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	<channel>		<title>RUWT? News</title>
		<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com</link>
		<description>RUWT? News for USC</description>
		<language>en-us</language>
		<copyright>Copyright 2006-2007 areyouwatchingthis.com</copyright>
		<lastBuildDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:48:13 GMT</lastBuildDate>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:48:13 GMT</pubDate>
		<generator>RUWT?</generator>

		
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				<title><![CDATA[USC defeats UC Riverside 77-67 in O'Neill's debut]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES(AP) -- Dwight Lewis led four players in double figures
with 22 points and Southern California made Kevin O'Neill a
winner in his return to the college coaching ranks with a 77-67
victory over UC Riverside on Tuesday night.

Lewis quickly settled into his new role as the Trojans' senior
leader after three seasons watching other teammates carry the
load by scoring their first seven points.

Marcus Simmons and Nikola Vucevic added 18 points each and Donte
Smith 12 while taking over at point guard from the departed
Daniel Hackett.

Konner Veteto scored 14 points and Gonzaga transfer Larry
Gurganious added 13 for the Highlanders (0-2), who have never
beaten USC in four meetings. They failed to duplicate the feat
of Big West rival Cal State Fullerton, which stunned UCLA in
double overtime a night earlier.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/134963-USC-defeats-UC-Riverside-77-67-in-ONeills-debut</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/134963-USC-defeats-UC-Riverside-77-67-in-ONeills-debut</guid>
				<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:01:28 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
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				<title><![CDATA[USC Trojans rebuild under shadow of NCAA probe]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES(AP) -- Southern California's three consecutive NCAA
tournament appearances and high-profile recruits like O.J. Mayo
and DeMar DeRozan seem like distant history. The Trojans are
strictly in recovery mode these days.

They open the season Tuesday against UC Riverside amid an
ongoing NCAA investigation into alleged recruiting violations
under former coach Tim Floyd and the early NBA-induced
departures of DeRozan, Taj Gibson and Daniel Hackett.

Floyd resigned following allegations of paying to land Mayo, who
played one season before jumping to the NBA.

"I don't need to address any of that other than to say whatever
comes out of our investigation we're going to move forward in a
positive manner, we're going to recruit well and get good
players, and we're going to be competitive," new coach Kevin
O'Neill said.

He's been left to build a team around returning leading scorer
Dwight Lewis, backups and transfers after most of USC's signing
class bailed out.

"I'm just learning our team, really," said O'Neill, who took the
job in mid-June, too late to do any serious recruiting.

Lewis finds himself with the pressure of carrying a team for the
first time in his senior season. He averaged 14.4 points, 3.3
rebounds and 2.1 assists last season and is used to playing
major minutes.

"If I had my way, everybody would have stayed and we would've
been like a top-five in the country," he said. "I was cool being
the second, third, fourth guy every night, it didn't bother me.
Now I have to take on this role and try to make the best of it."

So do the Trojans, who were picked to finish ninth, one spot
ahead of Stanford in the Pac-10 standings. They were 22-13
overall and tied for fifth in the league last season, winning
the school's first Pac-10 tournament title.

Beyond Lewis, there are many questions facing the Trojans.

"We basically have a bunch of guys that haven't played very
much," O'Neill said.

Sophomore Leonard Washington and junior Alex Stepheson figure to
anchor the frontcourt. Washington averaged 6.1 points and 4.2
rebounds last season. Stepheson, who transferred home to Los
Angeles from North Carolina, has been bothered by a left knee
injury that is expected to keep him out a few weeks.

Senior Marcus Johnson is another transfer from a big-time
program. He played two productive seasons at Connecticut before
leaving and could start at small forward. He will miss the first
two regular-season games as punishment for playing in exhibition
games while at UConn.

Joining Lewis in the backcourt are juniors Donte Smith and
Marcus Simmons, who were seldom used last season. A lack of
challengers makes Smith the starting point guard by default, at
least until Mike Gerrity is eligible after the first semester.
Gerrity transferred from Charlotte after starting his career at
Pepperdine.

"The problem is he hasn't played that spot before very much, so
he's going to be kind of a novice at this level," O'Neill said
about Smith.

Among others on the roster are sophomore James Dunleavy, son of
Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy; sophomore Percy Miller, better
known as actor and rapper Lil' Romeo; and sophomore Korri Ennis,
who earned a spot on the team during last month's open tryout
and whose eligibility is under review by the NCAA clearinghouse.

"We're going to have to be resilient because we've lost a
recruiting class and three guys to the pros, and a couple other
guys to graduation," O'Neill said. "All those guys are in a
position where they're going to have to do more than they've
ever done before. Not so much is it a great challenge for them,
it's a great opportunity. That's the way they should be looking
at it."

O'Neill is 171-180 in 12 seasons as a college coach,
specializing in rebuilding efforts at places like Marquette,
Tennessee and Northwestern. He knows the Pac-10 from serving as
interim coach at Arizona during the 2007-08 season, leading the
Wildcats to a 19-15 record and their 24th consecutive NCAA
tournament appearance.

O'Neill was in line to permanently succeed Hall of Famer Lute
Olson, but that didn't happen, and he spent last season as a
special assistant to the Memphis Grizzlies' GM before answering
the call of USC athletic director Mike Garrett.

O'Neill didn't shy away from taking the job under threat of
fallout from the NCAA investigation.

If the NCAA can prove Floyd paid to have Mayo delivered to USC,
that would be considered a major violation. The Trojans could be
forced to forfeit victories, and they could face recruiting
restrictions and lose scholarships.

The football team also is under NCAA investigation for alleged
improprieties involving Heisman Trophy-winning running back
Reggie Bush.

In Floyd's four-year tenure, the Trojans reached the NCAA
tournament the last three seasons. O'Neill is faced with
extending that rare streak at a school best known for its
national championship football team.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/134573-USC-Trojans-rebuild-under-shadow-of-NCAA-probe</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/134573-USC-Trojans-rebuild-under-shadow-of-NCAA-probe</guid>
				<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:51:50 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[O'Neill takes on reclamation project at USC]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES(AP) -- Kevin O'Neill took over Southern California's
troubled basketball program on Monday, promising to try to win
next season under the weight of an NCAA investigation and the
departures of three starters and several recruits.

"There's nothing here that says you can't win and that's why I
like this job," he said after being introduced by athletic
director Mike Garrett at a campus news conference.

Both O'Neill and Garrett refused to answer questions about the
coach's contract at the private university, including its
length.

"Hopefully, he's here forever," Garrett said.

The 52-year-old coach returns to the college ranks after
spending last season as an assistant with the Memphis Grizzles.

"My attraction to the job was simple, it's USC," O'Neill said.
"They major in graduation and championships here, two pretty
good things."

The titles, however, belong to the powerhouse football program
and to sports other than basketball, which was on the upswing
until Tim Floyd resigned suddenly on June 9 amid allegations
that he paid to have O.J. Mayo play for him at USC.

In Floyd's four-year tenure, the Trojans reached the NCAA
tournament the last three seasons and won the school's first
Pac-10 tournament title in March.

"I want to be able to continue the good things that Tim is doing
here and has done here," O'Neill said. "He's really done a nice
job with the program."

O'Neill said he had no qualms about taking over during tough
times. He said Garrett told him everything he needs to know
about the past.

"I really didn't care what had happened and we didn't get into
detail because that's not my place. I was taking the job no
matter what. I wanted the job from the beginning because it's
USC," he said.

"The fact that there's an investigation going on never changed
my view of the university at all. We're going to deal with
whatever comes out of this and be positive and move forward."

But O'Neill would be affected by any fallout.

If the NCAA can prove Floyd paid to have Mayo delivered to USC,
that would be considered a major violation. The Trojans could be
forced to forfeit victories, and they could face recruiting
restrictions and lose scholarships.

The football team also is under NCAA investigation for alleged
improprieties involving Heisman Trophy-winning running back
Reggie Bush.

"We want to get it over," Garrett said of the twin
investigations. "We can only go as fast as they (NCAA) want to
go."

The ongoing investigation, along with the departures of starters
DeMar DeRozan, Taj Gibson and Daniel Hackett for the NBA and
several recruits asking out of their commitments, may have put
off others Garrett reportedly sought for the job, including
Pittsburgh's Jamie Dixon, UNLV's Lon Kruger and former NBA coach
Jeff Van Gundy.

