Over the past few days, USC men's basketball teamWe were helped by the acquisition of Robert Morris transfer guard Cam Woods. Learn a lot about how the college basketball landscape is changing. But Sunday was the first time we saw how it would impact the USC basketball team on the court.
Woods had to debut as a Trojan in USC's final non-conference game against UC Santa Cruz, it's a vital opportunity for him to get acclimated to playing for the Trojans before he finds himself in the thick of conference play in just a week.
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Here's everything we've learned about Woods' game and USC's plans for his future.
Woods' place in the rotation
USC's rotation against the Banana Slugs should be taken with a grain of salt because it was far from normal. Gabe Dines was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time, USC regulars saw their minutes reduced and the starters saw some game action.
The way Woods was used against a DIII opponent in a game the Trojans knew they could easily win is not indicative of his permanent spot in the rotation.
Meaningful minutes
However, he played 22 minutes off the bench, more than most USC starters. Ryan Cornish started better than him but played fewer minutes. Jordan Marsh came off the bench and played more minutes, leading the Trojans with 25 minutes played. Woods' place in the rotation will always be judged in the context of how much the rest of the Trojans play, which is why I'm talking about it.
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Let's get back to this conversation about what Woods' place in the rotation will be after USC plays Michigan on Jan. 2. This will give us a much better idea of what to expect.
Woods is a hard-working and energetic player.
When Woods was on the court, he played hard and impacted the game in almost every aspect. He grabbed 6 rebounds despite being only 6'2″, dished out 6 assists and recorded 3 steals.
He showed a fair amount of emotion and cheered on his teammates, excited as if it was a postseason game despite the weak opponent. I believe he will continue to lead by example and ignite his Trojan teammates with great energy and effort throughout the season.
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Woods has a great vision for the game and is fun to watch.
Speaking of Woods' six assists, he showed remarkable rhythm, timing and court vision for a guy playing his first game for a new team halfway through its season.
Woods' passing ability was on full display in the first few minutes of the second half. He gave Gabe Dines and Ezra Osar a couple of great dishes to set up dunks for highlights. Woods' connection to Ausar seems especially strong early on, as Woods found Ausar for easy baskets on several occasions.
Woods also hit a nice putt to Jerry Easter II late in the game.
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Woods needs to get back into scoring rhythm
It is important to note that Woods did not score in this game. He went 0-5 from the field and 0-2 from 3-point range.
For obvious reasons, shooting at full speed in college basketball is very different from shooting or even scrimmaging. Maintaining the stamina, stamina and poise required to throw in the game requires constant practice. Woods will likely need a few games before he can be an effective scorer for the Trojans.
Experience can pay off
But with five years of college basketball experience under his belt, it shouldn't be too difficult for Woods to find that path again.
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The Trojans aren't necessarily in dire need of goals after putting up great offense throughout their non-conference play.
Woods and Musselman predict the future
In the postgame press conference following USC's win over UC Santa Cruz, Cam Woods and head coach Eric Musselman spoke at length about what to expect from Woods once he finishes the season with the Trojans.
Musselman had this to say about the impact Woods will have:
“He’ll make us run more,” Musselman said. “He will allow us to make a lot more plays in transition than we have because he has the mentality to go forward and pass first. Today he leads the team in assists. He's a guy who will really, really help us. He is a player who passes well and intercepts the ball.”
Woods had this to say about what he believes he brings to the Trojans:
“I just carry that energy and that dog,” Woods said. “I feel like this is what the team needs. Of course we're good, but I want to be that extra step that gets us over the hump, especially going into conference play.”
Added information
Woods also shared some interesting information about how reuniting with his former Robert Morris teammate Amarion Dickerson helped him choose USC:
“Definitely a lot. I hate that he's hurt. We definitely have a connection on and off the court, but it helps me knowing that he's in my ear and that he can help me with anything. I was there for him last year against Robert Morris, who came from JUCO. He played JUCO and his first D1 year was last year, so now the roles are reversed. He's helped me now, so I definitely like the guy, and I feel good about it.” to be here with him.”
Musselman and Woods discussed many of the elements I saw in terms of energy and vision for the site. I'm excited to continue learning about his game and hope to see him reunite with Dickerson on the court once Dickerson is fully recovered.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC basketball guard Cam Woods changes lineup for rookie season
