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The Skinny on USC Hoops: 4 Straight NCAA Tourney Appearances? Your SC Hoops Primer

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Though I was a little more optimistic than most of the college basketball media who predicted the Trojans to finish 9th in the Pac-10, I didn’t expect much from a program reeling from an NCAA investigation, the loss of a coach who took them to 3 straight NCAA tourneys (Tim Floyd), the loss of 3 pivotal players to the pro ranks (all underclassman- Derozan, Gibson, Hackett) and the loss of a top 15 ranked recruiting class. Combine that with season ticket sales off over 55% and it is easy to assume the demise of USC basketball was in full effect.

However, ESPN analyst Doug Gottlieb was correct when he said “tales of the demise of USC basketball are greatly exaggerated.” during USC’s victory over than #20th ranked UNLV in the finals of the Diamondhead Classic.

5 reasons why Trojan fans should plan regular trips to the Galen Center during the Pac-10 season:
1- The “Last chance” Team: Unlike the USC football team, the basketball team is full of players and coaches who have one of the key ingredients to overachieving: something to prove with no expectations.

The Trojans are led by first year journeyman coach Kevin O’Neal who desperately wants to re-ignite his career and a coaching staff held over from the Floyd era that is looking to impress other programs before O’Neal brings in his own guys.

The team boasts three transfers in Alex Stephenson from North Carolina, Marcus Johnson from Connecticut and Mike Gerrity from Pepperdine/UNC-Charlotte that are at the end of disappointing careers with one last chance to right the ship. Marcus Simmons and Nikola Vucevic still have sour tastes in their mouths for being underutilized on last year’s team.

Read the rest at: Trojan Wire

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