5 things to watch as USC men’s basketball plays red-hot Wisconsin

It’s been a rollercoaster start to Big Ten play for the USC men’s basketball team. The Trojans suffered two embarrassing losses in Michigan, then appeared to have found their groove with two straight wins before suffering back to back home losses against top-ranked Purdue and cellar dweller Northwestern.

Cause for concern

Despite USC’s undefeated record in nonconference play, this team is starting to look a lot like last year’s team in the sense that the Trojans can compete with anyone, but also lose to teams that they should beat on paper.

So what’s the key for USC this weekend against Wisconsin? Just hoping that the better version of themselves shows up? Or are there keys to stringing together some consistency in conference play?

Let’s talk about it. Here are five things to watch as USC takes on Wisconsin in Madison on Sunday:

How will fan attendance be amidst such difficult weather in Wisconsin?

The Badgers have been a very good team at home this season. They are 10-1 in 11 games at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin is hoping that their fervent fanbase will factor into Sunday’s game; they have planned a white-out where all fans are encouraged to wear white and the first 2,000 students in attendance will receive exclusive Wisconsin branded white shirts.

But, in case you didn’t know, it is dangerously cold in Wisconsin right now. So cold that the University of Wisconsin canceled class on Friday out of concerns for student safety.

All of the Badgers’ weekend athletic events are still scheduled to take place as planned. But will Wisconsin fans brave the cold and come out to the game? It will be interesting to see — and Wisconsin’s home court advantage may have less impact if Badger fans don’t turn out.

Can USC shoot the basketball better?

USC has lost its last two games simply because the Trojans can’t buy a free throw or three-pointer. USC shot 5-14 (36%) on free throws against Purdue and 3-20 (15%) on three-pointers. Then, against Northwestern, USC shot 26-43 (60%) on free throws and 2-13 (15%) on threes.

Whether its getting out of their own heads or extra shooting practice in the gym, USC needs to get out of that slump. In the modern game, you can’t win if you can’t shoot free throws and three pointers. There is too much emphasis on outside shooting to expect to win purely based on paint scoring and defense.

Can Alijah Arenas find a scoring groove?

Alijah Arenas’s NCAA debut on Wednesday showed off the intangibles that should make him a college basketball star. He made a few highlight reel plays, showed off good court vision, took care of the basketball, immediately adjusted to the pace of the game. USC also immediately made Arenas the focal point of the Trojan offense.

But like the rest of his USC teammates, Arenas did not find his shooting stroke in his first game. He shot 3-15 from the field and 2-6 from the free throw line.

If Arenas can find his shot, the Trojans will likely have a game-changing superstar on offense. But, he needs to get into a groove quickly with USC already in conference play. He doesn’t have the luxury of getting his legs under him in some low-pressure non conference games.

Can Chad Baker-Mazara stay on the floor?

Chad Baker-Mazara has been a superstar for USC this season, but ever since Big Ten play started, he has had trouble staying on the court.

Baker-Mazara has seemingly been dealing with a neck/back injury which limited him against Michigan State and Maryland. Then, on Wednesday against Northwestern, Baker-Mazara picked up five quick fouls and played only 13 minutes. He had 14 points in those 13 minutes, seemingly headed for another superstar offensive performance. What kind of game could he have had if he played the entire contest?

USC needs Baker-Mazara to stay on the floor. Obviously injuries and refereeing are not within his control entirely, but Baker-Mazara must try to take care of his body and stay disciplined on the defensive end. Without him, USC’s offense is significantly worse.

Can USC slow down Wisconsin’s dangerous offense?

Wisconsin is on a five-game win streak largely because the Badgers are lighting it up on the offensive end. They have scored 90+ points in 3 of those 5 victories including 91 in a road upset of No. 2 Michigan.

The Badgers get scoring from all over the floor. Senior guard Nick Boyd is averaging 19.4 points per game, junior guard John Blackwell scores 18.5 points per game, and junior forward Nolan Winter scores 14.3 points per game.

Locking down an elite scoring backcourt and a 7’0” front court player is going to be a tall task for USC. Can the Trojans muster up enough defense to pull it off?

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC men’s basketball faces Wisconsin at Kohl Center on Sunday

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