USC has played only two games so far this basketball season, but it is hard to ignore how exciting this journey could become over the next several months. The star talent the Trojans have has rarely been higher, and Eric Musselman's team is very clearly fueled by the star guard play from Alijah Arenas and Rodney Rice.
My overreaction take for the week is that the USC Trojans' backcourt will be the best in the country this season. In the second game of the season, it was clear what both Rodney Rice and Alijah Arenas will provide for the Trojans. Alijah Arenas is an elite scorer at any level. His development and maturity have been evident. His 6-foot-7 height does not get in the way of how smoothly he plays.
In Game 1 against Milwaukee, he scored
an easy 21 points on 8-for-14 shooting. Game 1 was just a brief flash of what was to come. On Sunday in Game 2 against Wichita State Arenas put it all together and scored 30 points. He will be the Trojans' lead guy who wants the ball late in games. USC will be very comfortable with Arenas taking the big shots in the important moments.
Arenas's running mate, senior guard Rodney Rice, is an elite facilitator who can also score. In both games this season, Rice has had 9 assists. He is a playmaker who is always looking to make the game easier for his teammates. He has no problem taking shots when he gets going, either. Rice had a game-high 32 points Sunday night against Wichita State.
Rodney Rice and Alijah Arenas made history as the first USC teammates to have 30 points in a game since 2015. I do not think these 2 will have a lot of games where they are this productive, but I think Rice will have a lot of games where he has 9 assists, and Arenas will have a lot of 20-point games. These 2 play off each other and also mold into what the team needs from them. Against a very good Wichita State team, the Trojans needed both of them to drop 30, and they answered the bell.
It is still very early in the season, but with the hot start from these 2, there is no ceiling on what they can do together this season. That is very exciting for Eric Musselman and Trojans hoops as a whole. The Trojans could be a force this season off the backs of their star guard duo.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: It is already clear: Alijah Arenas and Rodney Rice are special USC duo
