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.
First time
Wilkinson thinks that this being the first time in the NCAA Tournament for every USC player is a positive as well as a negative.
``It will definitely be a little nerve-wracking for a lot of people because no one's been in it,'' Wilkinson said. ``But I think that also brings a lot of fire and passion to the game because guys like Nick and Gabe and Lod, especially Lod being his senior year, want to prove that they can step up and lead this team. If you want to go to the next level, what more perfect opportunity than to lead our team to the Final Four.''
Wilkinson thinks that Tim Floyd, having coached in the NCAA Tournament, will help balance out the players' lack of experience.
``He knows how to prepare and get ready for big games such as this,'' Wilkinson said. ``I think that's really going to help us, especially not having any (tournament experience) on the team.''
Comments
SC is once again ranked in the polls. I guess we know what that means...SC may slip by the Hogs, then surely will go down in defeat to the Longhorns. Hmmmm...Vince Young, Kevin Durant, kinda eerie! Can you say "Just like football".
Posted by: Luke | March 12, 2007 10:27 PM