"I wasn't her first choice, either," O'Neill said, nodding in
the direction of his wife of three years. "If people did shy
away from this job for some reason, I'm glad they did. I wasn't
shying away from this job at all. There's challenges in every
job and we're going to meet the challenges."

Floyd has not addressed the allegations that he paid $1,000 cash
in 2007 to an associate of Mayo, who played one season at USC
before leaving early for the NBA.

"Tim was not forced out," Garrett said. "It was a surprise that
he resigned."

Floyd has kept a low-profile since his resignation, although
O'Neill said the former coach called him after he accepted the
job and spoke positively of his time at USC. O'Neill said he
didn't discuss the USC job with Mayo, who plays for the
Grizzlies.

O'Neill returns to the Pac-10 after serving as interim coach at
Arizona in 2008 when Lute Olson took a leave of absence. O'Neill
led the Wildcats to a 19-15 record and the school's 24th
consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, the nation's longest
active streak.

He was designated Olson's permanent successor, but when the Hall
of Famer returned that spring he announced O'Neill would no
longer be part of the program.

"I went there to be an assistant, and the next thing I knew I
was the interim head coach and I was the successor coach, then I
was gone," he said.

"I learned a lot during that year. I think experiences like that
really toughen you up as a coach and really make you appreciate
good experiences. There were some trying times there."

However, O'Neill said he was treated fairly in Tucson.

"Lute deserved the opportunity to come back and be the coach. He
had earned that over a Hall of Fame career," he said. "A lot of
people said a lot of things after I left, I didn't say anything.
I don't have any ill will or any bad feelings whatsoever, plus I
ended up in a better job."

O'Neill is 171-180 in 12 seasons as a college head coach,
including stints at Marquette, Tennessee and Northwestern.

Along the way, he's developed a reputation for being fiery both
on and off the court. But he went on the offensive, bringing the
issue up first.

"Contrary to popular demand, I'm not Darth Vader. You would
think I was slaying people every time you turn around," he said.

"Over the years, I've been in situations where not all the
players always like the coach. Well, guess what? The coaches
don't like all the players sometimes either, especially when
you're in rebuilding situations. I think our players will enjoy
playing for me."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/103579-ONeill-takes-on-reclamation-project-at-USC</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/103579-ONeill-takes-on-reclamation-project-at-USC</guid>
				<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:32:10 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[USC hires Kevin O'Neill to replace Floyd as coach]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES(AP) -- Kevin O'Neill returned to the college ranks
Saturday when he was announced as Southern California's
basketball coach, taking over from Tim Floyd.

The school announced O'Neill's hiring in an e-mail. Floyd
suddenly resigned June 9 amid allegations that he paid to have
O.J. Mayo delivered to the Trojans. He said he was quitting
after four seasons because he no longer had enthusiasm for his
job.

O'Neill is scheduled to be introduced Monday at a campus news
conference.

"We're thrilled to have Kevin O'Neill as our men's basketball
coach," athletic director Mike Garrett said in a statement. "I
love his coaching philosophy and principles: he's a no-nonsense
coach who is very detail-oriented and prepares his teams well.
He stresses defense and I've always believed that defense wins
championships."

O'Neill's NBA tenure seemingly appealed to Garrett as well.

"His 30 years of experience at the college and professional
levels has prepared him well for this opportunity," Garrett
said.

The 52-year-old defense-oriented coach was an assistant with the
NBA's Memphis Grizzlies this past season. Mayo plays for the
Grizzlies. O'Neill led the Toronto Raptors to a 33-49 record in
2004.

O'Neill also had stints with the New York Knicks, Detroit and
Indiana.

He returns to the Pac-10 after serving as interim coach at
Arizona in 2008 when Lute Olson took a leave of absence.

During his tenure in Tucson, O'Neill led the Wildcats to a 19-15
record and the school's 24th consecutive NCAA tournament
appearance, the nation's longest active streak.

He was designated Olson's permanent successor, but when the Hall
of Famer returned that spring he announced O'Neill would no
longer be part of the program.

O'Neill is 171-180 in 12 seasons as a college head coach,
including stints at Marquette, Tennessee and Northwestern.

O'Neill takes charge of a USC program that won at least 20 games
and made the NCAA tournament each of the last three seasons,
both school records, at a university best known for its
powerhouse football program, which is also being investigated by
the NCAA.

"I'm very excited about this opportunity to coach at such a
great institution as USC, with its tremendous athletic and
academic tradition," he said in the statement. "I appreciate
Mike Garrett's confidence in me. I will work my hardest to coach
us to a championship level every single day. I can't wait to get
started."

But all is not well with the Trojans as O'Neill moves into a
program under investigation by the NCAA for alleged
improprieties involving Mayo, who played one season at USC
before leaving for the NBA.

If the NCAA can prove Floyd paid to have Mayo delivered to USC,
that would be considered a major violation. The Trojans could be
forced to forfeit victories, and they could face recruiting
restrictions and lose scholarships.

Floyd has never addressed the allegations involving Mayo.

Since the Trojans' season ended in March, starters DeMar
DeRozan, Taj Gibson and Daniel Hackett, along with Marcus
Johnson, declared for Thursday's NBA draft, and the Trojans have
lost eight recruits.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/103228-USC-hires-Kevin-ONeill-to-replace-Floyd-as-coach</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/103228-USC-hires-Kevin-ONeill-to-replace-Floyd-as-coach</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:56:28 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
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				<title><![CDATA[Basketball recruit Williams is released from USC]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[LOS ANGELES(AP) -- Forward Derrick Williams has requested and been
granted a release from his basketball letter of intent to play
at Southern California.

Williams, from nearby La Mirada High, joins guard Lamont Jones,
from Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., as recruits who
have changed their minds since Tim Floyd resigned last week as
basketball coach.

The university announced Williams' release on Monday.

The basketball program is under investigation by the NCAA
involving allegations that Floyd paid to have O.J. Mayo
delivered to the Trojans.

Since the Trojans' season ended in March, starters DeMar
DeRozan, Taj Gibson and Daniel Hackett, along with Marcus
Johnson, declared for next week's NBA draft, and the Trojans
have lost seven recruits.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/102582-Basketball-recruit-Williams-is-released-from-USC</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/102582-Basketball-recruit-Williams-is-released-from-USC</guid>
				<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:55:09 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Floyd resigns as USC coach amid Mayo allegations]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES(AP) -- Tim Floyd took Southern California's basketball
program from also-ran status to three consecutive NCAA
tournament appearances. Now he's gone, having suddenly resigned
amid allegations that he paid to have O.J. Mayo delivered to the
Trojans.

Floyd on Tuesday submitted a one-paragraph letter to USC
athletic director Mike Garrett saying he was quitting after four
seasons because he no longer had full enthusiasm for his job.

"I accept Tim's decision and wish him well," Garrett said in a
statement.

The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Miss., first reported Floyd's
resignation. He is from Hattiesburg.

His departure signals another reversal of fortune for the
basketball program since the season ended.

In May, YahooSports.com reported that Louis Johnson, a former
associate of Mayo's, told federal and NCAA investigators that
Floyd paid $1,000 in cash to Rodney Guillory, who steered Mayo
to USC.

Johnson, a former associate of Guillory, has previously alleged
Guillory received hundreds of thousands of dollars from a sports
agency that he partially funneled to Mayo.

Mayo played one season for the Trojans before leaving for the
NBA, where he plays for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Floyd has never addressed the allegations involving Mayo.

If the NCAA can prove Floyd paid to have Mayo delivered to USC,
that would be considered a major violation. The Trojans could be
forced to forfeit victories, and they could face recruiting
restrictions and lose scholarships.

USC's powerhouse football team is already under NCAA
investigation for allegations that former Heisman Trophy-winning
running back Reggie Bush and his family received money and free
rent from would-be marketers.

"The university is cooperating fully in the continuing
investigation with the NCAA and Pac-10 into all allegations of
NCAA and Pac-10 rules violations at USC," Todd Dickey, senior
vice president-administration, said in the statement. "The
university, the NCAA and Pac-10 have jointly conducted
interviews of approximately 50 witnesses. No conclusions have
yet been reached. At this point, it would be both inappropriate
and premature to comment further."

USC officials later sent an e-mail confirming that Floyd had
quit and reprinting his statement that appeared in the
newspaper.

