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The difference between a Trojan and a Bruin

February 8th, 2010, 7:00 am by Michael Lev, staff writer

USC Signing Day FootballConsidering that he hasn’t said much since becoming USC coach, and just about everything he said or did at Tennessee caused a ruckus, it’s amazing that this flew relatively under the radar last week:

Lane Kiffin suggested there’s a deep-down difference between players who want to play for USC and those who prefer UCLA.

The difference is so obvious, Kiffin said, that it takes almost no time for him and his staff to recognize it.

“We know within the first 10 minutes,” Kiffin said, “whether they’re the type of guys that want to play here or there.”

Whoa! Them’s fightin’ words!

So what exactly is the difference?

Kiffin said it had a lot to do with “the questions that they ask,” the way the recruits carry themselves and a certain “feeling” he gets about them from having worked this area so long.

For example, in discussing his new group of defensive backs, Kiffin said: “One of the things I like is not one of these guys asked about a depth chart or who was here or how much can I play or worried about being able to beat people out. Those are the guys that we want to come to ‘SC. Everyone was like that, but especially this group.”

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Posted in: Football • Football recruiting • Pac-10 rivals • UCLA • • | 100 Comments »

USC basketball: Trojans 54, Cardinal 49 (final)

February 6th, 2010, 6:30 pm by Michael Lev, staff writer

Nikola Vucevic made a tip-in to put USC ahead with 20.6 seconds left, and the Trojans held off Stanford, 54-49, on Saturday at Galen Center.

USC (14-9, 6-5 Pac-10) overcame a monster performance from Pac-10 leading scorer Landry Fields, who had 27 points and 11 rebounds.

Vucevic, who missed a tip-in that could have won the previous matchup at Stanford, had 18 points and 14 rebounds.

More from the USC blog:

Posted in: Hoops • Pac-10 rivals • Stanford • • | 2 Comments »

USC basketball: Trojans 27, Cardinal 26 (halftime)

February 6th, 2010, 5:21 pm by Michael Lev, staff writer

Nikola Vucevic has 10 points and six rebounds as USC leads Stanford, 27-26, at halftime of their game at Galen Center.

Playing lockdown defense from the opening tip, the Trojans shot out to a 21-7 lead. But a subsequent lapse — coinciding with Marcus Johnson getting his second foul and leaving the game — led to a 16-1 Cardinal run.

Stanford’s Landry Fields, the leading scorer in the Pac-10, leads all scorers with 14 points. He also has a game-high nine rebounds.

More from the USC blog:

Posted in: Hoops • Pac-10 rivals • Stanford • • • | Post a Comment »

USC basketball: The Trojans’ Mr. Clutch

February 6th, 2010, 3:53 pm by Michael Lev, staff writer

Hitting four free throws in the final nine seconds against Cal on Thursday was USC forward Nikola Vucevic’s be-like-Mike moment.

As a youth, the sophomore from Montenegro remembered watching Michael Jordan hitting countless winning shots.

“You want to do that one day,” Vucevic said after those foul shots helped clinch the Trojans’ 66-63 victory.

Vucevic did it despite an injured pinkie finger on his shooting hand. He had a Velcro strap keeping his ring finger and pinkie together, and he’s wearing it again during warmups for today’s game against Stanford at Galen Center.

The injury obviously didn’t bother him.

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Posted in: Hoops • • • • • | Post a Comment »

3 observations on USC 66, Cal 63

February 5th, 2010, 7:00 am by Michael Lev, staff writer

California USC BasketballBecause of newspaper time and space limitations (which yielded this story), I wasn’t able to do USC’s victory over Cal justice. So here are three additional observations on the Trojans’ triumph Thursday night:

1. Getting a handle on Randle
I’m fairly certain the entire Galen Center held its breath when Jerome Randle launched his final 3-pointer of the night, just before the buzzer, just beyond the half-court stripe. Randle had been so hot from so deep that it wouldn’t have surprised anyone if the shot went in. It wasn’t really close, though, missing wide right. Appropriately, Marcus Simmons was right there to ensure Randle didn’t have a clean look. Although the stats would suggest otherwise (29 points, 6 of 12 3-point shooting), Randle did not have an easy time of it when Simmons guarded him. The game changed when Kevin O’Neill went to a small lineup featuring Simmons, who became USC’s “Randle Stopper” last season. Simmons gave Randle props afterward, telling him he’s the best point guard he ever has covered. Randle is the best player I’ve seen in person this season. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Cal • Hoops • Pac-10 rivals • • • | Post a Comment »

USC basketball: Trojans 66, Bears 63 (final)

February 4th, 2010, 9:36 pm by Michael Lev, staff writer

USC used a 25-0 run bridging the first and second halves to upset Cal, 66-63, at Galen Center on Thursday night.

Mike Gerrity hit two critical 3-pointers in the final minutes, and Nikola Vucevic sank four late free throws to seal the victory for the Trojans.

USC improved to 13-9, 5-5 in the Pac-10. The Trojans are one game behind Cal, which fell to 14-8, 6-4 and into a four-way tie for first with Arizona, Arizona State and UCLA.

Cal’s Jerome Randle led all scorers with 29 points, but his 3-point attempt at the buzzer from halfcourt came up short.

More from the USC blog:

Posted in: Cal • Hoops • Pac-10 rivals • • • | Post a Comment »

USC basketball: Bears 30, Trojans 27 (halftime)

February 4th, 2010, 8:22 pm by Michael Lev, staff writer

USC finished the first half on a 10-0 run to trail Cal by three points at halftime of their game at Galen Center on Thursday night.

The Golden Bears’ super-quick point guard, Jerome Randle, leads all scorers with 12 points. Dwight Lewis has nine points for the Trojans.

USC committed 13 first-half turnovers — nearly equaling its season average of 14.5.

More from the USC blog:

Posted in: Cal • Hoops • Pac-10 rivals • • | Post a Comment »

USC football: Ausmus hired as strength coach

February 4th, 2010, 6:10 pm by Michael Lev, staff writer

USC worked quickly to replace strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle, and his replacement comes to L.A. via the Knoxville pipeline.

Aaron Ausmus is the new workout guru after serving as Tennessee’s director of strength and conditioning in 2009. He oversaw all of the Volunteers’ teams, including Lane Kiffin’s footballers.

Here’s the complete release from the USC Sports Information Department:

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Posted in: Football • • • | Post a Comment »

USC basketball: O’Neill reinstates team manager

February 4th, 2010, 3:13 pm by Michael Lev, staff writer

Kevin O’Neill … softie?

OK, maybe that’s going too far. But the USC basketball coach definitely displayed his compassionate side earlier today when he reinstated graduate manager Stan Holt, whom O’Neill had booted after Holt received a technical foul during the Trojans’ loss at Oregon on Saturday.

Here are statements from O’Neill and Holt:

KEVIN O’NEILL

“I approached Stan Holt about coming back and finishing the season with us.

“He made a mistake, and it was a costly one. Although I did not hear what was said, I realize he was trying to support our team and that he cares a lot about our team. But Stan understands that he was out of line.

“Everyone deserves a second chance, and I’m willing to give him that second chance. He’s been a loyal Trojan, and he only wants the best for our team. I think this can be a valuable lesson for him.” Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Hoops • • | 4 Comments »

The mysterious case of Seantrel Henderson

February 4th, 2010, 7:00 am by Michael Lev, staff writer

henderson0203I was finished with my USC signing day story for the Register and about to depart Heritage Hall when I received a text:

“Check Pete Thamel’s Twitter.”

Uh-oh. This couldn’t be good.

Sure enough, Thamel, of the New York Times, was reporting that USC recruit Seantrel Henderson wouldn’t sign his letter of intent until after the NCAA Committee on Infractions meets Feb. 19-21.

This development falls somewhere between “no big deal” and “utterly alarming.”

If you fall into the former camp, you probably side with the Hendersons, who apparently want to see what shakes out in Tempe later this month before making a final commitment. That’s perfectly understandable. Except for this: What if there’s no news?

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Posted in: Football • Football recruiting • Investigations • NCAA • • • | 18 Comments »

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