothstein, a college hoops insider, still sees hope.
Rothstein recently posted his prediction on X: “USC will not have a traditional PG without Alijah Arenas,” he wrote. “But there will be good positional size for the Trojans 1-4. Similar in makeup to Eric Musselman’s teams at Nevada and Arkansas.”
USC will not have a traditional PG without Alijah Arenas, but there will be good positional size for the Trojans 1-4.
Similar in makeup to Eric Musselman’s teams at Nevada and Arkansas.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 25, 2025
This team’s makeup could be the reason to stay optimistic. Musselman is used to tough rosters. He built a 110–34 record at Nevada and led the Wolf Pack to multiple NCAA appearances before his time at Arkansas.
While at Arkansas, Musselman took his teams to back-to-back Elite Eights and a Sweet 16. He seems to thrive in chaos. In 2023, his Arkansas squad, seeded eighth, knocked off No. 1 Kansas in the Round of 32, the defending national champs that year.
That win pushed Arkansas to its third straight Sweet 16 and showed Musselman’s knack for turning momentum into results. Now the big question: Can Musselman find a way to top last year’s finish with Arenas sidelined?
Who Will Step Up for USC With Arenas Out?
Musselman has better depth this time around. With Arenas out, he might lean on Jordan Marsh. Marsh stands 5-foot-10 and made a name for himself as the Big South Newcomer of the Year last year.
He averaged nearly 19 points per game and played well under pressure. But there is competition. Marsh’s 18.8 points per game and his leading the Big South in conference with 23.1 points per outing at UNC Asheville make his case. Musselman usually trusts his vets, but if Marsh can handle the game and the heat, Musselman could try something different.
“The only way to differentiate yourself is all of the little details” – Eric Musselman
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) July 18, 2025
Then there’s Jerry Easter II. Easter led Link Academy to a Nike EYBL Scholastic title and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team. He’s been a Mr. Basketball finalist twice and was a McDonald’s All-American nominee. Easter, joining as a freshman alongside Arenas, now has a chance to prove himself with this opening.
It isn’t easy, especially with Ryan Cornish on the roster. Cornish, coming from Dartmouth, brings experience. He scored in double digits for 25 out of 27 games in the 2024-25 season and earned First Team All-Ivy League honors. He’s a 1,000-point career scorer, has multiple 28-point games, and helped lead Dartmouth to its first Ivy Madness appearance.
With so many options, USC has a challenging puzzle to piece together. But this is nothing new for Musselman. He went through plenty of rebuilds at Arkansas, landed key transfers, and turned unheralded players into tournament winners.
USC’s 2025 season may look different from what was planned, but if the past says anything, Musselman always finds a new story to tell.
