Eric Musselman sets expectation for Year 1 as USC head coach

Eric Musselman has lofty goals for Year at USC after leaving Arkansas basketball. The new Trojans head coach brings the team into the Big Ten with a new identity.

It seems like Musselman’s toughness and team philosophy will mesh well with USC as the team goes into a new conference. It’s all about gritty play.

With that gritty play, comes maximum effort to make the NCAA Tournament.

“Number one, we want to play with an identity and a style, you know, we’ve been a team that’s done a great job of getting to the free throw line,” Musselman said on College Hoops Today. “We’ve been a team that historically has played man-to-man defense and played with decent pace, some years a little bit faster than others. But, you know, I mean, we talk to our team all the time about the three E’s: effort, energy, enthusiasm, and the fourth one being execution in late game. You know, how do you get people excited about your team? It’s playing with maximum effort.” 

USC made the NCAA Tournament for three straight seasons before missing it in 2024. Musselman wants to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

“Anybody that doesn’t say they want to play deep into March or try to make an NCAA tournament, I mean, that’s what we’re doing each and every day is the focus to try to be a part of the big dance,” Musselman said. “Because it is the greatest sporting event that anybody can be a part of, you know, and so that’s what we strive for. 

“And I’m sure every other team in the Big Ten is doing the same thing. Shoot I looked around that room the other day at the conference tournament in the league meetings and said even in a conference tournament, the challenges of game one are going to be unbelievable.”

It was quite the decision to go to the west coast for Musselman. He said it was pretty hard to leave Arkansas for this opportunity.

“Yeah, super hard,” Musselman said. “You know, I understood, my family understood, and our staff understood that the University of Arkansas basketball job is one of the very, very best in the country – historically and at the current time. We left a great job.

“My wife and daughter are still in Fayetteville. Heading this way later on this week to permanently move here/ The family situation? They have great friends in northwest Arkansas. So it’s not only leaving a job but you’re also leaving friends that you’ve met. It’s hard.”