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And So Rivalry Week Begins
by Joey Kaufman on Feb 8, 2010 7:42 PM PST
13 comments
Well, after a weekend sweep of the northern California schools, the USC hoops team has begun preparation for its crosstown rivalry showdown with UCLA next Sunday at Galen Center. And this time around, it is quite evident that the Trojans are the team to beat. If this year is any indication, the landscape in the Los Angeles college basketball scene is starting to drastically change as the Bruins Ben's Brats have been struggling to post "Ws" in the wins column ever since opening night.
Presently, the Bruins hold a dismal 11-12 record that includes losses to Cal State Fullerton, Portland, Long Beach State, and Stanford. In the prior matchup against USC, they embarrassed the 4 letters (I'm glad they're familiar with the concept of the alphabet) in a 21-point loss to the Trojans. Yes, this program is apparently the king of LA college basketball?
Yet, even in the midst of their "down year," the ‘folks across town have been more than eager to remind Trojan fans that USC is ineligible for the postseason due to self-imposed sanctions. While that may be the case, it's important to remember that the remaining games of the 2010 season are an opportunity to lay the foundation for the coming decade. And by using the past few months as evidence, it has become quite clear that both the USC and UCLA programs are headed in entirely opposite directions.
13 comments | 0 recs
Projected Starters for the 2010 Football Season
by Julio Nievas on Feb 8, 2010 3:15 PM PST
11 comments
Photo from Uscfootball.com
Is it a bit too early?
It has not even been a week after National Signing Day, but the question is looming:
Who's playing where next season?
Nine starters, including six seniors and three underclassmen, are leaving USC. There will be holes to fill out for each and one of those positions. With a new coaching staff to implement different defensive and offensive schemes the player's may have never seen before, it's going to interesting to see who starts where.
Lane has not hired an offensive coordinator, yet, but there is not many questions on the offensive side of the ball. The real questions will be looming on the defense. Taylor mays and Will Harris are gone and that opens up safety questions. USC has now added good depth in the linebacker position and that also raises questions of who will be playing outside linebacker given Chris Galippo and Jarvis Jones are set to fill in the middle. The ends have question marks as well.
Kiffin's first speech with the team put emphasis that each player will have a "clean slate". Though I would like to believe that, it's hard for me to see some players not start over others. Nevertheless; USC has a great amount of talent. With the right personelle to develop the players to reach their full potential, just like we've seen since Carroll came in, there should be no questions asked in that regard.
Kiffin knows talent and with the first test passed, getting the top recruiting class in the nation, his next is to help players reach the ceiling scouts projected would reach.
Here are my projected starters. As Spring comes along, I'm sure there will be changes made, but that for now is to be determined later... Let's take a look after the jump..
Feel free to add your thoughts!
11 comments | 0 recs
Saints Win Super Bowl But Bush Not a Big Factor
by Joey Kaufman on Feb 8, 2010 2:14 AM PST
32 comments
Sunday night, the NFL's New Orleans Saints wrapped up an impressive 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts to clinch their first ever Super Bowl, and thus, causing Bourbon Street to explode in pandemonium. But thousands of miles away here on the left coast in Los Angeles, many USC football fans joined the "Who Dat Nation" in celebration as former Trojan running back Reggie Bush played a role in the team's victory.
But even with so many members of the Trojan Family celebrating Bush's contribution toward the Saints' Super Bowl win, I can't help but sit back and laugh. Personally, I would consider myself a fan of the Heisman Trophy winner. After growing up a USC football fan in Los Angeles while watching the Trojans reel off 34 straight victories with Bush in the backfield, how could I not be? But nevertheless, the fact that so many Trojan fans are running around Southern California proclaiming that "Reggie won the Super Bowl" is a tad bit misleading.
In all honesty, Bush was hardly a factor in the game. There were no breathtaking punt returns. No breakaway touchdown runs. No highlight reel jukes. By all accounts, it was a rather vanilla performance by number twenty-five, and you don't have to go further than the stat sheet to understand that. Take a look:
- 5 carries, 25 yards, 5.0 yards/carry, 0 touchdowns (Bush actually averaged 3.25 yards/carry if you subtract his one long run of 12 yards)
- 4 receptions, 38 yards, 9.5 yards/catch, 0 touchdowns
- 1 punt return, 4 yards
Is that the kind of "big impact," Trojan fans are claiming Bush had? 63 total yards of offense? While New Orleans' other running back Pierre Thomas didn't have a particularly great performance (just 30 yards on 9 carries), I wouldn't classify Bush as having a big impact on the outcome of the game. As a fellow Trojan, I want him to do well, but for me to sit back and act like Bush led the Saints to the Super Bowl is just crazy. The idea that so many fans are acting like that just happened is rather bizarre. So before you get all crazy, let's try to relax, sit back, and keep a proper perspective on things. We can still be fans; just not crazy ones.
Fight On!
32 comments | 1 recs
Maualuga to enter rehab
Sounds like a pretty serious situation for the former USC linebacker.
1 day ago
Joey Kaufman
0 comments
0 recs
Saints-Colts: Super Bowl XLIV Open Thread - SB Nation
Check Out SB Nations Super Bowl Open Thread!!
1 day ago
Paragon SC
4 comments
0 recs
2010 USC Baseball Season Preview
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Feb 6, 2010 11:37 PM PST
9 comments
The Dedeaux Field gate may slam shut on Chad Kreuter for good after 2010 (Photo Credit: Replay Photos)
Heading into his fourth season at the helm of the USC baseball program, Chad Kreuter finds himself on a short leash. The former MLB catcher has yet to take the Trojans to the postseason in his time as head coach, a damning fact when charged with leading the program that leads the country in national titles. Not only have the Trojans not qualified for a regional under Kreuter, but USC has never been eligible for selection as they have yet to manage an overall record over .500. In conference play, a 13-14 record last season is the best Kreuter has managed and their seventh place finish also marks the high point for Kreuter. Needless to say, the pressure is on the USC head coach in 2010.
