University Southern California Trojans
Wednesday, November 11
Berkeley, Calif.
8:00 p.m. PT
USC
at
California
Photo by: John McGillen
November 09, 2026 | Men's Basketball
The 273rd matchup between the former conference foes will be nationally televised.
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — The No. 21 USC Men's Basketball team wraps up a two-game road trip with a matchup against former conference foe California in Haas Pavilion on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
ESPN2 will televise the game at 8:00 p.m. PT. All pertinent links will be on the men's basketball team's schedule page on usctrojans.com.
USC returns to Haas Pavilion to face Cal for the first time since the two teams were in the Pac-12 in 2023-24. The Trojans haven't won a road game against Cal since Nov. 30, 2022. This will be the second non-conference matchup between the two teams since the old Pac-12 disbanded; Cal beat USC 71-66 back in the 2024-25 season.
The Trojans are coming off an emphatic 93-86, neutral-site win over Wichita State in Stateline, Nev., which saw them overcome foul trouble, turn the Shockers over 20 times and pull ahead late thanks to 32 points from Rodney Rice and 30 from Alijah Arenas. Both guards set career highs and became the first USC duo since 2015 to finish with 30 points apiece. For his efforts, Alijah Arenas was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for the first time in his career.
From here, USC will kick off a three-game homestand, starting on Sunday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 4:00 p.m. All pertinent information can be found on the men's basketball team's schedule page on usctrojans.com.
STARTING STRONG
After Sunday's win over Wichita State, Coach Eric Musselman is 21-2 in games during the first seven days of the season. A win over Cal would make this the 10th straight season Musselman's teams have started 3-0.
30-PIECES
In USC's win over Wichita State, Rodney Rice and Alijah Arenas set new career highs with 32 and 30 points, respectively. This was the second time in program history that two players scored 30 or more points. The last time this feat occurred was in a 98-94 triple-overtime loss to Colorado on Jan. 29, 2015.
B1G WEEK FOR ALIJAH
Sophomore guard Alijah Arenas earned his first-career Big Ten Player of the Week award after averaging 25.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while setting two career highs. In the season opener, Arenas finished with 21 points and a career-high eight rebounds. Most recently against Wichita State, Arenas set a new career high with 30 points.
ZERO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
So far, Alijah Arenas is one of the most effective scorers in the nation. He is averaging 25.5 points — on 56.3% shooting — and has shot 50% or better from the floor in both games. His 25.5 points per game rank No. 15 in the nation, while his 18 made field goals rank No. 33 and his 51 points rank No. 55, as of Nov. 9.
HOT ROD
Rodney Rice's career-high 32 points against Wichita State were the third most by a Trojan under Head Coach Eric Musselman. His 17 made free throws were the most by a Trojan since Onyeka Okongwu had 17 against Pepperdine on Nov. 19, 2019. Rice has also finished one assist shy of tying his career high of 10 in both games.
TOP-25 TROJANS
The Trojans held steady at No. 21 in the AP Top 25 rankings after going 2-0 to start the season. This year was the first time since the 2023-24 season that USC began the season in the Preseason AP Top 25 rankings. It is also the highest ranking for the team under Head Coach Eric Musselman.
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.
GROWING UP FAST
Adonis Ratliff recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds against Wichita State, becoming one of 16 Division I freshmen to record a double-double as of Nov. 9. His 13 rebounds are tied for the third-most by a Trojan under Eric Musselman. Additionally, he is the first Trojan freshman to grab 13 rebounds in a single game since Evan Mobley did so in USC's second-round NCAA Tournament win over Kansas on March 22, 2021.
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. He is coming off his first career double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds against Wichita State.
I'M CHECKING KENPOM.COM
Despite the small sample size, USC has improved on its KenPom rankings through the first week of the season. As of Nov. 9, USC is up to No. 34 overall, while its offense ranks No. 33 and its defense ranks No. 32. In the preseason rankings, the Trojans checked in at No. 36 in the overall rankings, No. 41 in offensive efficiency and No. 31 in defensive efficiency.
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, 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.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN BEARS
ESPN2 will televise the game at 8:00 p.m. PT. All pertinent links will be on the men's basketball team's schedule page on usctrojans.com.