His resignation letter read:

"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 no 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 my self 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."

Floyd had an 85-50 record at USC. Last season he guided the
Trojans to their third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance -
a first in school history. They lost in the second round to
Michigan State after winning the Pac-10 tournament for the first
time.

In April, Floyd visited Arizona to discuss its vacant coaching
position. But he spurned the Wildcats, saying he was staying at
USC. A year ago, Floyd was offered the coaching job at his alma
mater Louisiana State and turned it down, saying at the time,
"This is my last job at SC."

In mid-May, Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood denied that
Floyd was offered the Arizona job, and said he had asked Floyd
about the reports surrounding his relationship with Mayo.

"I asked him the question," Livengood said. "He said there's
nothing to that. So end of question. We didn't go any farther.
We didn't need to go any farther."

The day he met reporters to say he wasn't going to Arizona,
Floyd said, "This is still my last job."

That day Garrett called Floyd a "tremendous asset" to USC's
basketball program at a school where the nationally ranked
football team dominates.

"The future is very bright here under Tim's direction," Garrett
said at the time. "We talked today, and we expressed our
commitment to each other. We are both excited about our
prospects for next season, especially if we have the team we
think we'll have."

But the Trojans won't have some key players next season.

Starters DeMar DeRozan, Taj Gibson and Daniel Hackett, along
with Marcus Johnson, have declared for the upcoming NBA draft
and the Trojans have lost recruits since the season ended.
Floyd's departure could cause other recruits to reconsider their
commitment to the Trojans.

The 55-year-old coach had three years remaining on his contract.

Garrett said a search to hire a new coach would begin
immediately.

Floyd's other college stints were at Iowa State, New Orleans and
Idaho. His combined record in 16 years at the college level was
328-180. He coached the NBA's Chicago Bulls from 1999-2002 and
the New Orleans Hornets from 2003-04.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/101658-Floyd-resigns-as-USC-coach-amid-Mayo-allegations</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/101658-Floyd-resigns-as-USC-coach-amid-Mayo-allegations</guid>
				<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:26:50 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
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				<title><![CDATA[USC's Marcus Johnson gets extra year]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[LOS ANGELES(AP) -- Southern California forward Marcus Johnson has
been granted another year of eligibility.

Coach Tim Floyd said Thursday that the NCAA granted a "season of
competition" waiver for Johnson on the condition that he be
withheld from the first two games of the 2009-10 season, when he
will be considered a senior.

Johnson applied for the waiver because he competed in just one
exhibition game during the 2007-08 season at Connecticut before
transferring to USC.

He averaged 3.1 points and 1.8 rebounds while playing 16 games
for the Trojans last season. Johnson sat out the first 11 games
after transferring from Connecticut, and then missed seven games
with a strained rotator cuff.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/99771-USCs-Marcus-Johnson-gets-extra-year</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/99771-USCs-Marcus-Johnson-gets-extra-year</guid>
				<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2009 00:41:10 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Attorney: NCAA believes Floyd accuser]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By ANDREW BAGNATO
AP Sports Writer

In the case of Southern California coach Tim Floyd's recruitment
of O.J. Mayo, it might come down to a case of he said vs. he
said.

Louis Johnson, a former associate of Mayo's, has told federal
and NCAA investigators that Floyd gave $1,000 in cash to a man
who helped steer the star player to the Trojans, according to
Johnson's attorney, Anthony V. Salerno.

Floyd has yet to respond to the allegations, which first
appeared in a Yahoo! Sports report.

"That's really the whole thing: who do you believe?" Salerno
told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "Tim Floyd had a motive
to pay O.J. Mayo to get there. Louis really doesn't have any
motives. He doesn't have an ax to grind against Tim Floyd."

Salerno said he thinks investigators believe Johnson's story.
Johnson has told them that he accompanied Mayo's handler, Rodney
Guillory, to a meeting with Floyd at a Beverly Hills cafe on
Valentine's Day 2007, and that Guillory emerged with an envelope
stuffed with $100 bills.

"I don't think they've expressed any indication that they don't
believe him," Salerno said, referring to NCAA investigators.
"And for what it's worth, I think the U.S. government, through
the Justice Department, believes him too."

Johnson's account comes as USC deals with allegations that 2005
Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush received improper benefits for
a sports marketing agent while at USC.

If the NCAA can prove Floyd paid Guillory for delivering Mayo to
USC, that would be considered a major violation. The Trojans
could be forced to forfeit victories, and they may face
recruiting restrictions and lose scholarships.

USC athletic department spokesman Tim Tessalone said the school
could not comment on an ongoing NCAA investigation. Pac-10
spokesman David Hirsch said the conference would have no
comment.

The NCAA does not comment about ongoing investigations.

As the latest report on Mayo's recruitment shook USC, there was
a sense of relief at the University of Arizona, which had
courted Floyd this spring.

Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood, speaking from Tucson,
denied he had offered Floyd the job. But he said he had asked
Floyd about the reports surrounding his relationship with Mayo.

"I asked him the question," Livengood said. "He said there's
nothing to that. So end of question. We didn't go any farther.
We didn't need to go any farther."

Mayo played one season at USC, leading the Trojans to a 21-12
record and an NCAA tournament berth. He was drafted by the
Memphis Grizzlies with the third overall pick. He was runner-up
for the NBA's Rookie of the Year award to Chicago's Derrick
Rose.

The 55-year-old Floyd has led the Trojans to the NCAA tournament
three consecutive seasons, a first in the program's history, and
this season he coached them to the Pac-10 tournament title.

Floyd has an 85-50 record in four seasons at USC and has three
years left on his contract, with a base pay reported to be about
$850,000.

Salerno said he wonders why Floyd has not disputed Johnson's
account if it's false.

"Tim Floyd easily could have said, 'That's baloney, it's
slanderous and not true, I never did that,"' Salerno said. "In
my opinion, it's kind of damning, his being silent. It's not
like this is a criminal case for him. It's not like this is a
subtle allegation. It's black and white.

"Why doesn't he just come out and deny it?" Salerno said.

Johnson had described Guillory as a "runner" who steered Mayo to
the Bill Duffy Associates (BDA) sports agency. Johnson said
Guillory received between $200,000 and $250,000 from BDA Sports
for his efforts, which resulted in Mayo initially signing with
BDA when he left USC after one season for the NBA in April 2008.

Mayo had switched to agent Leon Rose before he was drafted.

Salerno said Johnson has only told authorities about one
payment, but Salerno added that "it would be naive to think
there weren't more payments."

Salerno told Yahoo! Sports that Johnson's account to federal
authorities carried the threat of potential prosecution if
Johnson was found to be lying.

Salerno declined to make Johnson available for an interview.
Salerno said Johnson's allegations have put his client "in a
tough spot because he's trying to do the right thing, being a
good citizen."

"But when you do that, you get labeled a snitch, so it's
difficult for him," Salerno said. "He's actually concerned for
his safety in some respects. There are some unsavory characters
involved here."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/97449-Attorney-NCAA-believes-Floyd-accuser</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/97449-Attorney-NCAA-believes-Floyd-accuser</guid>
				<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2009 05:45:46 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[USC coach accused of paying Mayo associate]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[LOS ANGELES(AP) -- A former associate of NBA star O.J. Mayo has
told Yahoo! Sports that Southern California basketball coach Tim
Floyd paid to help get Mayo to play for the Trojans.

In a story posted Tuesday night at Yahoo! Sports, Louis Johnson,
the former associate of Mayo's, said Rodney Guillory told
Johnson that Floyd had given Guillory "a grand." Johnson said he
was able to view $100 bills inside an envelope Guillory had.

Johnson said the payment occurred in 2007. Guillory is a
confidant of Mayo's; last year, Johnson accused Guillory of
providing Mayo with improper benefits from an agent while the
guard played for USC.

Yahoo! Sports reported Johnson has told NCAA investigators and
federal authorities - including the FBI, IRS and U.S. Attorney's
Office - that Floyd paid Guillory.

If Floyd did pay Guillory for delivering Mayo to USC, that would
be a major NCAA violation.

Yahoo! Sports also reported that Southern California is the
subject of an NCAA investigation into alleged improprieties in
both the football and men's basketball programs.

The football probe stems from allegations of 2005 Heisman Trophy
winner Reggie Bush receiving improper benefits for a sports
marketing agent while at USC.

