University Southern California Trojans
Sunday, November 8
Stateline, Nev.
8:00 p.m. PT
USC
vs
Wichita State
Photo by: Amara Grover
November 06, 2026 | Men's Basketball
The Shockers are the first of five top-100 KenPom teams USC faces in the non-conference slate.
LOS ANGELES — Hitting the road for the first time this season, the No. 21 USC Men's Basketball Team will play Wichita State in Stateline, Nev. during the inaugural Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic on Sunday, Nov. 8.
The game will be televised on the CW Network at 8:00 p.m. PT. All pertinent links will be on the men's basketball team's schedule page on usctrojans.com.
Sunday's matchup against Wichita State will be the first leg of a two-game road trip, which ends with a game at former Pac-12 foe California on Nov. 11. Both games are expected to be at least Quad. 2 games in the first NET rankings of the season, which will be revealed later in December.
Making the trip up to the Lake Tahoe area will carry extra importance for Head Coach Eric Musselman, who will be making his return to northern Nevada — the place where he began his collegiate head coaching career. Musselman led the Nevada Wolf Pack to three NCAA Tournaments and a CBI title from 2016-19. During his tenure, the program achieved its highest-ever ranking in the AP Top 25 and three players eventually ended up in the NBA. Prior to his time at Nevada, Musselman's first stint in Reno was coaching the D-League Reno Bighorns in 2010-11.
USC is coming off a season-opening 95-63 win over Milwaukee on Monday. In a game where USC never trailed, the Trojans led by as many as 36 and put together solid showings on both sides of the ball. The Trojans made 33 field goals off 25 assists while recording 12 steals, which were the third and second-most by USC under Head Coach Eric Musselman, respectively. The Trojans shot 56.9% from the field and 54.5% from three.
Individually, five Trojans finished in double figures, and the Ratliff twins, Adonis and Darius, made history in their debuts.
Adonis Ratliff's game-high 25 points were the most by a Trojan in their collegiate debut since O.J. Mayo scored 32 points in his collegiate debut in 2007. He was one of three first-year players to score at least 25 points in his first collegiate game, trailing Kingston Tosi of Utah State and tying Alex Constanza of Pepperdine. Additionally, his five threes were the most by any first-year freshman in their debut.
Not to be overshadowed, his twin brother Darius finished with 14 points and five blocks, the latter of which were the most by a USC freshman in a collegiate debut since Onyeka Okongwu had eight blocks in 2019.
TOP-25 TROJANS
For the first time since the 2023-24 season, USC was ranked No. 21 in the Preseason AP Top 25 rankings. This is not only the first time the Trojans have made the preseason national rankings, but also the highest ranking for the team under Head Coach Eric Musselman. USC was one of five Big Ten teams ranked in the AP Poll.
ARENAS EARNS PRESEASON RECOGNITION
Sophomore guard Alijah Arenas was one of 20 players named to the Preseason Jerry West Award Watch List. The Jerry West Award is given to the top shooting guard in Division I. He is the second Trojan to earn a spot on this list, joining Rodney Rice, who made the Preseason Jerry West Award Watch List last year.
RICE MAKES PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Senior guard Rodney Rice made the 11-man Preseason All-Big Ten Team. He is the first player under Head Coach Eric Musselman to earn all-conference preseason recognition. One of the most dynamic point guards in the conference, Last season, Rice averaged 20.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and a team-high 6.0 assists in six games before a shoulder surgery cut his season short.
DOMINANT DEBUT
Adonis Ratliff was one of three first-year players in the nation to score 25 or more points in their collegiate debut. His 25 points trailed only Utah State freshman Kingston Tosi's 26 points and tied Pepperdine freshman Alex Constanza's 25 points. Additionally, Ratliff's five made threes in his debut led the nation.
HISTORY MADE
Twins Adonis and Darius Ratliff kicked off their collegiate careers in historic fashion against Milwaukee. Adonis Ratliff's 25-point night was the most by a Trojan freshman in a collegiate debut since O.J. Mayo scored 32 points in 2007. Darius Ratliff's five blocks were the most by a Trojan freshman in a collegiate debut since Onyeka Okongwu had eight blocks in 2019.
TEAM EFFORT
The Trojans dished out 25 assists on 33 made field goals against Milwaukee. USC's 25 assists were the third-most by the Trojans in a single game under Musselman. On defense, USC's 12 steals tied the most by a USC team under Musselman.
STARTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT
After Monday's win over Milwaukee, Coach Eric Musselman is 11-1 in season-openers, including a 3-0 record at USC. His teams are a combined 20-2 in games during the first seven days of the season.
A SORT OF HOMECOMING
Sunday's game in Stateline, Nev. will be Head Coach Eric Musselman's return to the Reno, Nev. area — the place where he began his college head coaching career at the University of Nevada. Musselman brought the Nevada men's basketball program to unprecedented heights over his four-year tenure, which saw the Wolf Pack make three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances — including a Sweet Sixteen appearance — send three players to the NBA and achieve the program's best-ever ranking in the AP Poll.
Prior to his collegiate coaching career, Musselman was the head coach of the NBA D-League Reno Bighorns in 2010-11, where he led the team to a 34-16 record and coached future NBA veterans Jeremy Lin and Hassan Whiteside.
FROM THE JUMP
USC is 1-0 in winning the opening tip this season. The Trojans are 1-for-1 in scoring on their first possession.
SCOUTING THE SHOCKERS
The game will be televised on the CW Network at 8:00 p.m. PT. All pertinent links will be on the men's basketball team's schedule page on usctrojans.com.
