Adonis Ratliff absolutely exploded for 25 points in his collegiate debut, alongside Alijah Arenas’ 21 points and a career-high eight rebounds, as No. 21 Southern California absolutely rolled Milwaukee 95-63 to kick off their season Monday night. Talk about making a statement right out of the gate, this Trojans squad looks like the real deal from jump.
The Ratliff Twins Are Straight Up Dominant
If you didn’t know the name Adonis Ratliff before Monday, you sure do now. Not only did he drop 25 points in his very first college game, but he did it efficiently, shooting 7 of 10 from the field, including a ridiculous 5 of 7 from beyond the arc. He wasn’t just a scorer either, adding six rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals. This kid was everywhere! And get this, his twin brother, Darius Ratliff, also made his debut, adding 14 points and a whopping five blocks. These guys, sons of former NBA veteran Theo Ratliff, are part of a decorated freshman class, and they just put the entire league on notice. USC’s offense as a whole was cooking, shooting 56.9% from the field and draining 12 of 22 three-pointers. Good luck trying to stop that.
This USC Defense Is No Joke Either
While the offense was spectacular, let’s not overlook how suffocating USC’s defense was. They never trailed in the game, a testament to their relentless pressure. In the first half alone, they shot 53.6% while forcing the Panthers into nine turnovers, six of which came in a rapid 5:10 span. That kind of lockdown D led to a crushing 15-0 run midway through the half, holding Milwaukee scoreless for over seven minutes! They went into halftime up 46-29, and the game was effectively over. Rodney Rice also made a huge return from a season-ending shoulder injury last year, chipping in 15 points and nine assists in his first game back, while KJ Lewis added another 10 points. Milwaukee’s Amare Hereford (14 points) and Tre Norman (13 points) tried to keep pace, but it was a tough night, made even tougher when guard John Lovelace Jr. injured his left leg in the second half and couldn’t return.
USC (1-0) is now 3-0 in season openers under coach Eric Musselman, and they look every bit like a top-25 team. Next up, they’ll host Wichita State on Sunday. Can they keep this momentum rolling and show the league this dominant opener wasn’t a fluke? You’re gonna want to tune in.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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