Guillory and Floyd declined to comment to Yahoo! about the
latest accusations by Johnson.

USC general counsel Carol Mauch Amir also declined comment.

The NCAA does not comment about ongoing investigations.

Johnson had described Guillory as a "runner" who steered Mayo to
the Bill Duffy Associates (BDA) sports agency. Johnson said
Guillory received between $200,000 and $250,000 from BDA Sports
for his efforts, which resulted in Mayo initially signing with
BDA when he left USC after one season for the NBA in April 2008.

Mayo had switched to agent Leon Rose before he was drafted third
overall by Memphis last year and was runner-up for the NBA's
Rookie of the Year award to Chicago's Derrick Rose.

Johnson's attorneys, Anthony V. Salerno and David Murphy,
confirmed to Yahoo! Sports that Johnson had told FBI, IRS and
U.S. Attorney's Office investigators on May 28, 2008, about his
account of the payment from Floyd to Guillory. Two weeks later,
Johnson told the NCAA, according to the attorneys.

Salerno told Yahoo! Sports that Johnson's account to federal
authorities carried the threat of potential prosecution if
Johnson was found to be lying.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/97278-USC-coach-accused-of-paying-Mayo-associate</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/97278-USC-coach-accused-of-paying-Mayo-associate</guid>
				<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2009 03:01:38 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Walton helps Michigan State reach regional semis]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- An unexpected scoring binge from the Big 
Ten's defensive player of the year propelled Michigan State to a
familiar place.

Travis Walton scored a career-high 18 points to lift the 
second-seeded Spartans to a 74-69 victory over 10th-seeded USC 
on Sunday in the Midwest Regional, putting Michigan State in the
round of 16 for the eighth time in 12 years.

"I was shocked that he did make some of those shots," coach Tom 
Izzo said of Walton, who entered the game averaging 4.9 points 
and was shut out against Robert Morris in the first round.

Durell Summers added 11 points and eight rebounds for the 
Spartans (28-6), who have advanced to the regional semifinals 
more times in the last dozen years than any team besides Duke.

They'll play third-seeded Kansas on Friday in Indianapolis.

Dwight Lewis scored 19 points and DeMar DeRozan added 18 points 
for USC (22-13), which is starting to look like more than just a
football school under coach Tim Floyd.

Raymar Morgan calls Michigan State's backcourt of Walton and Big
Ten player of the year Kalin Lucas "Fire and Ice," with Lucas 
providing the heat on offense and Walton cooling down the 
opposing team's top perimeter threat on the other end of the 
floor.

"You look at me as a defensive stopper, but I've been practicing
my shot," Walton said. "Kalin put the ball in my hands. I had 
high confidence when I shot them and they went in."

Walton hadn't scored in double figures since he had 11 against 
Kansas on Jan. 10. But with the offense sputtering and the 
Trojans attacking, the senior could not have picked a better 
time to come through.

Floyd worried that the lack of depth -- three Trojans played all
40 minutes and star Taj Gibson played 36 against Boston College 
-- would hinder them against Michigan State, which goes 10 deep.
Gibson fouled out with 5:38 to play, but these kids showed 
plenty of California cool even without their leader on the 
floor.

Lewis scored six straight points for the Trojans, including two 
free throws that tied the game at 69 with less than 4 minutes to
go.

Walton drilled his third tie-breaking jumper of the final 10 
minutes on the other end. After Daniel Hackett lost the ball on 
a drive to the basket, Nikola Vucevic was whistled for a 
questionable foul on Goran Suton. Floyd flopped to the court in 
fury, but Suton made both free throws for a 73-69 lead with 1:19
to go.

Lewis and Hackett missed 3-pointers on the other end and the 
Trojans missed their final nine shots from the field to help the
Spartans survive.

After going a perfect 10-for-10 with 24 points and six rebounds 
in the Trojans' opening-round victory over BC on Friday, Gibson 
scored just three points with no rebounds and five blocks in 23 
minutes.

With USC out, the Pac-10 only has one team remaining in the 
field in Arizona. California, Washington, UCLA and Arizona State
also failed to make it out of the first weekend, making it the 
first time since 2004 that at least two Pac-10 teams aren't in 
the round of 16.

But the best may be yet to come for these Trojans, who have 
appeared in a school-record three straight NCAA tournaments. 
DeRozan, Leonard Washington (10 points, seven rebounds) and 
Vucevic (six points, four boards in 22 minutes) are freshmen. If
Hackett, Lewis and Gibson return for their senior years and 
DeRozen sticks around, the Trojans will be loaded.

"I'm really proud of them," Floyd said. "We're a team that has 
talent, and it's young talent. ... If there's some way we can 
keep them together, we have a chance to be a very special team."

For Walton, there is no next year.

In the last 12 years, every Spartan who has stayed four years 
has played in a Final Four.

Now, thanks to his 8-for-13 shooting, Michigan State has a 
chance to keep that impressive and treasured statistic going.

"I was surprised. I am sure Tim was," Izzo said. "I am sure 
their players were. I am sure, if you are honest, our players 
were. Because he really hasn't shot the ball well lately."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/92322-Walton-helps-Michigan-State-reach-regional-semis</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/92322-Walton-helps-Michigan-State-reach-regional-semis</guid>
				<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:42:35 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[USC braces for battle with Michigan State]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By Jon Krawczynski
AP Sports Writer

(10) Michigan State (22-12_ vs. (2) Michigan State (27-6), 5:00 p.m. EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- In NCAA tournaments past, a matchup between 
the Big Ten and Pac-10 usually meant contrasting styles.

In the Big Ten, a pair of brass knuckles often would get you 
further than a silky smooth jumper.

In the Pac-10, freewheeling finesse was preferred to football on
the hardwood.

But when second-seeded Michigan State plays 10th-seeded USC on 
Sunday in the second round of the Midwest Regional, don't expect
any floating and stinging from the Pac-10 tournament champions. 
These teams are a lot closer than the 2,200 miles that separates
the two campuses.

The Trojans have made a renewed commitment to defense and 
rebounding since Tim Floyd took over as coach four seasons ago. 
The former Iowa State coach has injected this Hollywood squad 
with some toughness from the heartland, and it has never been 
more evident than in USC's six-game winning streak.

"We have determined defenders, like Tom (Izzo) does," Floyd said
of the Spartans coach. "I don't know that they are as good as 
Tom's. I've never seen five guys sustain a stance like they 
sustain a stance. Sincerely beautiful to watch, how hard they 
play."

That's nothing new for Michigan State.

The Spartans have made their name on the defensive end for 
decades, starting with Jud Heathcote, the dean of the old 
school. He passed the philosophy to Izzo, who continues to make 
defense and rebounding as much a part of Michigan State's 
identity as green and white.

"Both teams play phenomenal defense," USC forward Taj Gibson 
said. "Our coach stresses us to rebound the ball and, as you 
look at them, they are one of the top rebounding teams in the 
country."

Michigan State leads the nation with a plus-10.3 rebounding 
margin, but doesn't hesitate to get out and run, either. Speedy 
Kalin Lucas leads the break with Travis Walton and Raymar Morgan
on the wings to get easy buckets off outlet passes from Goran 
Suton on the block.

Ditto the Trojans, who have five athletic starters who are 
6-foot-5 or taller, and all of them love to attack the rim.

After slogging through the Big Ten season while dealing with 
Morgan's walking pneumonia and Suton's sore knees, the Spartans 
showed they are ready to roll with a dominant effort against 
15th-seeded Robert Morris on Friday night.

Morgan converted an alley-oop pass to put Michigan State on the 
board just 4 seconds into the game, and the Spartans 
outrebounded the Colonials 49-28 and outscored them 44-20 in the
paint.

"I think our teams are similar," Izzo said. "They have been 
playing their best basketball the last four, five, six games, 
and I am not sure we're there yet, to be very honest with you. 
But I think it's exciting to think that maybe we could get 
there. And yet the unknown makes it a little bit difficult."

Floyd has watched his young team's confidence soar during their 
recent success -- the school's first Pac-10 tourney title and a 
win against seventh-seeded Boston College in the first round.

With Marcus Simmons shutting down another super-quick point 
guard in BC's high-scoring Tyrese Rice, the Trojans limited the 
Eagles to just six field goals in the second half and held them 
to a season-low 32.7 percent shooting for the game.

