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.
Stanford missing starter
The Cardinal will be without guard Anthony Goods, the team's second-leading scorer at 13.0 points per game, who is still recovering from a sprained ankle suffered Feb. 11 against Washington. Goods scored 10 in Stanford's victory over USC in Palo Alto.
However, the Trojans don't think his absence will be much of an advantage. Mitch Johnson started in his place last week and had 12 points in Stanford's victory over Oregon.
``(He's) just as good and can shoot it just as well,'' Pruitt said of Johnson. ``They're a tough team, even without Goods.''