TrojanNYC.com

Hey Tim Floyd, You Know TNYC Can See the Future?

From ESPN.com:

Embroiled in controversy, Southern California coach Tim Floyd resigned on Tuesday, The Clarion Ledger of Jackson, Miss., reported.

The newspaper obtained the contents of a letter that the coach submitted to USC athletic director Mike Garrett.

"Unfortunately, I no longer feel I can offer the level of enthusiasm to my duties that is deserved by the university, my coaching staff, my players, their families, and the supporters of Southern Cal," the letter said. "I always promised myself and my family that if I ever felt I could no longer give my full enthusiasm to a job, that I should leave it to others who could. I intend to contact my coaching staff and my players in coming days and weeks to tell them how much each of them means to me. I wish the best to USC and to my successor."

Let me give the warning now, this post is going to be absolutely self-serving (when has it not?) cause props are due when you've gone against the grain this entire time and predicted this junk months in advance.

Here's what I wrote about Renardo the day he committed:

I don't think I've ever been upset over getting an elite recruit till now. My feelings regarding Renardo have radically changed in the last couple of years and with all the heat we've faced lately, I find it absolutely mind-boggling that Mike Garrett is allowing Tim Floyd to take a player that:

1)  Carries enormous amounts of baggage and begs for a NCAA investigation (or Yahoo Dan Wetzel Exclusive!) which will inevitably lead to negative attention.

This was during the time when most people were drinking kool-aid.  Of course what happened afterwards?  The administration finally intervened and decided Renardo's baggage was too much and made the decision to pull out of the deal.

Now here's what I wrote about Tim Floyd the day the rumors came out about the Arizona job and later on after the Renardo deal fell apart:

My interest tapered off because Floyd kept recruiting questionable players with sketchy pasts, the latest, and the worst of all, being Renardo Sidney, who I hope will reopen up his recruitment with this news.  If Floyd moves onto Arizona, he will have built the program up to a national level and left before his actions came back to haunt SC.  It's a win-win situation.

...Just like most SC fans got too hyped when Renardo committed while ignoring the consequences, I think lot of fans are being blinded by the recent success and failing to see the tight-rope Coach Floyd has us walking on.  Much like his coaching style, he's gambling on players with our program's reputation on the line.  It's not worth the risk.

This was also during a time when most people were up at arms about possibly losing a great coach.  Of course now you got Floyd leaving a program in limbo with potential NCAA sanctions in the horizon.

Moving Forward

So am I proud of predicting this turbulence?  Of course not.  I'm grateful for Tim Floyd taking our program to the national level, but where I believe he messed up was not changing up his recruiting strategy after taking in the gains of his earlier risks.  It's perfectly fine to recruit some questionable players, but when your entire portfolio of recruits are mostly gambles in one way or another, it's going to blow up in your face at some point at a high-profile university like SC.  That stuff might fly in Iowa, but not in LA where the media will pick up on a star player farting in the bathroom.

To be quite honest, I wouldn't even be surprised if Tim Floyd is the victim in all of this recent news.  Even Andy Katz' source believes Floyd is innocent.  But it's all moot at this point, perception is reality in this business and you become the bud that gets nipped early in the name of preemptive strategy.  Tim Floyd may genuinely be telling the truth about giving up on the program due to the fact that even his employer is giving him flak, but again, you dig too deep of a hole, you're bound to get stuck at some point.  My point is this is cumulative and there were plenty of outs for Floyd along the way.

Next Coach

Moving forward, at least my early thoughts are, that SC needs to get on the coaching hunt right away.  I actually think the SC Hoops program is still a desirable position to take.  The way I'd sell it is, on one hand you got a program that has hit rock bottom, but on the other you still have a program that has a ton of talent.  With a high-profile coach with a clean track record that can absorb the aftershocks of negative publicity and heat from the NCAA, you've got a program that is sitting on a gold mine.  Success is not years away, it's here now with the '09 class still salvageable by bringing back the recruits that asked for releases (good shot), giving Marcus Johnson a ring if he hasn't signed with an agent already, and building on an already talented starting line-up.

Taking a program that is on the brink of collapsing, even if it's basketball, at a school like SC means a ton of exposure and bucks in your bank account down the road.  This is a truly a sleeping giant program that has just hit the snooze button, I still believe with the right coach, like a Jamie Dixon or Mike Montgomery, it can fully awake and become elite.

Renardo Sidney Has Baggage? No, Really?

 

From LATimes.com:

UCLA and USC officials were prohibited by college rules from speaking publicly about Sidney while he was unsigned, and even now they have declined to do so. But sources on both campuses who have knowledge of his recruitment agreed to speak with The Times as long as their identities were kept anonymous.

Though they are from rival schools who often wage intense battles for the same athletes, the sources agreed on this about Sidney: The reward of suiting up such a prodigious talent was not worth the larger risk.

Bruins and Trojans sources both say they were wary of potentially intense NCAA scrutiny prompted by these issues: Despite what was perceived as a limited income, the family moved multiple times and resided in upscale homes during Sidney's high school years; and stepfather Renardo Sr. directed a club basketball team with financial backing that was unclear beyond a relatively modest shoe company sponsorship.

