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Joey will be along later with a look at Western Michigan but I wanted to put two quick things up...

USC's Alex Stepheson named Pac-10 men's basketball player of the week

USC junior forward Alex Stepheson was today named the Pac-10 men’s basketball player of the week for Dec. 14-20.

It is the first such honor for Stepheson, a transfer from North Carolina and a Harvard Westlake alum who recorded his fourth double-double in the Trojans’ 77-55 upset of Tennessee with 19 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.

Playing 40 minutes for the first time in his career, he shot eight of 11 from the floor and was three of four from the free-throw line.

USC Coach Kevin O’Neill said after the game that Stepheson has greatly improved this season, and a big part of that is that he’s finally getting back in game shape after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules.

"After about 15 minutes in the first game he played, he couldn’t even walk," O’Neill said. "I mean, he was dying. He’s getting better and better. He’s done a lot of extra work. Our trainer and strength guy have done a great job of getting him in there for extra cardio and lifting and stuff. He’s catching the ball better. He’s rebounding the ball. He’s got to keep making strides. He’s obviously not a finished product."

Alex played an awesome game against Tennessee. I am really impressed with how this team has come together with so much controversy surrounding the program.

We still have a long long way to go but Kevin O'Neill is starting to win some of over...

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Weekly Watch: Week 5 - ESPN

The Rest Of The Rotation

Alex Stepheson, F, Jr., USC: Stepheson was hurt for the first two games, including the Trojans' home loss to Loyola Marymount. But the North Carolina transfer has delivered in nearly every game since, save a one-point showing at Texas. Stepheson was the dominant big man in the upset of Tennessee on Saturday, scoring 19 points, grabbing 15 boards and making an efficient 8-of-11 shots. If Stepheson can be a major factor, why not give the Trojans a shot in the Pac-10?

[...]

Major Additions

• Mike Gerrity, Sr., G, USC: USC picked up Gerrity as a transfer from Charlotte by way of Pepperdine. The Trojans desperately needed a point and were lost without one in the first eight games. Gerrity made quite a difference, outplaying his more hyped counterparts on the Vols in 37 minutes. Sure, he was 1-of-7 from the field, but he got to the free throw line, making 10 of 11 and scoring 12 points. He also dished out 10 assists. His savvy veteran play will help the Trojans be a factor in the Pac-10.

The spark that Gerrity supplied the team against UT was incredible. It is still early yet, there is always a newness when a new player rotates in, but you can't deny that it looks like Gerrity has been on this team since day one. He really commanded the floor and you could see how the other players fed off of his energy.

It sure is nice to see a bright a spot on the basketball team after all they have through the past 6-7 months. We are hardly out of the woods on this but at least there are some fun things to watch right now.

More photos » by Michael Conroy - AP

Is he in or out?

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So we all patiently await the final status of Joe McKnight being eligible for Saturday's Emerald Bowl Game.

Regardless,if McKnight can't go that will give Allen Bradford the bulk of the carries and I would expect to see a heavy dose of CJ Gable as well.

SC has a chance to finish off the season on a positive note with a win on Saturday. It can be used as a catalyst for a new beginning in 2010. And with some players being deemed ineligible it will give SC a chance to see how some of the youngsters on this team could look in the future.

I am certainly not thrilled with all the negative publicity that SC has been getting over the past week but maybe this is what the program needs to find its way back on track. Be it better coaching, better schemes or simply changing the attitude to take nothing for granted. I have never thought that there was any good to be found in losing but I do think that looking at the reasons as to why a team loses is the road map to rededicate that team to winning. Teams get comfortable and that means complacency...we no what that means.

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This is just what I needed to cap off a crappy day!

I got a kick out of this...

UCLA sophomore center Kai Maiava and freshman wide receiver Morrell Presley are academically ineligible for the EagleBank Bowl.

Jake Dean will start at center for the Bruins, with Nick Ekbatani sliding to right guard.

It is a huge bowl for the offensive line, which faces the No. 19 rush defense in the country in the Temple Owls.

Obviously we have our own issues with three knuckleheads of our own not hitting the books...but for the life of me I don't remember anyone on this site ever claiming how superior our academic standards are.

Neuheisel's teams have always been soft and this is evidence of it...just like condoning (wink wink) "going over the wall" when the team so desperately needs the practice.

This is why I am not worried, regardless of how many recruits he picks off from SC they never perform under his coaching.

Heck, even Nestor is wondering if Neuheisel has what it takes to be ucla's coach...

And that is saying something!!

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In other news...

UCLA offensive lineman Stanley Hasiak has been sent home to Hawaii for personal reasons and is not likely to return, according to a source in the Bruins’ football program.

 Hasiak, a freshman, was one of the top recruits in the Bruins’ 2009 recruiting class. UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel would not comment on the situation.

He was ranked fourth nationally as a guard by Rivals.com and was also recruited by USC, California, Michigan and Oregon, among others.

Hasiak, who is 6 feet 5, 318-pounds, has had trouble adjusting since coming to UCLA. He has had a series of confrontations with teammates during practices. He also has had a handful of off-the-field incidents, according to sources familiar with the program, including screaming at doctors and nurses while waiting for an X-ray at a hospital.

I know we discussed this earlier this season, but I thought he made the turn. Man I hope this kid gets it all worked out...

 Just some brief notes to start the day as this week is actually pretty busy as I close out the year...

So while we wait for some form of word on Joe McKnight's status from the athletic department the team continues to get ready for next Saturdays game against BC.

A couple other things popped up on the radar this weekend that we need to make note of...

On the positive side USC recruit Patrick Hall was cleared by the clearinghouse and will enrolling in January.

Patrick Hall, a member of USC’s 2009 recruiting class who did not play this season because of injuries and academic issues, will be eligible to enroll in January, USCFootball.com reported.

Hall, a defensive back/athlete, participated in one practice while waiting for the NCAA Clearinghouse to give him the go-ahead. Just as that practice was getting under way, Hall suffered a season-ending torn ACL.

Assuming he’s healthy, he should be able to participate in spring football.

I would not expect Hall to participate at a very high level in Spring Ball. He will be just on the backside of the window for preliminary recovery so I would expect Hall to do some VERY light work. His true impact will be determined in fall ball in 2010.

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UPDATE:

And the other shoe dropped...

Schenter Repsonds! Check out the LAT HT - DFW Trojan in the FanPosts!

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You are going to need a pretty solid paper trail to show that Joe McKnight DID NOT do anything wrong in regadrs to the SUV he was driving.

After going over the article in the LAT again this morning a little more stands out. Aside from the article stating that the reporter saw McKnight driving away ALONE in the SUV which is obviously contradictory to what McKnight has stated in the article, there is this...(emphasis added)

Approached Wednesday after practice, McKnight acknowledged riding in the Land Rover but said he has never driven it. McKnight said his girlfriend, Johana Michelle Beltran, works as a secretary for Schenter, although the player said he did not know him.

[...]

USC asks its athletes to provide written documentation about the vehicles they drive on campus. McKnight said Wednesday that he had not provided the school information on the Land Rover because he hadn't driven it.

However, Todd Dickey, USC's senior vice president for administration, said Friday that McKnight did provide the school with written documentation that he was driving the vehicle. Tim Tessalone, USC's sports information director, said the running back had been "mistaken" in his account to The Times. Tessalone declined a request to see the documentation or say when the information was filed.

Fine...

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