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September 30th,
2006
By Joel
Welser
Broadcast Basketball
Southern
California Trojans
Overall Rank:
#39
Conference
Rank: #4 Pac-10
2005-06:
17-13, 8-10, 6th
2005-06
postseason: none
 Southern California
will have to do a little overachieving to reach fourth place in
the Pac-10, but with four starters returning and a program on
the rise, the Trojans have the tools and the resources to make
the NCAAs this year.
Who’s Out:
USC
would have had five returning starters if not for the tragic
loss of Ryan Francis. The freshman point guard was shot and
killed in Louisiana during the offseason. Replacing his 7.1
points and 3.7 assists pales in comparison to the loss suffered
off the court for the program and the entire USC family. The
backcourt also will be without the services of Collin Robinson
and Dwayne Shackleford. Robinson averaged 1.4 points off the
bench as a freshman and will continue his collegiate career
elsewhere and Shackleford averaged 3.9 points and 1.6 assists
during his senior campaign. Little used forward Greg Gaudino
has also run out of eligibility.
Who’s In:
The Trojans
won’t ask for too much from the freshmen this year, but getting
some quality minutes off the bench from a couple players would
be beneficial. The wings will get the most help from Dwight
Lewis, Kevin Galloway and Daniel Hackett. Lewis, a 6-5 shooting
guard, is a quality defender and a smooth shooter. Versatility
is an overused word, but there is no other way to describe
Galloway. The 6-7 forward can, and probably will, play four
positions. He’s a great passer, slasher and athlete and could
make the biggest impact of any freshman for USC. Hackett
wrapped up his high school career a year early and hopes to make
an impact this year. The 6-5 small forward has tons of
potential, but will need some time to adjust to the level of
play in the Pac-10. Taj Gibson always finds a way to get the
job done. The 6-9 power forward can score inside and out, is a
beast on the boards and a big time defensive presence. The
21-year-old freshman can be a dominant player in a couple years
if he continues to get stronger and works on his consistency on
the mid-range jumper. Kyle Austin and Kasey Cunningham will add
even more depth under the basket as freshmen.
Who to Watch:
Gabe
Pruitt, who averaged 16.9 points and 3.1 assists last year, will
miss at least the first nine games of the season for academic
reasons. While Pruitt is gone the Trojan’s NCAA hopes may be
dashed. It will be up to super talented wings Nick Young and
Lodrick Stewart to keep the backcourt in order. Young led the
squad with 17.3 points and 6.6 rebounds. Stewart added on 12.3
points, but with a little more consistency from the senior on
both ends of the floor, he will turn into a more than just a
roleplayer for the Trojans. The backcourt depth will depend on
the newcomers and sophomore Sead Odzic, who didn’t live up to
his sharp shooting reputation during his first year at USC.
Final
Projection:
Senior center
Abdoulaye N’diaye provides a large presence under the basket.
The 6-11, 230 pound Senegal native averaged 5.3 points, 4.7
rebounds and 1.6 blocks during his first season with the
Trojans. N’diaye won’t put up big numbers on the offensive end,
but is a good defender and a decent rebounder. The Trojans went
small much of last year, but RouSean Cromwell and Jeremy Barr
will get a shot at the power forward spot. At 6-10 and 215
pounds, Cromwell has the size to compliment N’diaye in the
paint. The sophomore averaged 4.2 points and 4.5 boards in 15
contests last year and missed much of the season with a
fractured foot. With Cromwell healthy, the Trojans suddenly
have the potential for a very effective frontcourt. If USC can
survive the first semester while Pruitt is sidelined, Coach Tim
Floyd could get his squad to the NCAA Tournament one year
earlier than most expect. If the Trojans struggle early, the
NCAA hopes could be gone by the time Pruitt steps into the new
Galen Center for a meaningful game.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NCAA
Projected
Starting Five:
Gabe Pruitt,
Junior, Guard, 16.9 points per game
Lodrick Stewart,
Senior, Guard, 12.3 points per game
Nick Young,
Junior, Guard, 17.3 points per game
RouSean
Cromwell, Sophomore, Forward, 4.2 points per game
Abdoulaye
N’diaye, Senior, Center, 5.3 points per game
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