Plus there was this: A source intimately familiar with Sidney's recruitment said a university official thought the stepfather had strongly hinted that he expected to be compensated if his son signed with the school.

The part in bold was one of several things I was referring to in my previous post. From what I've heard it was anything but a "strong hint"; more like an expectation with a hefty dollar figure attached.  The figure wasn't close to shy.

Something that won't be brought up in this whole ordeal is the reality that Tim Floyd would have most likely taken Renardo, baggage and all, if it was purely up to him.  This is why I mentioned before, when Floyd "considered" going to Arizona, that it would have been a win-win situation for SC to let him go before the hammer of the NCAA came down.  Get out while you're ahead.

Just like most SC fans got too hyped when Renardo committed while ignoring the consequences, I think lot of fans are being blinded by the recent success and failing to see the tight-rope Coach Floyd has us walking on. Much like his coaching style, he's gambling on players with our program's reputation on the line.  It's not worth the risk.

USC No Longer Recruiting Renardo Sidney

From ESPN.com:

The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that Renardo Sidney earned a qualifying SAT score.

But he won't be playing at USC. A source close to the program confirmed that the Trojans are officially no longer recruiting Sidney, who had verbally committed to USC. The decision, according to the source, came from within the administration. UCLA also backed off in its recruitment of the 6-foot-9 power forward out of Fairfax High (Calif.) in a similar fashion, even though there was a strong chance the Bruins were going to land Sidney prior to him committing to USC.

Anyone who read my post the day Renardo committed to SC knows that I'm ecstatic to see us pull out of this race.  This was an absolute disaster to begin with picking up a player that 1) has had a long history of poor work-ethic and attitude towards the game and 2) a significant history of questionable dealings and baggage.  Although I can't confirm any of the stuff I've heard from various sources, let me just say they are nothing short of ridiculous.  Even on the surface, his move to CA with family and relationship with Reebok should automatically throw up red flags.  People can spin it however way they want, it doesn't add up in my book.

Most fans will probably be disappointed by this news, but I am absolutely confident that this is a blessing in disguise.  It's not like Renardo would have led us to a championship, so why risk an NCAA smackdown and/or more negative PR on this kid?  Glad the administration finally came to their senses.

My Thoughts on Tim Floyd Potentially Leaving for Arizona

I can't say I'm surprised by the news.  Admittedly, although I never believed Floyd would end his career here, I did think he would stay for a while, but given his track record, it was likely foolish to believe even that.

If Floyd heads to Arizona, more power to him.  I've always held the belief that the man can coach, albeit much better defensively than offensively, and putting ethics aside for a moment, he is a solid recruiter. He'll put Arizona back on the upper-echelon of college basketball where they deserve to be.

It will be an equal trade for USC as well.  Anyone who has followed my blog over the years knows I used to write a lot of posts about the basketball program.  My interest tapered off because Floyd kept recruiting questionable players with sketchy pasts, the latest, and the worst of all, being Renardo Sidney, who I hope will reopen up his recruitment with this news.  If Floyd moves onto Arizona, he will have built the program up to a national level and left before his actions came back to haunt SC.  It's a win-win situation.  I only wish this happened a year earlier so SC could have picked up Mike Montgomery, who I felt would have been a perfect fit.

And before people start reading into things (and linking as they've done before), especially the fans of the purported saintly program across town, let me just say that no program is clean.  Believe me, they mock about certain players we recruit yet have no clue what's going on in their own backyard.  I'll just leave it at that.

USC Beats ASU to Win Pac-10 Tournament; Next Stop the NCAA Tourney

The team showed a lot of heart yesterday.  In the first half, SC struggled to penetrate through ASU's match-up 2-3 zone; it was even worse defensively as Derek Glasser and James Harden played the pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop with Jeff Pendergraph to perfection.  At the end of the half, SC was down by 15 with all the momentum on ASU's side.

To start the 2nd half, Tim Floyd bet the house by applying a full-court press and it paid off big. ASU simply wasn't ready for the aggressive press and after a few steals and big shots by Demar DeRozan, the momentum swung back to SC. The game was tight down to the final minute with the teams trading one big basket after another.  In the final minute, SC's pressure proved to be too much; Dwight Lewis hit a big open 3 and Daniel Hackett followed with 2 clutch free throws to take their first lead of the game.

With ASU down 1, out of a time-out Harden and Pendergraph tried to use the pick-and-roll once again, but Floyd called for a defensive switch with Taj defending Harden and Hackett on Pendergraph; Harden took the bait and tried to take Taj off the dribble, but Taj proved why he was named Defensive POY in the Pac-10 and made a huge clutch block. After Taj hit a free-throw to put SC up by 2, ASU had one more chance to tie or take the lead but failed with Harden missing a 3, giving SC its first-ever Pac-10 title.  Great inspired win.

