Pro Day indicative of healthy USC program


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The campus was abuzz. A hoard of agents, reporters, photographers, NFL scouts and coaches formed a ring around the field. Friends and family gathered in the stands. Hundreds of students, teachers and passersby stopped to watch. Former USC football players showcased their skills to NFL personnel Wednesday, hoping to increase their chances of getting drafted […]

Predraft workouts do not predict success


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Predraft workouts can make or break a player’s draft status, and a player’s stock can rise or fall in the months leading up to the big day. For those looking to eliminate any questions and cement their status as legitimate pro talent, a good showing can really create some buzz among the media and scouts, […]

Uncertain future for Trojans’ athletics


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For all you underclassmen Trojans fans, a word from the wise: brace yourselves. I know basketball season just ended and spring football practice is just beginning, but recent action in both sports are bad omens for next season. The most recent bad basketball news came over the weekend when junior forward Nikola Vucevic decided to […]

Vucevic’s decision to leave is logical after all


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Nobody fantasizes about playing basketball for USC.  They don’t long for the Galen Center, or Kevin O’Neill, or the “Trojan Fever” fanatics or being frontcourt mates with Alex Stepheson. What college basketball players fantasize about is being selected by one of 30 NBA teams in the annual June draft, which subsequently ushers in multi-million dollar […]

O’Neill deserves third year despite questions


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With time winding down in the USC men’s basketball team’s last home game last month, junior forward Nikola Vucevic stepped to the line to take two free throws. As he prepared to shoot, a faint “one more year” chant could be heard coming from the student section. This continued as the game reached its final […]

Give Women of Troy a chance to dream big


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It’s that time of year again, when just about everybody is glued to a television. In the words of Dick Vitale: “It’s March Madness, baby.” With the NCAA expanding the field of teams from 65 to 68, there was sure to be controversy over which teams were picked to dance. For the USC men’s basketball […]

A month of madness to call our very own


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It took an impromptu conversation at an airport bar for me to discover what makes every March so magical for college students across the country when the NCAA tournament rolls around. This weekend’s Florida-UCLA game was by no means compelling, jump-off-your-couch television, but its lead changes, hard-nosed defensive plays and tempo shifts had me entertained […]

Spring rings in hope for Kiffin and Trojans


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The torrential rains of the last few days have not been a coincidence. They are a clear message from the college football gods, who know spring practice begins today: “We’re watching you.” USC is near the midway point of paying for its “sins” — and I use that word loosely, considering all the inconsistent rulings […]

Gemelos’ journey a test of strength, character


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Sometimes, I just watch in amazement. The so-called basketball IQ, the court instincts and awareness — you just can’t teach basketball players that kind of stuff. Combine that with vision, ball-handling ability and a shooting stroke that is textbook perfect, and you have a package that makes the complete basketball player. I’m not talking about […]

Unifying the Pac-10 a key sign of progress


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It’s that time of year again: Small yet noticeable billboards adorn the L.A. Live plaza, promoting the Pac-10’s annual postseason basketball celebration, which kicks off this afternoon. The difference in this year’s tournament billboard, however, is that images of UCLA’s Tyler Honeycutt and Washington’s Isaiah Thomas are paired with a few unfamiliar characters. Along with […]