Los Angeles, CA – The USC Trojans faced a major setback this week as freshman guard Alijah Arenas was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his knee, placing his entire 2025-2026 season in jeopardy. The news has left both fans and the team wondering how Coach Eric Musselman will adjust, especially since Arenas was considered the Trojans’ top recruit this year, ranked as the No. 7 overall player in his class by 247Sports.
According to college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein, who attended a recent practice, despite the loss of Arenas, Musselman still has enough talent to lead USC to the NCAA Tournament. “USC may not have a traditional point guard this season,” Rothstein remarked, “but Oakland product Musselman knows how to navigate through challenges, and the Trojans have the pieces to make a run.” Musselman previously found success with Nevada and Arkansas, taking both teams deep into the NCAA Tournament during his tenure.
Rothstein noted that USC’s roster bears similarities to Musselman’s successful teams, emphasizing their positional size and the aggressive moves the Trojans made in the transfer portal. Musselman added several players like Terrance Williams from Michigan, Rodney Rice from Maryland, Chad Baker-Mazara from Auburn, and Ezra Ausar from Utah, which provides depth and skill in their roster.
On the court, Rothstein mentioned, “With a formidable perimeter, once Williams returns to the lineup, USC is poised to compete for a tournament berth.” However, the Trojans will miss Arenas, who was seen as a crucial part of their offense.
Coach Musselman expressed his sentiments regarding Arenas, stating, “I probably feel closer to him than anybody that I’ve coached in a two-month span since he’s been on campus.” The recovery timeline for Arenas is set at around 6 to 8 months, and depending on his healing progress, he may miss a significant portion of the upcoming season.
As the Trojans prepare for the season, they hope to overcome the loss of their standout freshman while striving for a return to the NCAA Tournament, which has eluded them since 2023. The upcoming season will be a test of strength for both the team and Coach Musselman.
