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.
Pruitt update
Gabe Pruitt said he suffered a mild sprain to his right ankle while making an awkward stop late in practice but expected to play against UCLA on Wednesday. After having the ankle iced and wrapped by the team trainer, Pruitt was walking without a noticeable limp. He's determined not to miss the UCLA game after having to sit out USC's victory over the Bruins at the Sports Arena last year because of a knee injury. Pruitt, a junior, has never beaten UCLA.
``I expect it to be sore but, once the adrenaline starts going, I should be able to play through it,'' Pruitt said. ``I had to sit out the second game against UCLA last year and there's no way I'm letting that happen again. Broken foot or whatever, I'm not going to let it keep me out of this game.''