After the 72-55 victory, USC forward Leonard Washington wore a 
gash under his eye like a badge of honor.

"I caught an elbow, it split me open," Washington said. "Instead
of getting stitches, I got it glued up."

A remedy right out of the Heathcote's medicine cabinet, no 
doubt.

It was the 14th time this season USC held an opponent to 60 
points or less. The Spartans have done it 16 times, though they 
did it in the offensively challenged Big Ten.

"I do see a little similarity between the way we play," Walton 
said. "I know they run opportunities when they can get them, and
lately they have been playing pretty good defense and rebounding
the ball really good. That's been kind of their key to winning.

"We do the same thing, and that's been our key, rebounding and 
defense."

If one team holds an advantage, it would appear to be Michigan 
State with its depth. Izzo routinely plays 10 players and not 
one of them logged more than 25 minutes in the game against 
Robert Morris.

Floyd doesn't have that luxury. Dwight Lewis, star freshman 
DeMar DeRozan and Daniel Hackett, who played all 120 minutes in 
the Pac-10 tourney, never sat down against BC. Gibson, who went 
10-for-10 and scored 24 points, got only four minutes of rest.

"When it's do-or-die and guys just want to win games, the 
fatigue doesn't matter," Gibson said. "You just want to go out 
there and play hard, because there's always time to ice down and
time for rest. But these memories last forever."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/92248-USC-braces-for-battle-with-Michigan-State</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/92248-USC-braces-for-battle-with-Michigan-State</guid>
				<pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:34:03 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Gibson's perfect shooting sends USC past BC]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- In Southern California, good looks mean a 
lot.

Well, Taj Gibson was a perfect 10 for the Trojans, and way out 
of Boston College's league.

Gibson had 24 points on 10-for-10 shooting from the field, 
sending the 10th-seeded Trojans to a 72-55 victory over Boston 
College in the first round of the NCAA tournament Friday night.

Adding six rebounds, five assists and three blocks, Gibson 
epitomized USC's fast-breaking, take-it-to-the-hoop, athletic 
style.

"Just helping my team any way I can, and trying not to pick up 
that fifth foul," he said. "I knew the offense was going to 
come."

Dwight Lewis scored 20 points and shut down star Eagles guard 
Tyrese Rice, and DeMar DeRozan added 18 points and nine 
rebounds. USC (22-12), which went 1-6 in February, maintained 
the momentum from last week's Pac-10 tournament title and 
advanced to Sunday's second round against second seed Michigan 
State.

For Gibson, this was the ultimate team effort. That's an 
attribute that seemed to have been missing at times last season,
when O.J. Mayo was getting most of the attention in his only 
season with the Trojans before leaving for the NBA.

"We understand that it takes us, as a family, to win games," 
Gibson said.

His perfect shooting was the second-best performance in NCAA 
tournament history with a minimum 10 attempts, behind Kenny 
Walker's 11-for-11 for Kentucky 1986. Gibson matched Marvin 
Barnes of Providence and Christian Laettner of Duke, who were 
10-for-10 in 1973 and 1992, respectively.

"That's just the type of player Taj is. He's the heart of this 
team," said sixth-man Leonard Washington.

Corey Raji led No. 7 seed Boston College (22-12) with 15 points.
The Eagles made only one field goal in a dreadful stretch of 
nearly 13 minutes that ultimately sent them back to Beantown.

"Obviously we didn't execute as well as we needed to," coach Al 
Skinner said. "We were impatient at times."

All BC's misses made it easier for the Trojans to start their 
transition game and speed to the other end. Rice went 1-for-6 
from 3-point range and finished with nine points, and USC 
improved to 13-0 this season when holding an opponent under 60.

"It's going to be real tough losing such a good teammate and a 
great leader," Raji said. "I wish him the best of success in the
future."

Buried in a power-packed, sports-crazy market beneath all those 
trophies accumulated this decade by the Celtics, Patriots and 
Red Sox, Boston College again arrived at the tournament without 
much buzz. Now in the tradition-cloaked Atlantic Coast 
Conference, it's even harder for the Eagles to distinguish 
themselves. Coming off a 14-17 season, they were picked to 
finish 11th out of 12 in the ACC last fall.

"Of course I wanted to do more, but overall it was a pretty good
year," Rice said. "I can't really complain. I definitely wanted 
to make more of a run in the tournament, but that's how it is 
sometimes. That's how it was my sophomore and my freshman year."

USC is long and lean, and the relentless leaping for rebounds, 
tips, dunks and blocks began to pay dividends down the stretch. 
Reggie Jackson's 3-pointer put BC up 44-41, but then the Trojans
started their push.

Daniel Hackett swatted away a shot and zinged a pass up court to
Gibson for a dunk to finish an 11-0 run. Later, after two misses
by USC, DeRozan rose above the paint and tipped in the third try
for a 56-47 lead.

Gibson tossed in a too-easy turnaround in the lane soon after, 
giving him the perfect 10.

"Our big men were in foul trouble so they were a little bit 
cautious about fouling Gibson, but he's a tough player, a great 
player," Raji said. "Unfortunately we just didn't have the 
bodies up there to stop him."

Last year, Mayo and the Trojans were a No. 6 seed, but Michael 
Beasley and Kansas State knocked them out in the first game. 
This time, there's been more balance and stronger camaraderie 
led by the junior core of Gibson, Lewis and Hackett, the Italian
stallion point guard who played all 120 minutes in the Pac-10 
tournament and all 40 minutes in this game.

DeRozan is the new fabulous freshman, and he has made a strong 
impression on his teammates.

"He asks for guidance sometimes. That's amazing," Gibson said, 
adding: "He's a team player. That's what we needed this year, 
and it's been working out for us."

Gibson, the glue, exerted himself throughout this game.

He blocked a shot underneath toward the end of the first half, 
and Washington followed with a strong inside move and a basket 
on the other end. After an Eagles miss, Gibson attacked the 
glass, drew a foul during his layup for a three-point play and 
landed with a scowl framing his full beard and shaved scalp.

The Trojans completed a 9-0 run on their next possession with a 
fastbreak basket by DeRozan and went up 27-23. For the first 
three-quarters of the game, the Eagles responded to every charge
by the Trojans. They led 34-30 at the half, which didn't make 
USC coach Tim Floyd happy. He used the Kansas State loss to get 
them going.

"I liked the maturity in the locker room after it was over," 
Floyd said. "They understand that it is a tournament. It's not a
one-game series, winner take all."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/92171-Gibsons-perfect-shooting-sends-USC-past-BC</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/92171-Gibsons-perfect-shooting-sends-USC-past-BC</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 21 Mar 2009 05:17:58 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[USC puts DeRozan on display against BC]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By Dave Campbell
AP Sports Writer

(10) USC (21-12) vs. (7) Boston College (22-11), 7:20 p.m. EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- DeMar DeRozan, the latest fab freshman to be
featured by Southern California, approached Trojans coach Tim 
Floyd at his first college practice and earnestly asked for 
patience.

The sleek, 6-foot-7 kid from Compton came with plenty of talent 
and potential. The lessons learned in high school, he 
acknowledged, didn't include much on playing defense or setting 
screens and such in the half court.

DeRozan, whose late surge helped USC win the Pac-10 tournament 
and draw a No. 10 seed in the Midwest region, brought the right 
attitude, though.

"He came in without ego, and just as a listener," Floyd said, as
the Trojans (21-12) prepared to play seventh seed Boston College
in the first round Friday night at the Metrodome. "He's just 
gotten better and better."

DeRozan averaged 15 points over USC's last 24 games, including a
series of head-turning performances during the Pac-10 tourney in
Los Angeles that quickly placed the Trojans on the experts' list
of low-seeded teams to watch in this year's NCAA tournament. 
Against Cal, he had 17 points and 11 rebounds. In a 10-point 
victory over UCLA, DeRozan put up 21 points and 13 rebounds. 
Then in the final against Arizona State, he scored a career-high
25.

"Just brings a lot of effort. Real strong leader," teammate Taj 
Gibson said. "You don't see that much in a lot of freshman, but 
he stepped up to the plate. As you can see in the Pac-10 
tournament, he made key plays late in the championship game. And
his development? There's more to come."

