USC men's basketball returns home this weekend to welcome Colorado (Thursday 7:30 p.m.) and Utah (Saturday 8 p.m.) to Galen Center for the first time.
The Trojans are still searching for their first Pac-12 win in a season that has become more about building the foundation for future successes than reaping immediate dividends. No player embodies that change in philosophy more than sophomore center Dewayne Dedmon.
While the seven-footer came in with NBA lottery pick hype, the truth is that he needs to grow into his potential. The Daily Trojan's Joey Kaufman expanded on Dedmon's learning curve.
"I want him to be an NBA player," O'Neill told the Daily Trojan. "He wants to be an NBA player. The whole problem was everyone, including him, thought it might be this year and it's not. He's getting some valuable lessons on being a first-year player."
With Aaron Fuller out for the season, Dedmon will get the opportunity to receive more post touches and improve his offensive arsenal. Thanks to his natural size and raw athleticism, he is more advanced as a defensive presence, but he needs to work on staying out of foul trouble.
On the most recent road trip, Dedmon posted a career-high 18 points to go with 7 rebounds in the loss to Oregon.
The Trojans are still searching for their first Pac-12 win in a season that has become more about building the foundation for future successes than reaping immediate dividends. No player embodies that change in philosophy more than sophomore center Dewayne Dedmon.While the seven-footer came in with NBA lottery pick hype, the truth is that he needs to grow into his potential. The Daily Trojan's Joey Kaufman expanded on Dedmon's learning curve.
"I want him to be an NBA player," O'Neill told the Daily Trojan. "He wants to be an NBA player. The whole problem was everyone, including him, thought it might be this year and it's not. He's getting some valuable lessons on being a first-year player."
With Aaron Fuller out for the season, Dedmon will get the opportunity to receive more post touches and improve his offensive arsenal. Thanks to his natural size and raw athleticism, he is more advanced as a defensive presence, but he needs to work on staying out of foul trouble.
On the most recent road trip, Dedmon posted a career-high 18 points to go with 7 rebounds in the loss to Oregon.
The first 1,000 fans to arrive at USC vs. Colorado Thursday night will receive a FREE backpack.
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