UCLA Bruins @ USC Trojans GameThread, Jan 11, 2009 7:30 PM PST

GameDay Open Thread UCLA @ USC

by Paragon SC on Jan 11, 2009 6:00 PM PST in USC Basketball Comment 20 comments

UCLA Bruins @ USC Trojans

Rick Bowmer / Associated Press

It will be interesting to see how the team reponds after last week. I am not expecting much, just that they keep it close and respectable. Laughing Stock will hopefully post pics and his thoughts later tonight.

I probably won't be on the thread because of an early day tomorrow.

Leave your comments and rants here...

FIGHT ON!

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be watching.

First chance I’ve gotten all year really to watch both squads. Should be interesting.

by Signal to Noise on Jan 11, 2009 6:36 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Still love Gibson. Keep out of foul trouble!

by Signal to Noise on Jan 11, 2009 7:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

at least it's still close.

by Signal to Noise on Jan 11, 2009 8:12 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

wow.

Rolling seven deep and just got off a 10-0 run. Up by 4. Hopefully the Trojans can keep it up….c’mon, boyos!

by Signal to Noise on Jan 11, 2009 8:55 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Never bet on a Tim Floyd team

To come through in a big game.

by Zoulou on Jan 11, 2009 10:04 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Good game

As is typical with these games as of late, you guys gave us a tough game. I’d really like a blowout one of these days. I thought USC’s defense for the last ten minutes of the first half and the first 10-12 minutes of the 2nd were simply great. Switches were good, shots were contested-excellent stuff. But I think the effort cost USC-other than Taj, it looked like you were tired at the end. Good luck against the ’Zona schools and stay free of injuries.

by ucladj89 on Jan 11, 2009 10:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm glad they didn't get blown out

Hackett put up a bit of an acting job on that Gordon elbow. I’ve continue to believe that we need at least 8-10 points from Dwight Lewis in order to win games with any consistency. Lewis scored his first bucket 30 minutes into the game. That just kills us.

by frak on Jan 12, 2009 9:17 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Wow, just wow

As is typical with these games as of late, you guys gave us a tough game.

Wake up, people!. Proud of a “tough game”? (Not you ucladj89, I’m referring to Trojan fans). “Tough games” are for the first year in a rebuilding project, as in Beavers fans saying “I’m glad we gave so-and-so a tough game.” This is Floyd’s 4th year. Every person on this team is a Floyd recruit. “Tough games” are no longer good enough. Winning games is better.

I’m glad they didn’t get blown out

Yes, I am proud of our gutty little Trojans as well. Maybe in a few years we’ll be good enough for the NIT!

Or, how ‘bout this dandy from a commenter on Wolf’s blog:

Floyd still seems to be scraping together recruits with a bandaid strategy. But, I am not sure that anyone could do better. I think Floyd is doing an excellent job and we just need that one big tourney run to break open LA recruiting.

This is what kills me. The acceptance of mediocrity. “No one could do better?” Says who? What are we, some godforsaken directional school located in the freezing, windblown Plains states? Quote me one knowledgeable basketball source (and not a blogger or a commenter) who believes that Tim Floyd, coaching at a glamor school with brand spanking new facilities in one of the most fertile recruiting grounds in the country, is “doing the best he can”, gosh darn it!

At least Wolf gets it:

This was an entertaining game tonight, but USC’s depth was an issue and again I thinks this points to some recruiting decisions.

Hey, is that Lil’ Romeo? Look, he’s taking off his sweats. He thinks he’s gonna play. How cute!

You recruit with a plan. What kind of team do you want, and what kind of players do you go get to accomplish this goal. Ben Howland has a plan. Tim Floyd has no clue.

But then, all we need is that one big NCAA run and the recruits will be flocking to us. You mean the Elite 8 run in 2002, and the sweet 16 run in 2007 we not good enough. Waiting for a final four? Ain’t gonna happen, not under Tim Floyd. You can bet a month’s house payment on that.

by Zoulou on Jan 12, 2009 10:45 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I also feel Tim isn't recruiting for need rather for Stars!

As I said earier in year Mayo was a mistake set but USC in team unity and One and done are also not good. Tim has always had a bunch of 6-5 to 6-7 players almost everywhere he has coached. Maybe he just doesn’t have confidence in coach taller and bigger players. Hell I am completely trying to figure out this guy but I give up, I have been waiting for next year for 40yrs now. I just can’t believe that someone can’t get it done they should have got a local guy 20yrs ago period.

Paul D. Kelley

by so.cal.native1952 on Jan 12, 2009 11:01 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe you should start a letter writing campaign...

