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Archive for the 'Taj Gibson' Tag

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USC basketball: A team well-versed in adversity

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

USC Woes BasketballIf any team can deal with heartache, confusion and disappointment, it’s the 2009-10 USC men’s basketball team.

These Trojans have been dealing with it since spring, and they’re doing just fine.

The postseason-ban portion of the school’s self-imposed sanctions might be the toughest blow yet, but these guys have proved they can take a charge and bounce back up.

Just look at what they have been through already:

  • All the underclassmen who could have returned to the team and made it a powerhouse — DeMar DeRozan, Taj Gibson and Daniel Hackett — went pro.
  • Then-coach Tim Floyd resigned amid allegations that he gave cash to runner/handler/bad influence Rodney Guillory.
  • What remained of the Trojans’ 2009 recruiting class bailed, except for Evan Smith.
  • Projected starting forward Leonard Washington (near right) became academically ineligible for the first semester.

At the start of the season, first-year coach Kevin O’Neill at times looked down his bench and saw nothing but walk-ons.

Yet here we are, a week into conference play, and USC is 10-4, having won eight in a row.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in: Hoops • Investigations • NCAA • • • • • • • • • | 1 Comment »

USC basketball: DeRozan signs with Raptors

July 9th, 2009, 9:04 pm by Earl Bloom, staff writer

Former USC forward DeMar DeRozan, the No. 9 overall selection by the TorontoNBA Draft Basketball Raptors in last month’s NBA Draft, signed a two-year contract with two option years  on Thursday.

DeRozan, 19, who will play for the Raptors entry in the Las Vegas summer league, will earn nearly $2.3 million in his first NBA season. He left the Trojans after just one season.

Teammate Taj Gibson went No. 26 overall to the Chicago Bulls, and Daniel Hackett signed to play in Italy.

It was a busy day for the Raptors, who also completed a four-team sign-and -trade deal that brought Hedo Turkoglu from Orlando, and sent  Shawn Marion to Dallas, with lots of other moving parts. Ex-Laker swingman Devean George and forward Antoine Wright join the Raptors from the Mavericks.

Other USC posts:

  • USC Football: Wright avoids jail time
  • 2009 USC opponent preview: San Jose State
  • USC football: Charges reportedly dropped
  • USC basketball recruiting: Trojans score two verbal commitments
  • USC football: Two Trojans reportedly arrested
  • USC football video: Debating the quarterbacks
  • USC football recruiting: Midsummer roundup
  • USC football: 2-for-1 ticket offer
  • USC basketball recruiting: Will Arizona’s poaching ever end?
  • USC football: Which will be the real Joe McKnight?

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

    NBA draft: Taj Gibson, first-rounder after all

    June 25th, 2009, 7:12 pm by Michael Lev, staff writer

    POLL: SHOULD USC STOP PURSUING ONE-AND-DONE PLAYERS?

    USC’s Taj Gibson went earlier than just about anyone expected, going with the 26th pick to the Chicago Bulls, who seem to be perpetually in need of big men.

    Read the rest of this entry »

    Posted in: Hoops • NBA draft • • | 1 Comment »

    USC basketball: Another recruit leaves

    June 15th, 2009, 7:25 pm by Adam Maya, staff writer since 2006

    Ten weeks, ten defections. USC officials on Monday confirmed Derrick Williams of La Mirada has been released from his letter of intent.

    Here’s a recap of all those who have left since April:

    Posted in: Hoops • • • • • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

    USC basketball: ‘I would never pay for a player’

    June 10th, 2009, 7:48 pm by Michael Lev, staff writer

    The Sporting News interviewed soon-to-be-former Trojan Taj Gibson, who related part of a conversation he had with ex-USC coach Tim Floyd on Tuesday night.

    Gibson said Floyd told him “I didn’t do anything” and “I would never pay for a player.”

    Read the rest of this entry »

    Posted in: Hoops • • | 2 Comments »

    USC basketball: Tim Floyd reportedly resigns

    June 9th, 2009, 3:46 pm by Michael Lev, staff writer

    UPDATE: SCHOOL CONFIRMS FLOYD’S RESIGNATION

    Tim Floyd has resigned as USC men’s basketball coach, according to a report in The Clarion-Ledger.

    The Mississippi newspaper’s Web site reprinted a letter of resignation Floyd purportedly submitted to USC athletic director Mike Garrett:

    “As of 1 p.m. today, I am resigning as head basketball coach at the University of Southern California. I deeply appreciate the opportunity afforded me by the university, as well as the chance to know and work with some of the finest young men in college athletics. Unfortunately, I know (sic) longer feel I can offer the level of enthusiasm to my duties that is deserved by the university, my coaching staff, my players, their families, and the supporters of Southern Cal. I always promised myself and my family that if I ever felt I could no longer give my full enthusiasm to a job, that I should leave it to others who could. I intend to contact my coaching staff and my players in coming days and weeks to tell them how much each of them means to me. I wish the best to USC and to my successor.”

