Thanks for playing
And just like that, basketball season is over with a loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Because success is pretty much judged by the postseason in basketball, this season ultimately leaves a disappointing taste.
Yes, the team was young (class wise). And lacked experience. But O.J. Mayo's arrival was billed as program changing. That's not really apparent right now, no fault of his own. There was just too much hype surrounding his arrival, much of it originating from USC. On his own merits, he did fine. But this was not overwhelming, dominating, memories-of-a-lifetime season many expected.
With a couple wins in the NCAA Tournament, yes. With a one-and-done performance, no.
Or to put it another way, Mayo said he came to USC to do the equivalent of Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart winning the Heisman. Obviously that was hyperbole.
There were nice moments, like the win over UCLA at Pauley Pavilion. And even the loss to UCLA at the Pac-10 Tournament was a great fan experience.
But there's an unsatisfying feeling right now about this season and I guarantee Tim Floyd feels the same way, whether or not he admits it.
There is a nice foundation, depending on who stays. But right now it's hard to say if the Mayo era leaves a huge imprint on USC or just provided a few thrills.
Dear O.J:
Thanks for stopping by our campus. It's very pretty, isn't it? The Galen Center is nice, huh? The neighborhood isn't exactly Beverly Hills, but I'm sure you've seen just as bad in West Virginia. But the weather and the women, right? Yeah, I see you grinning.
To be honest, when you announced you were coming to our humble little program, we feared we were getting a first class d-bag with superstar talent. Turns out we got a polite young man with very good but not dominating talent.
Yes, there is a very unsatisfying feeling about this season, and, unfortunately, too much of the fault will lie with you. Of course, it's not your fault we had so many injuries, that Davon doesn't want it enough, that Hackett got in the way of your elbow during a pick-up game, that all of the officials in college basketball conspired to foul out Taj at every opportunity. It's just that we thought we were getting the Reggie Bush of basketball, instead we got Rodney Peete, which is good, very good. But then Rodney stuck around long enoguh to learn the words of our fight song. And put in a clutch performance once or twice. Wish you could do the same.
We really can't tell you to turn down millions of dollars. And to be honest, the hype, its most is not really your fault. It's really our issue. Sorry, we'll try to be more rational next time, but then, having your "people" walk in our coach's office
and tell him that "You don't call O.J., he calls you", well, you better have game to back up that chutzpah. You had game, but not the game of the second coming of Michael Jordan. More like the second coming of John David Booty. Good, but just not good enough to win the games that really matter.
Anyway, good luck in the Association. KG says it's full of crafty old men who cheat and foul. So work on your game, particularly your shooting and your shot selection. Oh yeah, and I heard that NBA coaches really hate turnovers. They can become quite nasty about it, I fear.
So take care and, you know, call once or twice.
This game was so reminiscent of the second half in the loss to North Carolina last year. In both games, the opposing teams' best play was: missed shot-offensive rebound-put back for easy basket. It is demoralizing to give up offensive rebounds. In both games, foul trouble on Taj Gibson limited what we could do on offense. USC simply lacked the depth in the front court to compete in the rough-and-tumble NCAA tourney. We got smacked in the mouth tonight.
Floyd never did play a deep bench. It leaves the team prone to foul trouble and fatigue. Is RouSean Cromwell that bad that he can't be used for a few fouls, and to put a body on someone? He may be a zero on offense, but I remember him playing well on defense last year against Lopez of Stanford. (Not that he would have made a difference tonight.)
The team played well at times, but I never felt like they were consistent. Flashes of greatness followed by periods of offensive ineptness. Lewis seemed to disappear in the last few weeks. Mayo seemed to force too many outside shots, and not enough drives.
We can't complain about K-St. as the opponent or where we played. To win it all, USC would have to play better opponents, and win on the road. If you can't beat K-St, you sure aren't going to beat Wisconsin, G'Town or Kansas.
My heart hopes that Mayo, Jefferson, Gibson, and Hackett stay. However, my head tells me at least 2, if not all 4, will be playing for money next year. Too bad. A season of hope and promise turned sour at the end with a loss to UCLA and one-and-done in the tourney.
Bring on Virgina!
Fight On!
oops...Virginia. Spellchecker, where are you?
Mayo proved he is as over hyped as leinart and just a street ball player. The whole team played dirty all season elbowing and playing dirty like typical USC spoiled brats. It's no wonder he uses the initials OJ, he's going to go the way of the most famous murdering SUC player. If it wasn't for cheating SUC would never win at anything. Floyd only teaches cheap shots and whining since that is all he is capable of. You finally got away from the crappy Pac-10 officials and didn't get away with your crap.
Mayo proved he is as over hyped as leinart and just a street ball player. The whole team played dirty all season elbowing and playing dirty like typical USC spoiled brats. It's no wonder he uses the initials OJ, he's going to go the way of the most famous murdering SUC player. If it wasn't for cheating SUC would never win at anything. Floyd only teaches cheap shots and whining since that is all he is capable of. You finally got away from the crappy Pac-10 officials and didn't get away with your crap.
Mayo proved he is as over hyped as leinart and just a street ball player. The whole team played dirty all season elbowing and playing dirty like typical USC spoiled brats. It's no wonder he uses the initials OJ, he's going to go the way of the most famous murdering SUC player. If it wasn't for cheating SUC would never win at anything. Floyd only teaches cheap shots and whining since that is all he is capable of. You finally got away from the crappy Pac-10 officials and didn't get away with your crap.
Mayo proved he is as over hyped as leinart and just a street ball player. The whole team played dirty all season elbowing and playing dirty like typical USC spoiled brats. It's no wonder he uses the initials OJ, he's going to go the way of the most famous murdering SUC player. If it wasn't for cheating SUC would never win at anything. Floyd only teaches cheap shots and whining since that is all he is capable of. You finally got away from the crappy Pac-10 officials and didn't get away with your crap.
Apparently MarcosUSC is an idiot.
Mayo is as overhyped as Leinart?! How exactly was Leinart "overhyped" in college? Virtually all college historians would list Leinart as one of the top 2-3 (if not the best) college QBs of all time.
Mayo is overhyped granted but using Leinart as a comparison is just plain stupid. If Mayo was as good as Leinart was in college he would be the best basketball player USC has ever had. Or are you idiotically comparing Mayo's college career to Leinart's NFL career (one which is actually just getting started and shortened so far by injury). Either way you're displaying some serious ignorance.
Oh, and it's hard to take anything you say seriously when you post the same thing 37 times.