Last year, O.J. Mayo hogged the headlines while averaging more 
than 20 points per game in his one and only season with the 
Trojans, who lost in the first round of the NCAA tourney to 
Kansas State. This time, with a maturing junior core consisting 
of Gibson, Dwight Lewis and Daniel Hackett, USC might be more 
balanced.

If they can get by BC (22-11), No. 2 seed Michigan State will 
likely await.

"I think a lot of people is betting on us," DeRozan said, "but 
we really aren't going to pay no mind to it. We just try to go 
out there and put in work and ... give a great game."

The Trojans sure weren't a lock to get in until they secured the
automatic bid. They went 1-6 in February to fall to 7-9 in the 
Pac-10, before regrouping and beating Oregon and Oregon State in
their final two regular season games. Health was a problem, 
though. They had the entire team available for only five 
contests this season. Notably, Lewis missed two games to a 
sprained ankle in February, sixth-man Marcus Johnson sat out 
seven times with a strained rotator cuff, and forward Leonard 
Johnson was absent from four conference games because of a 
sprained ankle.

"I wasn't worried at all," Lewis said. "We had a lot of injuries
this season. We're getting healthy at the right time, and 
hopefully we're able to put it together and make a great run. 
We're just trying to ride this run as far as we can."

After missing the tournament altogether last season, the Eagles 
have returned to the field for the seventh time in the last nine
years. Floyd called counterpart Al Skinner "the best coach that 
nobody ever talks about."

Skinner, well, didn't have a whole lot to say, either, 
preferring not to delve too deeply into the subject of respect.

"It's not something we focus in on," he said, adding: "I'm not 
going to allow any of that to influence us. If we did, we would 
have ended up in 11th place in the ACC."

They nearly beat Duke for a second time this season, falling 
66-65 in the ACC tournament quarterfinals last weekend after an 
80-74 win at home in February. The Eagles also defeated North 
Carolina and Maryland at home, but suffered a stunning loss on 
that same court in Chestnut Hill to Harvard.

So it's no surprise, especially to the Eagles, that there isn't 
much buzz around the country about them right now.

"That's nothing new when it comes to us," star guard Tyrese Rice
said. "I mean, even my freshman year we were the No. 10 team in 
the country and still didn't get any respect. So it doesn't mean
anything to me."

That year, Boston College advanced to the regional semifinals 
and lost to Villanova -- here at the Metrodome, actually. This 
time, there's nothing saying that can't happen again.

"Once you get into the tournament, anything can happen," Rice 
said. "And whoever gets hot at the right time at the right point
of the game can just roll on you. So it's basically whoever gets
hot."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/92077-USC-puts-DeRozan-on-display-against-BC</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/92077-USC-puts-DeRozan-on-display-against-BC</guid>
				<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:52:57 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Southern Cal rallies past Arizona State to win Pac-10]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Southern California's defensive style is
man-to-man. The Trojans don't pressure full-court, and yet 
that's what earned them the school's first Pac-10 tournament 
championship.

Daniel Hackett hit the tying and go-ahead free throws with 42 
seconds remaining and USC held on for a 66-63 victory over No. 
23 Arizona State on Saturday to win the Pac-10 tournament 
championship.

Freshman DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points, Hackett added 19 and 
Dwight Lewis 13 for the sixth-seeded Trojans (21-12), who 
overcame a 15-point halftime deficit to become the lowest seed 
to win the tourney.

James Harden, the Pac-10 player of the year, missed a free 
throw, a layup and a 3-pointer in the final 50 seconds for the 
fourth-seeded Sun Devils (24-9). They were led by Jeff 
Pendergraph with 20 points and Derek Glasser with 16 in the 
school's first appearance in the title game.

A stunned Pendergraph couldn't describe his emotions afterward, 
saying, "It's a lot of stuff and I don't want to say something 
crazy."

The Trojans had been 0-3 in league tourney finals, losing to 
Oregon in 2003 and 2007 and to Arizona in 2002. The previous 
lowest-seeded team to win was Oregon six years ago. USC split 
with the Sun Devils during the regular season.

"We focused on our practice and preparation and we took it one 
game at a time," Hackett said. "It got us to a championship."

DeRozan was named the tournament's most outstanding player, and 
USC fans responded by chanting "One More Year!" to the rookie 
who may be headed to the NBA draft.

"He played like a man, not a freshman," Hackett said. "He came 
in with a goal in mind, to make something at this school."

Lewis hit a 3-pointer in front of USC's bench that left the 
Trojans trailing 63-62 with 1:01 remaining. Harden was called 
for an offensive foul and turnover at ASU's end, putting Hackett
at the line with 42 seconds left. He made both to give USC a 
64-63 lead, its first since the game's opening minutes.

Harden missed a layup with 19 seconds to go. Gibson got the 
block and the defensive rebound and was fouled by Glasser. 
Gibson made one of two free throws for a 65-63 lead.

"Taj just blocked my shot," Harden said. "They play a unique 
style of defense. They play man and they guard their man."

Harden missed a 3-pointer over Gibson with four seconds to play.
Harden finished with 10 points, well under his 21.1 average.

Gibson, the league's defensive player of the year, twice got the
better of Harden when the two faced off in the final 19 seconds.
First, Gibson blocked Harden's layup attempt, then he altered 
Harden's shot on the 3-point attempt.

"I was like, `Oh man, the rocker step is coming. Coach has faith
in you, don't let him down,'" Gibson said he told himself as 
Harden came at him. "I was able to get a lucky block and 
rebound."

The Trojans inbounded and Lewis was fouled. He missed the first 
and made the second for a 66-63 lead. Glasser's 3-pointer from 
the far left sideline was off the mark at the buzzer.

Hackett climbed on the scorer's table and pumped his arm to the 
cheers of USC's fans. Lewis carried a cooler of Gatorade onto 
the court, but was discouraged from dumping it.

USC turned up its defense to start the second half, pressing the
Sun Devils full-court and getting a couple of key steals by Taj 
Gibson. The Trojans opened on a 29-16 run, including 13 points 
by DeRozan and nine by Lewis, to close to 55-53 with 8:42 
remaining.

"We just told them to muck the game up and start trapping," USC 
coach Tim Floyd said. "The press got us more aggressive 
offensively."

During that stretch, the Trojans scored eight in a row, helped 
on one sequence with a block by Gibson and the defensive rebound
by Hackett, who passed to DeRozan for the basket and a foul.

"They came out and they certainly hit us between the eyes to 
start the second half with that flurry," ASU coach Herb Sendek 
said. "It led to some easy baskets for them and turned the 
momentum."

After getting beat inside in the first half, when the Sun Devils
owned a 14-6 edge in the paint, the Trojans drove to the basket 
in the final 20 minutes and it paid off with dunks by DeRozan, 
Lewis and Gibson. But USC was shaky from the line over the final
six minutes, going 6-of-10.

The Sun Devils shot 64 percent from 3-point range in the first 
half, with six of their last eight field goals coming from 
beyond the arc. Harden was scoreless with five assists when he 
hit back-to-back treys to end the half with the Sun Devils 
leading 39-24.

USC twice tied the game, the last time on Hackett's jumper with 
10:40 remaining. But then Ty Abbott launched the 3-point barrage
that put the Trojans behind by double-digits.

Coming off a 65-55 semifinal upset of No. 15 UCLA, the Trojans 
wanted the victory to earn the automatic NCAA tournament berth 
that goes with the title. Now they're guaranteed to receive 
their third invitation in coach Tim Floyd's fourth season.

"When they're taking every team from the Big East, you feel like
there's not that many spots left," he said. "We're very relieved
we're going to the NCAA tournament. I'm very proud of these guys
for not surrendering."

A year ago, USC lost in the first round to Kansas State.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/91726-Southern-Cal-rallies-past-Arizona-State-to-win-Pac-10</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/91726-Southern-Cal-rallies-past-Arizona-State-to-win-Pac-10</guid>
				<pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2009 01:42:49 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Upstart USC faces Arizona State for Pac-10 crown]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By Jeff Mezydlo
Stats Senior Writer

USC (20-12) vs. (23) Arizona State (24-8), 6:00 p.m. EDT

TEMPE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Arizona State knows it has a spot in 
the NCAA  Tournament.  Southern California is not nearly as 
confident.

