Answer Monday!

Q: small_game said:
What's your take on next year's basketball team? How good will they be? Pre-Season ranked, first round, second round, etc..?

A: Things are moving so fast right now, it's hard to say how good the team will be until we know who's definitely leaving and who is definitely coming in next year. Safe to say things look a lot bleaker if Taj Gibson joins Daniel Hackett and DeMar DeRozan. And if Solomon Hill decommits to Arizona that's another blow to the backcourt.Lamont Jones would be a possible answer at point guard but it's still a case of the Trojans being inexperienced or thin at guard. Then there is possibility of Renardo Sidney not qualifying. If Gibson is definitely gone, then first round of NCAAs might be a decent return on the season.
Sometimes, Tim Floyd's wheeling and dealing can make one's head spin.

Q: gilligan said:
Mr. Wolf, are any of the QBs trying to take a leadership role with the team? Thanks.

A: Aaron Corp's definitely become a stronger personality in workouts and practices. I know he and Taylor Mays have talked about the idea of him being the quarterback next season and the team being behind him. Pete Carroll says no QB can really be the leader until he names a starter. I think if Mitch Mustain or Matt Barkley becomes the starter, they immediately become more authoritative with their teammates. Every QB usually adds some leadership skills once they win the job.

Q: westsidetrjan said:
In your opinion is the qb race over? I know the coaches keep saying that it is not, but how bad does Corp have to do in the following weeks to lose the lead? Or how well do Mustain/Barkely have to play to take over? It seems like the race is all but over because Corp seems to being playing very conservatively so far, kind of reminds me of how Sanchez played at times last year.

A: The QB race is not over but Aaron Corp is the leader. He has two years of experience running the offense and is a logical choice. Matt Barkley is having a great spring and Mitch Mustain is doing well but almost seems cubby-holed into a backup role, at least the way the snaps seem to be distributed. Barkley could conceivably win the job but the way Pete Carroll stresses protecting the ball, his turnovers will probably be a decisive factor. Not that he is doing a bad job, but turnovers are part of the growing experience. Remember Mark Sanchez was prone to throwing interceptions in his backup days. That will be Carroll's dilemma when making an official decision.