Sunday's matchup against Wichita State will be the first leg of a two-game road trip, which ends with a game at former Pac-12 foe California on Nov. 11. Both games are expected to be at least Quad. 2 games in the first NET rankings of the season, which will be revealed later in December.
Making the trip up to the Lake Tahoe area will carry extra importance for Head Coach Eric Musselman, who will be making his return to northern Nevada — the place where he began his collegiate head coaching career. Musselman led the Nevada Wolf Pack to three NCAA Tournaments and a CBI title from 2016-19. During his tenure, the program achieved its highest-ever ranking in the AP Top 25 and three players eventually ended up in the NBA. Prior to his time at Nevada, Musselman's first stint in Reno was coaching the D-League Reno Bighorns in 2010-11.
USC is coming off a season-opening 95-63 win over Milwaukee on Monday. In a game where USC never trailed, the Trojans led by as many as 36 and put together solid showings on both sides of the ball. The Trojans made 33 field goals off 25 assists while recording 12 steals, which were the third and second-most by USC under Head Coach Eric Musselman, respectively. The Trojans shot 56.9% from the field and 54.5% from three.
Individually, five Trojans finished in double figures, and the Ratliff twins, Adonis and Darius, made history in their debuts.
Adonis Ratliff's game-high 25 points were the most by a Trojan in their collegiate debut since O.J. Mayo scored 32 points in his collegiate debut in 2007. He was one of three first-year players to score at least 25 points in his first collegiate game, trailing Kingston Tosi of Utah State and tying Alex Constanza of Pepperdine. Additionally, his five threes were the most by any first-year freshman in their debut.
Not to be overshadowed, his twin brother Darius finished with 14 points and five blocks, the latter of which were the most by a USC freshman in a collegiate debut since Onyeka Okongwu had eight blocks in 2019.
TOP-25 TROJANS
For the first time since the 2023-24 season, USC was ranked No. 21 in the Preseason AP Top 25 rankings. This is not only the first time the Trojans have made the preseason national rankings, but also the highest ranking for the team under Head Coach Eric Musselman. USC was one of five Big Ten teams ranked in the AP Poll.
ARENAS EARNS PRESEASON RECOGNITION
Sophomore guard Alijah Arenas was one of 20 players named to the Preseason Jerry West Award Watch List. The Jerry West Award is given to the top shooting guard in Division I. He is the second Trojan to earn a spot on this list, joining Rodney Rice, who made the Preseason Jerry West Award Watch List last year.
RICE MAKES PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Senior guard Rodney Rice made the 11-man Preseason All-Big Ten Team. He is the first player under Head Coach Eric Musselman to earn all-conference preseason recognition. One of the most dynamic point guards in the conference, Last season, Rice averaged 20.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and a team-high 6.0 assists in six games before a shoulder surgery cut his season short.
DOMINANT DEBUT
Adonis Ratliff was one of three first-year players in the nation to score 25 or more points in their collegiate debut. His 25 points trailed only Utah State freshman Kingston Tosi's 26 points and tied Pepperdine freshman Alex Constanza's 25 points. Additionally, Ratliff's five made threes in his debut led the nation.
HISTORY MADE
Twins Adonis and Darius Ratliff kicked off their collegiate careers in historic fashion against Milwaukee. Adonis Ratliff's 25-point night was the most by a Trojan freshman in a collegiate debut since O.J. Mayo scored 32 points in 2007. Darius Ratliff's five blocks were the most by a Trojan freshman in a collegiate debut since Onyeka Okongwu had eight blocks in 2019.
TEAM EFFORT
The Trojans dished out 25 assists on 33 made field goals against Milwaukee. USC's 25 assists were the third-most by the Trojans in a single game under Musselman. On defense, USC's 12 steals tied the most by a USC team under Musselman.
STARTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT
After Monday's win over Milwaukee, Coach Eric Musselman is 11-1 in season-openers, including a 3-0 record at USC. His teams are a combined 20-2 in games during the first seven days of the season.
A SORT OF HOMECOMING
Sunday's game in Stateline, Nev. will be Head Coach Eric Musselman's return to the Reno, Nev. area — the place where he began his college head coaching career at the University of Nevada. Musselman brought the Nevada men's basketball program to unprecedented heights over his four-year tenure, which saw the Wolf Pack make three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances — including a Sweet Sixteen appearance — send three players to the NBA and achieve the program's best-ever ranking in the AP Poll.
Prior to his collegiate coaching career, Musselman was the head coach of the NBA D-League Reno Bighorns in 2010-11, where he led the team to a 34-16 record and coached future NBA veterans Jeremy Lin and Hassan Whiteside.
FROM THE JUMP
USC is 1-0 in winning the opening tip this season. The Trojans are 1-for-1 in scoring on their first possession.
SCOUTING THE SHOCKERS
- Wichita State is searching for its first NCAA Tournament appearance in its fifth season under Head Coach Paul Mills. Last year, Wichita State had a 24-12 record and made the second round of the NIT, where they lost to eventual NIT champion Tulsa.
- The Shockers were picked to finish atop the league in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Poll. William Berg, Jordan Frison and Dillon Battie were preseason all-league selections.
- Wichita State's roster ranks No. 7 in Division I experience, averaging 2.78 years per player. The Shockers have three players who were granted a fifth year (or more) of eligibility: Kenyon Giles, Michael Gray Jr. and sixth-year Jahari Long.
- The Shockers are coming off a 79-67 home win over CSUN that required a late, second-half surge to hold off the Matadors. Berg led the team with 26 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, while Giles chipped in 21 points and eight assists in 36 minutes while committing just one turnover.
Players Mentioned
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