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.
Freeroll
There’s no risk for USC in this Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, only reward.
The Trojans, predicted by the media to finish sixth in the Pacific-10 Conference and perhaps make the NIT, have already gone further than anyone expected.
The season is a success no matter what happens tonight against top-seeded North Carolina.
``We’re going to go out and take the attitude we did last year against them, that we don’t have anything to lose,’’ USC guard Lodrick Stewart said. ``We’ve accomplished all the goals we set for ourselves.’’
Though the Trojans are loose, they still have a purpose.
``There’s no pressure, but I’m still expecting more things,’’ guard Gabe Pruitt said. ``I’m still expecting to win a national championship. There’s no pressure, but I’m not ready to stop playing. I think our team is talented enough to win this game.’’