-
USC
If you walked into the Coliseum for the first time Saturday and watched USC’s first spring scrimmage, it would be difficult to notice any difference between quarterbacks Max Browne and Sam Darnold. Although the coaches talk frequently about Browne’s advantage over Darnold in experience, there was nothing to suggest any disparity between the junior and freshman. “Right now, Max is ahead,” USC coach Clay Helton said. “That’s the way it...
-
USC
USC defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast said he “didn’t watch any” film of last year’s games, which gives everyone a fresh start. Then again, Pendergast admitted he watched some USC games on TV, so he had an idea of the Trojans’ defense going into spring practice. “We’ve got a long ways to go,” Pendergast said Thursday. The Trojans are missing several starters this spring: Cornerback Adoree Jackson is focused on...
-
College Sports
USC quarterback Cody Kessler said Pro Day was a chance to show he could throw deep passes. For three seasons, one of the biggest criticisms of Kessler was his ability to complete long passes. Kessler said he fixed a flaw in his delivery from last season. “I wasn’t stepping into my throws and was moving around a little bit,” he said. Kessler threw nearly 60 passes on Wednesday at Cromwell Field and was solid as usual. The question now is whether an NFL...
-
Sports
Su’a Cravens stormed off the field at the end of Wednesday’s Pro Day at USC, frustrated with his performance in a pass drill. “I know you can’t be perfect, but I like to be perfect,” Cravens said. “I had a great day until the last drill when I slipped.” Players slipped frequently on the artificial surface at Cromwell Field during the workouts before NFL coaches and scouts. Cravens was unhappy over one stumble. A bigger...
-
USC
Some interesting facts are emerging after four practices of USC’s spring quarterback derby as each quarterback’s strength appears to be his counterpart’s weakness. Frontrunner Max Browne knows the offense better than freshman Sam Darnold, but the coaches are trying to get Browne to learn a quick release when passing the ball. They also want Browne to stand more upright in the pocket to take advantage of his height. Darnold, who has not thrown an interception...
-
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
RALEIGH, N.C. — Providence 70, USC 69, the morning after: • In 1992, Georgia Tech’s James Forrest swished a long jumper to knock USC out of the NCAA tournament, 79-78. That was a second-round game, not a first, and the Trojans, with Harold Miner, felt they had at least a decent shot at a Final Four that year. It was a hard shot to George...
-
USC
RALEIGH, N.C. >> Welcome to the dark side of the NCAA tournament, Trojans. And goodbye. A buoyant season hurled the Trojans into a brick wall with 1.5 seconds left in the first round Thursday night. Rodney Bullock, left absurdly alone in the lane, made a layup off an in-bounds pass for Providence, and USC goes home with a 21-13 record...
-
USC
RALEIGH, N.C. – USC craved the chance to experience March Madness but probably never imagined it referred to the Trojans’ own behavior inside PNC Arena on Thursday night. The Trojans lost their minds in the final minute against Providence, failing to defend the basket or cover Friars forward Rodney Bullock, who easily scored a layup with 1.5 seconds left for a 70-69 victory before about 8,000 fans in an NCAA Tournament East Regional game. “I feel...
-
USC
RALEIGH, N.C. >> Julian Jacobs heard the buzzer and heaved the basketball high into the ozone of Orleans Arena. What he would do, when it came down, was anyone’s guess. The point guard at Las Vegas’ Desert Pines High School had decided on USC long before he won the Nevada I-A state championship with an assist to Trevion Turner and then made a steal of the final in-bounds pass. It was 2013, and by then the Trojans had fired coach Kevin O’Neill. Bob...
-
USC
RALEIGH, N.C. — Two years ago, USC coach Andy Enfield asked his players to anonymously write on a piece of paper their preseason goals for the Trojans. “I wrote to win the national championship,” point guard Julian Jacobs said. “I was a naive freshman. My family taught me to think big. I didn’t know how tough it would be.” There was mostly losing during Jacobs’ first two seasons, but Thursday night might be USC’s version of...
