Matthew Kredell broke into the Daily News in 1998, working part time
at the paper while going to USC. The basketball team’s Elite Eight
run in 2000-01 was USC’s athletic highlight in his time at the
school, when the football team was stuck in the Paul Hackett-era.
After graduating in 2001, he started writing for the Daily News full
time. He’s in his second year covering USC, which coincides with the
rise of the program. He’ll take credit for the success, though Tim
Floyd may have more to do with it. A third-generation Los Angelean,
he grew up reading the Daily News while at El Camino Real High School
in Woodland Hills.
Practicing where they play
Part of the addition of Galen Center was adjoining practice courts for the team, ones they wouldn't have to share with the women's basketball or volleyball teams. But Tim Floyd's club rarely uses those, as he prefers to have the players practice on the main Galen Center court to become familiar with where they play -- something they could not do in past years.
When USC played at the Sports Arena, home games were played at a foreign place. Sometimes, USC players wouldn't even see the inside of the arena except on game days. The team practiced on campus in the North Gym, which is basically a high school gym.
``I think it's got to help when we can,'' Floyd said of practicing on the main court. ``At the Sports Arena, it was inconvenient getting into vans and going over there. We were lucky if we got in the day before the game. I think Galen Center does feel like a homecourt at this point. We're shooting at the same baskets, with the same backgrounds and settings every day.''
USC is 13-3 at Galen Center.