December 2011 Archives

• True freshmen guards Alexis Moore and Byron Wesley are growing up as the game slows down.  The new kids on the block carried USC through large portions of the New Year's Eve contest.  Moore posted a team-high 12 points on 5/9 shooting with 4 assists to just one turnover, while Wesley filled up the stat sheet with 9 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.  "Byron and Alexis are both very, very good freshmen.  You couldn't ask for more out of guys that are forced to play too many minutes," said head coach Kevin O'Neill, who uses the freshmen in place of injured star Jio Fontan. 
  

• Maurice Jones could not buy a bucket today.  The Trojans' leading scorer finished with a season low 5 points on 1/12 shooting.  He finished 0/4 from three-point range and just 3/8 from the free throw line.  "I can't explain it," O'Neill said.  "He didn't play well.  He'll come back and have a great game next week."
  

• Dewayne Dedmon (photo by AP) is starting to make his minutes count, but he needs to avoid foul trouble to take the next step in his progression from an unrefined talent to a polished pivot.  The big man enjoyed a solid road trip averaging 9 points and 4 rebounds in the two games, but he picked up 4 fouls in both contests, which limited him to 44 total minutes.  "Dewayne got better on this trip, but one of the things that's killing us is that Dewayne and Aaron [Fuller] are in foul trouble every single game in the first 8 minutes," O'Neill said.
  

• Kevin O'Neill acknowledged that this program is in a stage of building a bridge towards future success.  "It's a shame to play as hard as we've played all year and not be rewarded with some wins. They know eventually that they're going to be a championship caliber team.  It's painful to go through this right now, but that's life."

• Trailing by double digits most of the second half, USC pulled within one at 50-49 as the seconds ticked down.  With the shot clock nearing expiration, Dewayne Dedmon rejected a Cal lay-up attempt into the hands of Allen Crabbe whose wild fling at the bucket was ruled a three-point foul on Eric Strangis.  Crabbe sank all three free throws with 8.5 seconds to go and put the Trojans at 0-1 in Pac-12 play.  "We've had that happen to us four times in two and a half seasons here," head coach Kevin O'Neill said referring to bad luck endings in losses to Nebraska, Bradley (2010) and Arizona.  "I thought it was a great defensive stop by our team.  The call is the call."  
  

• Maurice Jones was a one-man offensive show in the final 10 minutes as he scored 13 of his game-high 17 points in the second half.  "He just took over again," O'Neill praised his star.  "I was really impressed with his game tonight and how hard he played."  Jones carried the Trojans in the face of man-to-man defense from Cal's Jorge Gutierrez who is considered the best on ball defender in the Pac-12.
  

• As conference play begins, the Trojans will have a size advantage against nearly every opponent with seven-footers Dewayne Dedmon and James Blasczyk, but can they make it pay off?  The big men were extremely active tonight, totaling 18 offensive rebounds as a team, but they could not convert second chance opportunities.  "None of those guys have ever played before, so they are starting to get a feel for going to the glass," O'Neill said.  "A lot of positives from the game tonight and something we've got to carry forward."
  

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• Kevin O'Neill on his team's effort: "I have been proud of the effort of our team all year long except for the Kansas game and the second half of the Cal Poly game."  The Trojans have lost five games by six points or less.

Here's Maurice Jones, who had a big game at Cal last season as well...

• USC averages just 12 turnovers per game, which ranks among the best teams in the nation at protecting the basketball, but a jittery first half led to 13 giveaways.  "The stage was just a little bit too big for our young guys," head coach Kevin O'Neill said.  "The turnovers were what really killed us."  Kansas struggled to score in the half court all game, but the Jayhawks loosened up the rims with 18 points off turnovers.
  

• Junior forward Aaron Fuller was the obvious bright spot with an aggressive and efficient 19 points on 7/10 shooting in only 25 minutes.  O'Neill credited Fuller's improved timing with his recent return to form.  The Iowa transfer had not been practicing consistently while nursing a shoulder injury, but he's back to full strength.  "It feels good going into Pac-12 play," Fuller said about his big game.  "I just want to try to take the pressure off [Maurice Jones]."

