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.
USC 69, Stanford 65: Locker room report
USC had plenty of support Thursday just when it needed it most.
Pete Carroll banged on the locker room door before the game, giving the players a pep talk that had them jumping up and down. It sparked the Trojans to a 15-8 lead early in the game.
``Pete Carroll came in, got us pumped up and we fed off that energy,'' Nick Young said. ``We went out there and tried to play like the football team.''
After the game, Denzel Washington, who had courtside seats in his first appearance at Galen Center, was in the locker room celebrating with the players.
``You know we have a lot of support if Denzel is here,'' said Lodrick Stewart, who got his picture taken with Denzel.
With the victory, USC (20-8, 10-5) moved out of a third-place tie with the Cardinal. The Trojans reached 20 victories for the 16th time in the team's 100-year history and first time since the 2001-02 season -- the last time the Trojans made the NCAA Tournament.