Probably most concerning for USC is that last year's team, the best USC has put together since 2005, is no more as the majority of the core has moved onto the pros. Five players from last season were selected in the first 20 rounds of the MLB Draft and this year's team returns just four of the nine starting position players, one of the three weekend starters and no relievers who three over 20 innings in 2009. The 2010 edition of the Trojans is littered with talented though, even if it is inexperienced and they have one player who is worth the price of admission alone.
Sophomore Ricky Oropesa was a Freshman All-American in 2009 and for good reason. In his first collegiate season, the first baseman (who could also play some third this season) hit .314 with a team leading 13 home runs and 48 RBI. With a quick stroke and opposite field power, Oropesa has the swing to stay out of prolonged slumps and quick enough hands to keep himself from getting fooled. In total, Oropesa has every tool imaginable to be a "build the lineup around him" guy. Whether he gets any support is another issue.
Last season, the Trojans finished 262nd out of 282 teams in runs scored and their .274 team batting average was 261st in the country. Those horrid numbers came with Grant Green and Anthony Vasquez in the lineup, both of whom are now getting paid to play ball. Senior outfielder Mike O'Neil returns and brings his .319 batting average with him, but he and Oropesa make up the Trojans' entire list of proven, everyday collegiate hitters.
Joining O'Neill in the outfield will be sophomore Alex Sherrod, who hit a tick under .300, albeit with minimum power, in split time as a freshman. In an everyday role for the first time in his career, Sherrod will be counted upon to provide at least gap power. The third outfield spot will likely go to a freshman, one of whom is Jawanza Starling, the first player to play both football and baseball for USC since 2005. In all likelihood, the infield will be made up of Oropesa and three newcomers, either freshmen or transfers, while none of the returning catchers hit above .215 in 2009.
To say the fate of the 2010 Trojans falls on the pitchers is an understatement, but unfortunately, there is little proven talent on the bump. Redshirt sophomore Andrew Triggs is the one reliable weekend starter at Kreuter's disposal, having thrown 75 innings with a 3.96 ERA as a freshman last year, including a dominating seven shutouts innings versus UCLA. How Triggs handles the pressure of pitching on Friday nights versus the other team's ace and the likelihood of little run support will be a major test for the sophomore and one that could determine how USC's season shakes out. Senior Kevin Couture gives the Trojans some pitching experience, but the man with a 5.00 career ERA has yet to live up to expectations in cardinal and gold. Sophomore Chad Smith does give the Trojans some hope on the mound as he did have some success in his freshman campaign, but having made just four starts, the pressure he experiences in 2010 will be on a whole other level.
As unsure Trojan fans are about their starting rotation, it goes double for the bullpen, where not a single pitcher has pitched a significant amount as a collegian. Brett Williams, a junior transfer from Orange Coast College, will be leaned upon heavily and provides the greatest hope for dominance out of the bullpen.
The one aspect of the Trojans' game bound to improve is their fielding. Owners of a Pac-10 worst .954 fielding percentage last year, USC has added athleticism through youth and transfers so if nothing else, they will be able to cover an abundance of ground.
At SoCal Media Day, Kreuter made it a point to emphasize the determination and chemistry the team showed through the offseason. He reiterated that this year's team has better chemistry than any past edition he's been a part of. With the team lacking in so many other areas, chemistry will have to be a strong point if the Trojans are to return to the postseason for the first time since 2005, where they came within inches of their 22nd College World Series appearance.
If you want a short and quick summary of the Trojans' chances in 2010, look no further than my favorite college baseball writer, Eric Sorenson. One of Sorenson's bold predictions for the Pac-10 in 2010 is that USC will qualify for a Regional. When mere postseason qualification calls for a bold prediction, things are not right at USC and Kreuter may be facing his final opportunity to right the ship.
9 comments | 4 recs
Gameday Open Thread: USC vs. Stanford Cardinal
by Joey Kaufman on Feb 6, 2010 4:00 PM PST
58 comments
The Trojans, who are just one game removed from first in the Pac-10, face Stanford today at Galen Center. For those not in attendance, the game will be televised on Fox Sports Prime Ticket here in Los Angeles. In the meanwhile, you guys know the drill so fire away.
Fight On! Beat the Farm!
58 comments | 0 recs
Arizona on probation
No serious sanctions, but good to know we'll have some company as UA puts itself on probation.
2 days ago
Joey Kaufman
6 comments
0 recs
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Pacific-10 Conference Standings
(updated 2.6.2010 at 11:21 PM PST)
| Conf | Overall | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
California Golden Bears
|
7 | 4 | 15 | 8 |
|
Washington Huskies
|
6 | 5 | 16 | 7 |
|
Arizona St. Sun Devils
|
6 | 5 | 16 | 8 |
|
USC Trojans
|
6 | 5 | 14 | 9 |
|
Arizona Wildcats
|
6 | 5 | 12 | 11 |
|
UCLA Bruins
|
6 | 5 | 11 | 12 |
|
Washington St. Cougars
|
5 | 6 | 15 | 8 |
|
Oregon Ducks
|
4 | 6 | 12 | 10 |
|
Oregon St. Beavers
|
4 | 6 | 10 | 12 |
| Stanford Cardinal | 4 | 7 | 10 | 13 |
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