Photo of the Day: Demar DeRozan Slamming Down the Bruins

Great win tonight.  Team played with lot of energy for a change.  Credit has to go to Marcus Simmons for clamping down on Darren Collison.  Demar also had some lights out dunks tonight.

Tim Floyd thinks 20 wins is good enough for the tourney.  Hopefully there won't be any need to wonder with a win against ASU.

LSU Contacts Coach Floyd Regarding Coaching Vacancy; Coach Floyd Reiterates SC Being His Last Job

From LATimes.com:

Tim Floyd repeatedly refused to comment Tuesday on whether he had been contacted by Louisiana State athletic officials about their basketball coaching vacancy, instead reaffirming his intention to remain with the Trojans.

"I've said from day one that this is my last job, so there's nothing else to say. It's a non-story," Floyd said. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

Eddie Nunez, LSU's associate athletic director for operations, said he could not comment on the coaching search. Late last month, Nunez told a reporter for Gannett News that "we're not calling any coaches during the season even if it's just to get an opinion on a coach," a stance that appears to contradict a report Tuesday that LSU officials had contacted Floyd.

Maybe someone can correct me on this, but didn't Coach Floyd build a custom house down in Manhattan Beach or Santa Monica?  My memory is hazy so I'm not sure.  Regardless, I think Coach Floyd will stay at SC.  I'm not basing that off his comments above, because that's just the standard comments coaches give during a season, but my gut feeling is Coach Floyd will stay true to his word.

Coach Floyd Makes Official Complaint to Pac-10

From LATimes.com:

Two days after his team was called for a season-high 29 fouls during a loss against Arizona State, USC Coach Tim Floyd on Monday said he had voiced his displeasure with the game officiating to Pacific 10 Conference officials.

"I discussed my concerns today with the pertinent officials -- not the basketball officials," Floyd said. "I can't discuss it with you, but I did what I needed to do."

Four Trojans players fouled out and USC was called for more than twice as many fouls as the Sun Devils, who were assessed 14 fouls during their 80-66 victory at Tempe. Arizona State shot 39 free throws to USC's 11.

The Sun Devils shot 36 free throws during a second half in which they overcame a three-point deficit to build leads as large as 22 points. Arizona State scored 13 consecutive points from the foul line during one stretch.

Floyd said it was the second time he had contacted the Pac-10 about game officiating in his three seasons at USC.

I like the move.  Might as well put the spotlight on the refs for the upcoming games considering how important they will be for our seeding. 

Blacking Out the Galen Center

From Athletic Dept. e-mail:

Trojan Fans,

We'd like to ask that everyone attending the game this Sunday vs. UCLA wear Black instead of your usual Cardinal and Gold. We want to show our cross town rivals what fan unity looks like. The game starts at 7:00pm and is a sell out, so make sure you arrive early and help us by being that 6th man out on the floor to give us a real home court advantage. Hope to see you all at the game.

Head Coach Tim Floyd

Guess we're following in the steps of Ol' Georgia?  I know some SC fans don't like this idea, but personally I'm all for it because (1) hopefully it gets the crowd going and (2) potentially starts a new tradition for SC hoops.  Everyone knows SC basketball lives in the giant shadow of the football team, so anything that creates a stir for the team gets my approval.  With Hackett out on Sunday, I would hate to see this experiment fall by the wayside because of a ugly loss, which is a real possibility.

Final: USC 50, Washington St. 74

 

From ESPN.com:

Kyle Weaver did it all for No. 17 Washington State on Saturday.

Weaver scored 17 points, including the 1,000th of his career, and shut down Southern Cal's O.J. Mayo as Washington State crushed the Trojans 74-50 to end a three-game losing streak.

Weaver made all eight of his field goal attempts, while limiting Mayo to 6-for-18 shooting. Weaver added seven rebounds, five assists and four steals.

"I wanted to make everything tough for him tonight," Weaver said of Mayo, the heralded freshman.

The 24-point win was the biggest Pac-10 victory margin for the Cougars this season.

Washington State (18-5, 6-5) shot 59.6 percent from the floor and had nine steals against the Trojans. It was their only win in a four-game home stand, and only their fourth win in the past nine games, a streak which threatened to derail a season that had seen the Cougars rise to No. 4 in the nation.

So nevermind about that prediction.  I guess Washington St. just has SC's number this year.  I still don't understand why we were playing them man-to-man; the Cougs were just rolling off screens and kicking it to the open man every time.  I guess there's not much you can do in terms of schemes when Daven Hamerling goes 3-3 from 3-pt land in the 1st half and Kyle Weaver goes 8-8 the entire game.  The fact is, SC loses when teams can hit their perimeter shots with consistency; the Cougs were nearly perfect in finding the open man and they burned us shooting nearly 60% for the game.

As for Coach Floyd's outburst, I thought it was totally called for and a good move on his part.  The game was already sealed and the officiating was atrocious.  The Cougs were constantly getting away with moving screens and the no-call on O.J. was absurd.  Like Coach Montgomery would say, unless you're absolutely 100% sure that O.J. tripped on his own, you have to call a foul because the ball was turned over.  But then again, these are Pac-10 refs right?