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.
Stewart's grandfather died ...
Lodrick Stewart showed up at practice teary eyed, told coach Tim Floyd that his grandfather back in Seattle had died and was given the day off. Floyd said Stewart was staying in Los Angeles and was expected back at practice Tuesday. It's a tough time for the Trojans to be without their second-leading scorer because the team only has two days to practice in preparation for Wednesday's showdown against UCLA with first place in the Pac-10 on the line, but Floyd doesn't think Stewart's absence will pose a problem.
``We'll be fine,'' Floyd said. ``I think he has a good idea about what we're trying to do, and he'll be ready to go.''