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.
O.J. quotes
``It was fun,'' Mayo said of his first official USC basketball practice. ``I learned a lot. It was my first college practice, so I was really excited.''
Mayo didn't have much time to talk after his first practice because he had to do a photo shoot for USA Today along with Taj Gibson, then run to eat before a 6:30 p.m. class. USC is holding a press conference tomorrow afternoon in which he will talk more.
Coach Tim Floyd said the structure of the practice -- halfcourt offensive drills -- didn't allow for Mayo to make any of the spectacular plays that made him the top basketball recruit in the nation.
``It was nice to see all our freshmen and they were all just listening,'' Floyd said. ``The other guys have been practicing five days, so they had a chance to observe and then go out and repeat what (the returning players) were doing. I haven't had the chance to really even watch them go up and down the floor other than a little street ball to start the practice.''
Keith Wilkinson said that Mayo wasn't just sitting back and listening in his first practice.
``You can tell he's a leader and a winner even though we weren't doing much,'' Wilkinson said. ``He's really vocal out there, encouraging guys and telling them where to go and what to do.''