    I will try to confirm the report as soon as I can.

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    Posted in: Hoops • • • • • • • • • • • | 3 Comments »

    USC basketball: Crashing the Tour de Floyd

    May 28th, 2009, 7:00 am by Michael Lev, staff writer

    uscmenu0528I can only describe Wednesday night’s USC meet-and-greet — a.k.a., the quest for Tim Floyd quotes — as surreal.

    The cocktail reception at the Irvine Hyatt Regency began at 6 p.m., so I arrived at 5, figuring I could catch the elusive USC basketball coach on his way in. But who should pop out of the hotel ballroom but Floyd, who beat me there.

    He briefly conversed with someone in the lobby, where the cocktails were flowing (I did not imbibe, professional that I am), before ducking back into the ballroom. As the event hadn’t started yet, I decided to follow him in.

    I found Floyd sitting alone at one of the tables in front of the stage, working on some notes for the evening Q&A with John Jackson and Pete Carroll. Floyd didn’t seem surprised to see me — I think he caught a glimpse of me in the lobby — but immediately (and politely) said he wasn’t talking to the media.

    Of course, that didn’t mean he wasn’t talking. Floyd likes to chit-chat, and we spoke for about 20 minutes with my notebook closed and my recorder off. The subjects included the future of the newspaper business (a Floyd favorite with us press peeps), my family, Floyd’s health, the Obama administration’s political policies, the oil industry, and, eventually, basketball.

    As our conversation was off the record, I can’t reveal anything Floyd said specifically. I did, however, infer the following: Read the rest of this entry »

    Posted in: Hoops • • • • • • • • • • • • • | 5 Comments »

    USC basketball: Floyd’s first public comments

    May 27th, 2009, 10:31 pm by Michael Lev, staff writer

    Tim Floyd declined my interview request before the first stop of the USC coaches caravan Wednesday night in Irvine.

    But he participated in the program in what amounted to his first public comments since being accused in a Yahoo! Sports story of funneling money to an associate of O.J. Mayo.

    Floyd did not answer the one question from the crowd about the NCAA’s investigation — Pete Carroll did; more on that here — but the embattled Trojans basketball coach did touch on the following subjects:

    (on competing next season after losing so many players and recruits)

    “We’ve lost a lot. … (But) we’re not signing players who can’t play. Alex Stepheson and Nikola Vucevic are as talented as any two big guys in our league. But I still believe you win with guard play, so we have to rebuild there.” Read the rest of this entry »

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

    NBA draft: Top 5 DeMar DeRozan destinations

    May 20th, 2009, 7:00 am by Michael Lev, staff writer

    USC Oklahoma Basketball

    Now that the NBA draft lottery is complete, we can (a) ponder how the Clippers still will manage to screw things up and (b) begin to figure out where everyone is going.

    The only lottery-bound prospect from USC is DeMar DeRozan. (Taj Gibson is bound for the second round, Daniel Hackett for Europe.)

    The Internet mock-draft consensus has DeRozan going in the 6-10 range. But I think he’d be better off in the long run slipping out of the top 10, as my list of the top five DeRozan draft-day destinations suggests. The main criterion: the situation that gives him the best chance to maximize his vast potential.

    1. PHOENIX SUNS
    Pick: 14
    2008-09 SF: Grant Hill/Matt Barnes
    Reasoning: Hill is, like, a million years old. (OK, he’s actually turning 37 in October, but he’s had, like, a million surgeries.) Barnes is probably best suited to back up at both forward spots off the bench. In theory, Phoenix will continue to play the uptempo style that suits DeRozan’s game. And he’d have Steve Nash setting him up for easy, confidence-building baskets. Read the rest of this entry »

    Posted in: Hoops • NBA draft • • • • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

    USC basketball: Net result of the comings and goings

    April 29th, 2009, 4:18 pm by Michael Lev, staff writer

    So where do things stand with the USC men’s basketball program now?

    Contrary to popular belief, the Galen Center roof is not about to fall on the Trojans. It merely has sprung a few leaks. (I’m being metaphorical here, by the way.)

    Tim Floyd certainly won’t have the team he envisioned. But USC won’t be bereft of talent either.

    Yes, losing Renardo Sidney, for whatever reason, is a blow, but gaining Lamont Jones is a coup - especially in light of Daniel Hackett’s surprising departure.

    Best I’ve been able to piece it together, here’s a look at the Trojans’ personnel: Read the rest of this entry »

    Posted in: Hoops • Hoops recruiting • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • | 5 Comments »

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