The USC Trojans suffered a devastating 101-65 blowout loss to No. 10 Illinois, prompting a harsh post-game review from head coach Eric Musselman who stated his team “didn’t play well on either side of the ball.” Plagued by injuries and missing key players, the Trojans struggled against an incredibly efficient Illinois offense, further damaging their NCAA tournament hopes. This crushing defeat marked USC’s largest loss of the season and highlighted their winless record against ranked opponents.