The sight of vibrant leaves falling from the trees and the feeling of cooler winds marks a simple change of season and wardrobe for most. But for college basketball fans nationwide, a new chapter in the exciting saga of college hoops is underway.

For USC, the hiring of men’s basketball head coach Eric Musselman and his drastic roster overhaul, including 16 new players, left many Trojan fans unsure of what to expect. But with a resounding 77-51 victory over the Chattanooga Mocs in their season opener, Trojan fans can only hope there is more of this to come.

The addition of Musselman brings defensive toughness that USC desperately needed, as they were ranked among the worst in the country in defensive rebounding last year. However, with the addition of new muscle to the roster, the Musselman era of SC hoops has taken a step in the right direction.

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On the contrary, women’s basketball is entering its season with enormous expectations. They are already known to be contenders, winning the Pacific-12 tournament last year and qualifying for the Elite 8.

With the addition of graduate transfers Kiki Iriafen and Talia von Oelhoffen, women’s basketball has the potential to accomplish what hasn’t been done since Cheryl Miller’s 1984 team, i.e. bring the equipment back to where the championships shine the most, the City of Angels. .

Women’s basketball opened its official season with a dominant 55-point victory over Cal Poly on Saturday. Six players scored in double figures, but the highlight of the night was senior forward Rayah Marshall scoring her 1,000th point. Women’s basketball looks to continue building on what it hopes will be a special season.

Even though there are always X’s and O’s to correct, expectations remain high. USC’s journey to the NCAA Tournament begins now.