USC returns to Haas Pavilion to face Cal for the first time since the two teams were in the Pac-12 in 2023-24. The Trojans haven't won a road game against Cal since Nov. 30, 2022. This will be the second non-conference matchup between the two teams since the old Pac-12 disbanded; Cal beat USC 71-66 back in the 2024-25 season.
The Trojans are coming off an emphatic 93-86, neutral-site win over Wichita State in Stateline, Nev., which saw them overcome foul trouble, turn the Shockers over 20 times and pull ahead late thanks to 32 points from Rodney Rice and 30 from Alijah Arenas. Both guards set career highs and became the first USC duo since 2015 to finish with 30 points apiece. For his efforts, Alijah Arenas was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for the first time in his career.
From here, USC will kick off a three-game homestand, starting on Sunday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 4:00 p.m. All pertinent information can be found on the men's basketball team's schedule page on usctrojans.com.
STARTING STRONG
After Sunday's win over Wichita State, Coach Eric Musselman is 21-2 in games during the first seven days of the season. A win over Cal would make this the 10th straight season Musselman's teams have started 3-0.
30-PIECES
In USC's win over Wichita State, Rodney Rice and Alijah Arenas set new career highs with 32 and 30 points, respectively. This was the second time in program history that two players scored 30 or more points. The last time this feat occurred was in a 98-94 triple-overtime loss to Colorado on Jan. 29, 2015.
B1G WEEK FOR ALIJAH
Sophomore guard Alijah Arenas earned his first-career Big Ten Player of the Week award after averaging 25.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while setting two career highs. In the season opener, Arenas finished with 21 points and a career-high eight rebounds. Most recently against Wichita State, Arenas set a new career high with 30 points.
ZERO SOPHOMORE SLUMP
So far, Alijah Arenas is one of the most effective scorers in the nation. He is averaging 25.5 points — on 56.3% shooting — and has shot 50% or better from the floor in both games. His 25.5 points per game rank No. 15 in the nation, while his 18 made field goals rank No. 33 and his 51 points rank No. 55, as of Nov. 9.
HOT ROD
Rodney Rice's career-high 32 points against Wichita State were the third most by a Trojan under Head Coach Eric Musselman. His 17 made free throws were the most by a Trojan since Onyeka Okongwu had 17 against Pepperdine on Nov. 19, 2019. Rice has also finished one assist shy of tying his career high of 10 in both games.
TOP-25 TROJANS
The Trojans held steady at No. 21 in the AP Top 25 rankings after going 2-0 to start the season. This year was the first time since the 2023-24 season that USC began the season in the Preseason AP Top 25 rankings. It is also the highest ranking for the team under Head Coach Eric Musselman.
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.
GROWING UP FAST
Adonis Ratliff recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds against Wichita State, becoming one of 16 Division I freshmen to record a double-double as of Nov. 9. His 13 rebounds are tied for the third-most by a Trojan under Eric Musselman. Additionally, he is the first Trojan freshman to grab 13 rebounds in a single game since Evan Mobley did so in USC's second-round NCAA Tournament win over Kansas on March 22, 2021.
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. He is coming off his first career double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds against Wichita State.
I'M CHECKING KENPOM.COM
Despite the small sample size, USC has improved on its KenPom rankings through the first week of the season. As of Nov. 9, USC is up to No. 34 overall, while its offense ranks No. 33 and its defense ranks No. 32. In the preseason rankings, the Trojans checked in at No. 36 in the overall rankings, No. 41 in offensive efficiency and No. 31 in defensive efficiency.
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, 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.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN BEARS
- California is searching for its first NCAA Tournament appearance in its fourth season under Head Coach Mark Madsen. Last year, California made the second round of the NIT and finished 22-12 — the program's first 20-win season since 2017.
- The Golden Bears were picked 15th in the ACC Preseason Poll.
- California has four double-figure scorers so far: Michael Cooper (19.7 points per game), Nojus Indrusaitis (18.7), Jordan Ross (11.7) and Sammie Yeanay (11.0). Of that quartet, Yeanay is the only returner from last season.
- Cal is one of the nation's most prolific three-point shooting teams. The Golden Bears rank No. 23 in three-point percentage (44%) and No. 27 in made three-pointers per game (12.3).
- Through the first week of the season, sophomore guard Michael Cooper is one of the nation's best three-point shooters. He leads the nation with 15 made threes, ranks No. 7 with five made threes per game and has made on 62.5% of his attempts, which ranks No. 39 in the country.
Players Mentioned
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