On Saturday, the USC men’s basketball team fell 84-76 to Washington in its Big Ten home opener. It was the Trojans’ first loss of the season after opening the year 8-0.
What did we learn from the game? Here are a few key takeaways:
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Talk about a choke
USC led this game by 18 points at halftime, and by 10 with under seven minutes remaining. It was an inexcusable choke job by the Trojans, who found a way to lose a game that they seemingly had in hand.
The opposite of football
One pattern that we have seen with the USC football team in 2025 has been halftime adjustments. The Trojans have struggled early in numerous games, but they have generally played much better in the second half. Well, the basketball team seems to be the opposite, as the Trojans played a great first half and a terrible final 20 minutes.
Old friends revenge
During the offseason, USC saw two of its top players from last season in Desmond Claude and Wesley Yates III transfer to Washington. In their return to Galen Center, the two showed out, combining for 38 points.
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Pump the breaks
After starting off the season 8-0, there was a bit of hype around USC men’s basketball, as the Trojans entered the AP top 25 for the first time in more than two years. USC may still be a very good team. But it might be wise to pump the breaks on the hype train a little bit, at least until the Trojans prove that they can win games on a consistent basis.
Up next
The Trojans are back in action on Tuesday night when they travel down the Coast for a Game at San Diego. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. Pacific time on ESPN2.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC men’s basketball falls 84-76 to Washington: Key takeaways
