Matthew Kredell broke into the Daily News in 1998, working part time
at the paper while going to USC. The basketball team’s Elite Eight
run in 2000-01 was USC’s athletic highlight in his time at the
school, when the football team was stuck in the Paul Hackett-era.
After graduating in 2001, he started writing for the Daily News full
time. He’s in his second year covering USC, which coincides with the
rise of the program. He’ll take credit for the success, though Tim
Floyd may have more to do with it. A third-generation Los Angelean,
he grew up reading the Daily News while at El Camino Real High School
in Woodland Hills.
Lod's last home game
Senior Lodrick Stewart will play his final game at Galen Center tomorrow against Cal.
``I know it's going to be emotional just knowing I'll never play here in a college game again,'' Stewart said. ``It's going to be sad. But everybody's time comes where you have to walk away from one program or whatever level you're playing at and move on.''
With three regular-season games remaining, Stewart sits at 11th on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,356 points, sixth in steals at 143 and second in 3-point field goals made at 216. He could break Brandon Granville's 3-point record of 218 tomorrow.
It could also be the final home game for juniors Nick Young and Gabe Pruitt, who could make themselves eligible for the NBA draft. Pruitt said he didn't think it would be his final home game.
Young said: ``I haven't really thought about it. It's been a long season, and I just want it to keep going. I want to keep winning.''