Check out Silas Redd’s first interview with media following USC’s first practice Monday night.

It certainly wasn’t pretty, but USC escaped with a seven-point win over CSUN. The Trojans defense held the Matadors to 25 percent, (16 of 64 shots). USC was 0-for-15 from 3-point range.
Dewayne Dedmon, Aaron Fuller and Maurice Jones all had 16 points. Dedmon made his first 4 of 5 shots, a couple of crowd-pleasing dunks and three blocks (with his customary salute afterward).
After the game, Kevin O’Neill, holding a Diet Coke, told Dewayne not to cramp up anymore. Dedmon said he was drinking too much soda n needed more H20. He said he has cramped up before, too, but not often. Not a bad debut for Dedmon. 8 rebounds, too.

IF USC beats Virginia Commonwealth for the No. 11 seed, it would face Georgetown.

USC plays a play-in game versus Virginia Commonwealth Wednesday in Dayton. Then it’s on to Chicago if it wins.

Oregon State made 55 percent of its shots against USC’s defense and outrebounded USC, 34-32. Those are the two things Kevin O’Neill said are his team’s identity, and the Trojans get swept by the Oregon schools for the second consecutive year. USC came in with a 2-1 Pac-10 conference mark and is now 2-3 with big holes in the defense.

Thus far, not been a good roadtrip for USC. The Trojans were outrebounded 20-11 in the first half. USC shot just one free throw. OSU had 10 attempts and made eight of those.

USC was ineffective against Oregon’s zone on Thursday, but Kevin O’Neill said of the 11 possessions the Trojans drove to the basket, ten good things happened. Either USC made a shot or was fouled. Something to work on before Saturday’s Oregon State game since the Beavers likely will play zone against USC. Last year, USC lost to Oregon and Oregon State on the road.

Here are the injury updates: Defensive ends Nick Perry and Armond Armstead were both limited in practice on Thursday. Tight end Jordan Cameron was limited. Linebacker Marquis Simmons is out for Saturday.
Matt Barkley and his receivers had an off day. Lots of tipped passes, some interceptions, etc. Barkley cited the team installing new parts of the gameplan as reason for the miscues, but he figured they got the mistakes out of the way on Thursday.

Offensive lineman Khaled Holmes (pinched nerve in neck) will start at right guard on Thursday. Holmes practiced with the first unit, and Lane Kiffin proclaimed him ready. … Abe Markowitz had surgery to repair a fractured foot on Tuesday, and Kiffin said the surgery went well … QB Mitch Mustain and tailback DJ Morgan (knee) are limited … TE Xavier Grimble (ankle) is out.