• Kansas big man Thomas Robinson is a leading candidate for the Naismith Player of the Year award, but the Trojans stout inside defense limited him to 10 points on 5/12 shooting and 5 turnovers.  "We just tried to make him play in a crowd," O'Neill said.  "We're going to defend well enough to have a chance to win."  But, the head coach admitted that it's hard to maintain defensive intensity when the offense is sputtering so badly.

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• Next week: USC begins Pac-12 play with a trip to the Bay Area to face Cal (December 29) and Stanford (December 31), which O'Neill believes are the toughest two teams in the conference.

Here is Fuller rocking a Batman sweatshirt trying to mask his frustration...

Here is a statement from USC junior All-American offensive tackle Matt Kalil regarding his decision to skip his 2012 senior season and enter the NFL Draft, followed by a comment from USC head coach Lane Kiffin on Kalil's decision:

"The decision to leave USC after my junior year was not an easy one to make," said Kalil.  "I love this university.  That's why it took a while to decide.  I wanted to look at both sides of the decision and talk to a number of people.  Ultimately, I sat down with my family, including my father and brother who both know the pro football experience, and I made the decision that is best for me.

"I realize that if I came back to USC next season, I could be part of some special things here and potentially win a national championship.  That was very tempting. 

"But in my research, I came to the conclusion that I can be the No. 1 tackle drafted and you can't go any higher than that.  Now is the right time to go.  It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I have to take it. 

"Now, I will find an agent who is best for me and I will work out until the draft. 

"I had great support from USC during this decision-making process.  Pat Haden, our athletic director, was one of my biggest supporters.  We will work together so that I come back in the off-season to finish my degree.

"I want to thank coach Lane Kiffin, who gave me great input in this process and told me he would support whatever decision I made.  He trusted me at left tackle and that allowed me to be in the incredible situation I am in today. 

"I also want to thank the great group of assistant coaches we have at USC, particularly offensive line coach James Cregg.  He turned what some said would be our team's weakness this year into a strength, to the point where we led the nation in fewest sacks allowed.  He constantly pushed me and made me strive for perfection.

"I was fortunate to play with a great group of teammates.  We had a special bond, which I'll never forget.  I am especially proud that we helped get USC back among the top teams in the nation.  The future here is very bright. 

"I also want to thank the entire USC family.  There are none better than Trojan fans.  So many told me they would support whatever decision I made.  I really appreciate that."

Said Kiffin:  "All of us at USC wish Matt Kalil the best as he takes this next step in his career.  Matt was thorough in his research and made a decision that is the right one for him.  We fully support that decision and we told him so.  He is ready for the NFL.  He will be a very high draft pick and will have a long, successful career. 

"Matt is an outstanding player who had an exceptional career at USC.  He also is a very coachable and intelligent athlete and is a high-character person who comes from a wonderful family. 

"We will miss him next year, but will cheer him on as a rookie in the NFL.  We know he will represent USC very well."

• USC's offensive numbers continue to disappoint, including a Kevin O'Neill era-low 15 points in the first half tonight, yet the Trojans are competitive in nearly every game behind one of the stingiest defenses in the country.  USC held the Lobos without a field goal for the final 14 minutes and forced a season-high 24 turnovers, but New Mexico came out with the victory thanks to clutch free throw shooting.  "We're not making shots and it's been like that all year," O'Neill said.  "[The games] are close because we work hard defensively and our guys don't give in."     
  

• Maurice Jones accounted for almost half the scoring tonight with 19 points.  He played all 40 minutes and put up a team-high 18 shots, but O'Neill wants his dynamic point guard to keep pushing for more.  "I want Mo to be more aggressive all the time," the head coach said.  "We're asking a lot of this guy, but if a lot's asked of you, you have to give a lot."  Jones looked like he might have been fouled on his three at the horn, but the shot did not draw a whistle or iron.
  

• Redshirt sophomore Evan Smith played his first game in two years tonight after recovering from shoulder surgery.  He contributed 14 minutes of solid defense (2 steals), but missed his only three shot attempts, which were all from behind the arc.  "He played with spirit and heart.  I'm going to play him some more," said O'Neill.  "Rational sense says he's a guy that's going to make shots for us long term." 
  

• New Mexico was paced by UCLA transfer Drew Gordon who posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.