The sight of vibrant leaves falling from trees and the sensation of cooler winds mark a simple seasonal and wardrobe change for most. But for nationwide collegiate basketball fans, a fresh, new chapter in the thrilling saga of college hoops is underway.

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

The addition of Musselman brings a defensive tenacity that USC desperately needed, as they were ranked one of the worst in the country in defensive rebounding last year. However, with the addition of new muscle added 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 enters its season with enormous expectations. They’ve already been known to be a contender, winning the Pacific-12 tournament last year and making it to 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 — that is, to bring the hardware back to where championships shine most, the City of Angels.

On Saturday, women’s basketball opened their official season with a dominant 55-point victory over Cal Poly. Six players scored in double figures, but the night’s highlight was senior forward Rayah Marshall scoring her 1000th point. Women’s basketball looks to continue building on what it hopes will be a special season.

Although there are always X’s and O’s to fix, the expectations remain high. USC’s journey to the NCAA tournament starts now.