The surging Trojans need one last upset to join the No. 23 Sun 
Devils in the NCAA field as both try for their first Pac-10 
tournament title Saturday at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Paced by 24 points and nine rebounds from Pac-10 Player of the 
Year James Harden, fourth-seeded Arizona State (24-8) blew a 
21-point lead, but still beat 13th-ranked and No. 1 seed 
Washington 75-65 in Friday's first semifinal.

The Sun Devils, who were 3-10 in tournament play entering this 
season's event, are in the title game for the first time.

"I think it's important for us to stay in the moment, enjoy the 
moment and be ready for (Saturday)," said Arizona State coach 
Herb Sendek, whose team went 21-13 last season and missed the 
NCAA tournament.

USC (20-12), meanwhile, is exactly where it needs to be to have 
a chance at returning to the NCAA field.  The Trojans, who went 
9-9 in the league and beat Georgia Tech -- the last place team 
in the ACC -- for their only significant non-conference victory,
need to win this tournament to earn the automatic bid.

"We're standing real high right now," said freshman DeMar 
DeRozan, who had 21 points and 13 rebounds in USC's 65-55 
semifinal upset of 15th-ranked and second-seeded UCLA on Friday 
to reach the title game for the second time in three years.  
"We've got to come out (Saturday) focused and prepared."

The teams split their regular-season games. The 6-foot-7 DeRozan
had 22 points and eight rebounds in a 61-49 home win over the 
then-No. 16 Sun Devils on January 15 as Harden went 0-for-8 from
the field and finished with four points.

Arizona State won 65-53 over the Trojans at home on February 15 
in a game where USC coach Tim Floyd was given two technical 
fouls and ejected with 47.9 seconds remaining for arguing an 
offensive foul.  Floyd needed to be escorted off the floor by 
security guards and drew attention with his post-game comments.

"We cannot discuss those things," Floyd said after the game.  
"We don't have freedom of speech as coaches. Maybe (President 
Barack) Obama will change that rule, and we can talk."

That incident should spark some emotion for the Trojans in the 
rematch, but that might not be enough to overtake the Sun 
Devils. Arizona State is shooting 51.7 percent and averaging 
75.3 points in winning three straight over California, Arizona 
and Washington.

Though Harden was held to 13 points last month versus the 
Trojans, he has scored 51 on 53.3 percent shooting with 17 
rebounds through two tournament games.

Jeff Pendergraph had 18 points and Derek Glasser added 16 on 
Friday for the Sun Devils, who outscored Washington 17-5 in the 
final six minutes.

"We knew they were going to go on a run," Harden said. "All we 
had to do was keep our composure. We're conditioned to play 40 
minutes."

Glasser is averaging 8.3 points, but 15.5 against the Trojans 
this season.

As USC again tries to keep Harden in check, it should have some 
confidence after holding UCLA to a season-low 27.1 percent 
shooting.

The Trojans, who have won four in a row after losing six of 
seven, have three runner-up finishes in the Pac-10 tournament.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/91683-Upstart-USC-faces-Arizona-State-for-Pac-10-crown</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/91683-Upstart-USC-faces-Arizona-State-for-Pac-10-crown</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:36:53 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[USC storms past UCLA]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Southern California ended February with 
six losses in seven games, its postseason hopes quickly fading.

That was then, this is now.

Playing with a frantic sense of urgency, the Trojans forced UCLA
into its worst shooting performance of the season Friday night 
and upset the 15th-ranked Bruins 65-55 in the Pac-10 tournament 
semifinals.

Now the Trojans have won four in a row and advance to Saturday's
league tourney title game for the first time in two years.  
They'll try to win it for the first time against No. 23 Arizona 
State (24-8) after three runner-up finishes.

"People buried us because we lost six of seven," USC coach Tim 
Floyd said.  "We get to live to fight another day."

Freshman DeMar DeRozan had 21 points and 13 rebounds, Dwight 
Lewis added 14 points and Taj Gibson had 13 points and 11 
rebounds for the Trojans (20-12).  They split twice with the Sun
Devils in the regular season.

"We just stuck together, nobody panicked," Gibson said.  "We 
were guarding, denying screens, rebounding the ball. We just 
guarded."

Josh Shipp scored 19 points and Nikola Dragovic added 12 for the
Bruins (25-8), who shot a season-low 27 percent (19-of-70) from 
the field and trailed the entire game.  They swept the Trojans 
in the regular season, but were denied a second straight berth 
in the tourney title game as their five-game winning streak 
ended.

"We got good open looks," UCLA's Darren Collison said.  "They 
played good defense and they had a lot of interior help."

The Bruins were seeking a couple more victories to try to 
improve their NCAA Tournament seeding and be able to stay in the
West, where they advanced out of the last three years to make 
the Final Four.

"This was really a missed opportunity," coach Ben Howland said. 
"This could have really helped us if we'd won today and 
tomorrow."

The sixth-seeded Trojans needed a big win to bolster their NCAA 
tournament hopes, and their defense delivered.

They shut down Collison, UCLA's leading scorer who was held to 
four points -- 10 under his average and had a season-high seven 
turnovers in his final Pac-10 tourney.  He also had four points 
in a February win against the Trojans.

"Darren's back really affected him, especially on back-to-back 
nights," Howland said, referring to Collison's sore tailbone 
that he hurt last weekend.

But Collison downplayed his condition, saying, "I'm never going 
to make excuses."

The Bruins were forced into shooting from the perimeter, and 
they were off the mark repeatedly.

"We just couldn't hit shots," Collison said.  "They came out 
with great intensity and focus and they played desperately. We 
didn't play to our level."

The Trojans opened the game on a 20-9 run, with Lewis hitting 
back-to-back 3-pointers and DeRozan dunking twice to the raucous
cheers of USC's fans.

The Bruins struggled offensively, hitting 9-of-29 from the field
in the half and getting just two free throws from Collison.  
Their 31 percent shooting was the worst in a half this season, 
and got worse over the final 20 minutes.

But the second-seeded Bruins kept scrambling and outscored USC 
19-13, including 10 points by Shipp, to end the half trailing 
33-28. On their final possession, Collison missed a 3-pointer, 
but a couple of freshmen bailed him out.  Jrue Holiday grabbed 
the offensive rebound and Malcolm Lee's tipin beat the buzzer.

Shipp opened the second half with a 3-pointer that cut UCLA's 
deficit to 33-31.  The Bruins never got that close again in a 
messy game in which the teams combined for 42 turnovers.

DeRozan hit a 3-pointer and Daniel Hackett made a free throw 
with 2:44 remaining for a 57-42 lead, USC's largest of the game.

The Bruins made one final rally over the final 2 minutes, 
outscoring USC 13-8 to end the game, but it didn't matter. 
DeRozan hit 5-of-6 free throws in the last 1:33 to preserve the 
win.

"I kept my poise," he said.  "I pretended it was just another 
day in the gym practicing my free throws."

The outcome was a reversal of last year's semifinal meeting 
between the crosstown rivals, when UCLA won 57-54 and went on to
beat Stanford for the championship.  The win also allowed USC to
avenge its worst loss of the season, a 76-60 defeat on UCLA's 
home court Feb. 4.

The Trojans earned their 20th victory for the third consecutive 
season, a first-time feat at the school best known for its 
national championship-caliber football team under coach Pete 
Carroll, who was on hand.  Former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian sat
next to actor Denzel Washington, and dozens of NBA scouts were 
in attendance.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/91678-USC-storms-past-UCLA</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/91678-USC-storms-past-UCLA</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 14 Mar 2009 07:21:30 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[UCLA faces crosstown rival USC in Pac-10 semifinals]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By Matt Becker
Stats Senior Writer

Southern California (18-12) vs. No. 15 UCLA (24-7), 11:30 p.m. EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- With 30 Pac-10 championships and 11 NCAA
tournament titles, UCLA is the most celebrated basketball 
program in the nation.

Crosstown rival Southern California does not have the same 
illustrious history.

The 15th-ranked Bruins look to improve their NCAA tournament 
seeding and mover closer to their second consecutive conference 
tournament title Friday when they play the Trojans, who are 
seeking a signature victory to bolster their NCAA chances.

UCLA (25-7) defeated Washington State 64-53 in Thursday's 
conference tournament quarterfinals for its fifth consecutive 
victory.

"The team felt great. Everybody was really in it," guard Darren 
Collison said. "When our intensity is at a high level, it's 
going to be real tough to beat us."

