I was just courtside in the Anaheim Convention Center and watched USC's basketball team handle 19th-ranked (by the Associated Press) Southern Illinois with stunning domination, 70-45, for the championship of the first Anaheim Classic, which was sponsored by ESPN, which is always in search of content for its family of networks.
The Trojans looked very good. They would be unbeaten if Daniel Hackett had played against Mercer (their only loss, two weeks ago, in their opener).
But with him now recovered from his broken jaw, he is clearly in any discussion for "most improved player in the Pac-10".
And as O.J. Mayo (he had six turnovers and just one assist but knocked in three 3's; he was chosen the Most Outstanding Player; I voted for Hackett) and fellow freshmen Davon Jefferson (20 points ...he's tough to guard), Kasey Cunningham and Angelo Johnson continue to learn the Div. I ropes, and sophomores Hackett, Dwight Lewis and Taj Gibson continue to improve, the Trojans could crack the top four spots in the Pac-10 by March.
Coach Tim Floyd's team now gets Oklahoma (Thursday night) and Kansas (Sunday morning) over the next six days in the Galen Center, and Memphis in Madison Square Garden on Dec. 4. If Sunday night's performance is a good barometer, they could win all three of those games.
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