We get it you don’t like Floyd. But the constant pissing and moaning about it is tiresome. Those who want better, like yourself, can scream and yell all they want but the only way there will be change is if the AD sees a lack of progress…no butts in the GC is one way that the serious part of the fan base can vote their displeasure…

Its clear that USC doesn’t take basketball seriously. And from those comments you listed its clear that some of the fan base is happy with moral wins. Thats their cross to bear.

Floyd may be a great defensive coach but the offensive schemes leaves a lot to be desired. The players aren’t progressing and they are still a terrible outside shooting team. I think he will be gone quicker than some think. The only time the Galen Center is filled is when ucla comes to town.

I am not happy about the current product. I think Floyd has made some strange recruiting moves but I also don’t intend to let this blog turn into Bruins Nation over it. If it doesn’t get any better hopefully the school will make the necessary changes…if not then the lack of coverage here and at other sites along with the lack of decent attendance will finally let Garrett know that he needs to make a change. The bigger problem is that if he waits too long he risks the good faith of the hard core portion of the fan base in not trusting his next hire.

Conquest Chronicles

by Paragon SC on Jan 12, 2009 3:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

My last post

Then I’ll drop by during football season.

I appreciate your distaste for Bruins Nation bile, but really, are my critiques that much like Bruins Nations. I’ve tried to make sure I don’t venture into the personal, and when I do, I do try to back it up at least with an outside quote.

I’m not starting a letter writing campaign or starting firetimfloyd.com because I have better things to do.

My critique is simply that of a frustrated fan who would love to get deep into USC basketball but won’t because he fears that all USC fans and the administration want is for the team to break even (per Scott Wolf, very important for M.G.), and to make minor waves every two or three years. In short, all the want is an interesting diversion after the football season. Well, fine, that’s alright with me, but if that’s all they want, then USC basketball as a wintertime diversion will now have to compete with the 40 or 50 other wintertime diversions L.A. has to offer.

Go Lakers!

See ya in September.

by Zoulou on Jan 12, 2009 5:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I would agree that your comments are not personal in nature

But…there is is nothing new here. We have heard it all before…

We all know Floyd’s weaknesses and the school either chooses to overlook them or do nothing about it.

We are all frustrated that this team can’t seem to get any better. Garrett has not put Floyd’s feet to the fire but quality BB coaches don’t grow on trees.

Fire Floyd?…fine but who ya gonna get?

I would agree with Wolf that there is no accountability in regards to basketball but again what can be done?

The AD seems happy just to have a bigger slice of attention in local rags. We all want the team to do well but when they don’t because of same issues over and over its up to the AD to address it. When he doesn’t he gets a fan base that’s ambivalent…that’s pretty much where I am now. I don’t like watching the games when the team underachieves or doesn’t improve, Sure, I’ll cover it but not with the same level of interest that I do for football.

See you then…

Conquest Chronicles

by Paragon SC on Jan 12, 2009 6:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Accepting Mediocrity

I don’t really know how to respond to this. I don’t expect USC to be a basketball powerhouse. Traditionally we have never been that. I expect my team to play hard, and give it their best shot out there. If they dog it, or slack off, I would be upset with them, but their problem isn’t playing hard. Their problem is inexperience, and talent. Its one of those two things. I’m not going to fly off the handle when USC basketball loses a game.

I’m a season ticket holder, and have been for decades. I’ve seen the good and the bad years. I don’t really know if I have accepted mediocrity, but I have accepted my Trojans for who and what they are.

Last night they played a better team, and they lost by 4 points, which is by no means embarrassing.

by frak on Jan 12, 2009 8:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't get to see game but only 2-9 from Lewis is not good.

Tim has to get better at closing out out games and needs to trust bench if he doesn’t then why have one. OSU game could have used Ryan Wheaterall and maybe this game also, I mean he played a lot last year whats up. Sometimes I think Tim has memory problems someone slap this guy upside the head and maybe he will wake up and coach.

Paul D. Kelley

by so.cal.native1952 on Jan 12, 2009 10:47 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

The thing is I really don’t know wants out there, maybe Theus, Douglas, Braswell, but maybe Hackett SR. or Poole, or heck ED Assum from Westchester. I have now scene the first half of game on replay and if we would have made 5 of the 10 wide open shots in our own gym, game would have been ours. But you know the funny thing about Galen Center only Gibson shoots well there, maybe Tim has them miss shots on purpose in practice for offens rebound drill.

Yah that’s it!

Paul D. Kelley

by so.cal.native1952 on Jan 12, 2009 4:39 PM PST reply actions 0 recs