UCLA's suffocating defense is making it tough for opponents to 
score.

The Bruins held the Cougars to 30.0 percent shooting and are 
allowing an average of 62.8 points on 40.9 percent shooting 
during their winning streak. UCLA gave up an average of 79.0 
points on 54.0 percent shooting in its previous four contests, 
losing three of them.

"We did a really good job defensively," Bruins coach Ben Howland
said. "That's definitely one of our best defensive efforts in 
quite a while and that's what it takes to win in postseason 
play."

UCLA defeated USC 57-54 in the semifinals of last season's 
conference tournament before beating Stanford 67-64 in the title
game.

The Bruins, who swept the two-game season series over their 
crosstown rival, have won four straight over the Trojans and 
nine of the last 11 meetings. USC, which has seven Pac-10 
championships, has never won an NCAA title.

Collison led UCLA with 18 points and six assists in a 64-60 
victory at USC on Jan. 11, but finished with just four points on
1-of-5 shooting in a 76-60 home win over the Trojans on Feb. 4.

Collision, who was named MVP of last season's conference 
tournament, led UCLA with 15 points Thursday and didn't seemed 
bothered by a bruised tailbone he suffered in the Bruins' 94-68 
win over Oregon in Saturday's regular-season finale.

While UCLA is a virtual lock for the NCAAs, USC greatly enhanced
its NCAA tournament chances with Thursday's 79-75 over 
third-seeded California in the quarterfinals. The Trojans nearly
destroyed their NCAA tournament hopes by closing February with 
six losses in seven games, but they have won three straight 
since to stay alive.

"I don't know, I really don't," USC coach Tim Floyd replied when
asked about the NCAA tournament. "Let's not forget that when we 
were healthy, we went to (No. 6) Oklahoma and lost by one.

"We're a pretty good sixth-place team. This is the first time 
we've been healthy since the Oklahoma game. We're a pretty good 
basketball team."

Taj Gibson led the Trojans with 21 points and 16 rebounds, while
Daniel Hackett made four free throws in the last 3.8 seconds to 
seal the victory.

Gibson is averaging 18.6 points in his last five games -- 4.0 
better than his team-leading average -- but didn't have much 
luck at UCLA five weeks ago, finishing with a season-low two 
points on 1-of-2 shooting.

Hackett had 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists Thursday,
while freshman DeMar DeRozan added 17 points, 11 rebounds and 
three blocks.

"We knew if we want to make the (NCAA) tournament we would have 
to win games," Hackett said.

USC has not been to the tournament title game since losing to 
Oregon in 2007.

The winner of this game plays either No. 13 Washington or 
23rd-ranked Arizona State in the championship Saturday.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/91589-UCLA-faces-crosstown-rival-USC-in-Pac-10-semifinals</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/91589-UCLA-faces-crosstown-rival-USC-in-Pac-10-semifinals</guid>
				<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:11:35 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Pondexter takes over to lead Washington past USC]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Quincy Pondexter scored 22 points on 
10-of-15 shooting to lead 19th-ranked Washington to a 60-51 
victory over Pac-10 foe Southern California on Saturday.

Jon Brockman added six points and 14 rebounds and Venoy Overton 
and Justin Dentmon each hit a pair of free throws in the final 
minute for the Huskies (20-7, 11-4 Pac-10), who bounced back 
from a loss at UCLA on Thursday and maintained first place in 
the conference.

"We see that it's within our reach," Washington coach Lorenzo 
Romar said of the Pac-10 championship to the Seattle 
Post-Intelligencer.

With USC up, 50-46, after Daniel Hackett's layup with 5:53 to 
play, Pondexter took over, scoring on each of Washington's next 
four possessions.

"Yeah, I definitely did," Pondexter told the paper when asked if
he felt that it was time to take over.  "I saw that our team was
struggling a little bit."

The Trojans (16-10, 7-7) managed only one point over the last 
5:52, getting outscored 14-1 down the stretch.

The Huskies led, 35-28, after Isaiah Thomas made a pair of 
layups to open the second half.  But USC quickly closed the gap,
turning up the defensive pressure during a 14-3 run over the 
next eight minutes to take a 42-38 lead with 10:41 remaining.

Washington missed 11 straight field-goal attempts during the 
spurt and finished with a weak 37 percent (22-of-59) effort from
the floor, including 1-of-11 from beyond the arc.

Pondexter snapped the field-goal drought with a jumper and the 
teams traded baskets until the Huskies took over down the 
stretch.

"Quincy Pondexter, from the opening tip, was just a man out 
there," Romar told the newspaper.

"It's just one of those games where everything falls into 
place," Pondexter said.

Hackett and Dwight Lewis each scored 11 points and Taj Gibson 
added 10 for the Trojans, who shot 39 percent (19-of-49) and 
watched their NCAA Tournament hopes take a hit.  With four 
regular-season games remaining, USC now sits in sixth place in 
the Pac-10.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/89644-Pondexter-takes-over-to-lead-Washington-past-USC</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/89644-Pondexter-takes-over-to-lead-Washington-past-USC</guid>
				<pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2009 05:44:04 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Washington fighting to hold top spot in Pac-10]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[No. 19 Washington (19-7) at Southern California (16-9) 7:00 p.m. EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Washington's slim lead atop the Pac-10 
is shrinking.

The 19th-ranked Huskies try to gain some breathing room atop the
standings when they visit Southern California on Saturday.

Washington (19-7, 10-4 Pac-10) owns a one-half game lead over a 
trio of stout contenders in No. 11 Arizona State (20-5, 9-4), 
15th-ranked UCLA (20-6, 9-4) and California (20-6, 9-4) with 
five games remaining in the season.

The Huskies had won three straight games before having that 
streak snapped during Thursday's 85-76 loss to UCLA, which has 
won the regular-season Pac-10 title each of the last three 
campaigns.

Justin Dentmon had 22 points and Jon Brockman contributed 16 and
14 rebounds for Washington, which entered the game as the 
highest scoring team in the Pac-10, averaging 80.4 points per

game, but failed to mount its usual offensive attack and fell 
short of the season sweep of the Bruins.

The Huskies should get back on track against the Trojans (16-9, 
7-6), who ended a three-game slide with a 61-51 victory over 
lowly Washington State on Thursday.

Dwight Lewis scored 17 points and Taj Gibson added 16 for 
Southern California.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/89568-Washington-fighting-to-hold-top-spot-in-Pac-10</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/89568-Washington-fighting-to-hold-top-spot-in-Pac-10</guid>
				<pubDate>Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:09:02 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
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				<title><![CDATA[USC coach Floyd erupts in loss to Arizona State]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[TEMPE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Southern California men's basketball 
coach Tim Floyd could be facing disciplinary action from the 
Pac-10 Conference after throwing a tantrum in Sunday's 65-53 
loss at Arizona State.

Floyd was assessed two technical fouls and ejected after 
disputing a charging call against USC guard Daniel Hackett in 
the final minute.  The Trojans had sliced a 12-point deficit to 
six when Hackett was whistled for the charge while banking in a 
jumper with 54 seconds remaining.

Floyd stormed after the officials and had to be escorted off the
court by Arizona State security.

During his postgame comments, Floyd ripped into the officials, 
invoking the name of President  Barack Obama.

"We don't have freedom of speech as coaches," Floyd said.  "We 
cannot discuss those things (officials' calls).  Maybe Obama 
will change the rule, where we can talk."

Floyd was angered that the call was reversed.  Referee Randy 
McCall originally signaled a block but was overruled by his 
partner, David Hall, and the charging call erased Hackett's 
jumper.

"I thought (Floyd) was going to punch the ref," Arizona State's 
Jeff Pendergraph told the Los Angeles Times.  "He went crazy."

"I can't talk about that play," Floyd added.  "It's against the 
rules of the Pac-10, so I can't discuss them.  What we saw was 
an official make a call, basket and one, and the other guy waved
it off."

It was the second controversial charging call in as many games 
at Arizona State.  UCLA's Darren Collison was whistled for a 
late charge in Thursday's 74-67 loss to the Sun Devils.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[ncaab]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/89043-USC-coach-Floyd-erupts-in-loss-to-Arizona-State</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/ncaab/news/89043-USC-coach-Floyd-erupts-in-loss-to-Arizona-State</guid>
				<pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:34:55 GMT</pubDate>
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	</channel>
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