FOOTBALL

USC Notes: Emergency Plan B Is In Place

If nothing else, Gary Patterson could always take over the program if Lincoln Riley got fired. Not that I’m saying USC has the courage to do that.

But it’s an easy transition in an emergency situation. I’m sure Chad “Charmin” Bowden has thought that, if only for a fleeting moment.

  • Lost amid the debut of Alijah Arenas last night was that leading scorer Chad Baker-Mazara fouled out in 13 minutes of action. And he scored 14 points.
  • Ryan Coogler is a Trojan, a graduate of the USC Cinema School. His movie, Sinners, set a record with 16 Oscar nominations this morning.

23 thoughts on “USC Notes: Emergency Plan B Is In Place”

  1. Scooter,

    Someone has got to get rid of Jen Taco Lita Cohen. Her decisions have been major problems for SC. She is worse than Bohn. Hiring mussleman is not a good hire. Her little persona just like Washington U shows all too well. Horrible.

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    1. My sophomore high school basketball coach would record the players’ mental errors along with points, rebounds, and assists. He would then post them on the bulletin board outside the gym for everyone to see. Any player who fouls out in 13 minutes probably leads the league in mental errors. The player has no discipline and lacks an understanding of the game. You can’t win with that kind of player.

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  3. Well, let’s see how our UNRANKED women do against #13 Michigan State in a little over an hour, on BTN.

    Not going to get any easier against #7 Michigan on Sunday! They could be just above .500 after these two.

    Sure wish we still had Kayleigh Heckell (UConn) and Avery Howell (UW).

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    2. She actually has the nerve to cry that Sane Gabby posts the same shxt over & over!

      Not only the stupidest person here, but also the most hypocritical.

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    3. KAM: Everyone traditionally cares in mid January when it seems like the mens basketball team will finally end the 0-125 years streak of no national titles.

      DON: Then reality sets in.

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  5. Sorry I have to agree not many are on the “Muss Bus” any longer. The tires on the bus are flat, and the Bus needs an entirely new transmission., and sadly who within the entire USC athletic department understands the game of basketball certainly not Jen Taco Bell Cohen. The USC program is now headed into a downward spiral similar to when Kevin O’Neil was here., and now everyone that was fooled by Musselman’s enthusiasm are now jumping off the bus.

    Next year we have another 6 or 7 -retread portal players, Arenas will be in theNBA, Easter and Rodney Rice will transfer for better deals, and a couple of good big men freshman who will need to be developed under a coach who can’t coach the game of basketball because it got away with it coaching in the NBA D-League for so long.

    The way I see it after next season he will be gone. I have to bet Muscle Man is one of the highest paid coaches in the Big 10 and has never lasted long in any job nor won any championships. It’s time for USC to hire a great coach like St. Mary’s Randy Bennett who wins year in and year out.

    Too many hiring mistakes at USC……….PERIOD.

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  6. Key reasons for the decline in basketball’s appeal include:

    • Homogenized Style (The 3-Point Craze): Analytics-driven strategies have led to a reliance on three-point shots and a decrease in mid-range games and post play, making the product feel repetitive.
    • Reduced Physicality and Defense: Rule changes, such as the 2005 ban on hand-checking, have reduced defensive intensity, leading to higher scores but less competitive, “soft” gameplay.
    • Lack of Rivalries and “Load Management”: Stars frequently sitting out games reduces interest in the regular season, while a lack of deep, long-term rivalries makes the league feel less compelling.
    • Predictable Games: The game is often seen as a “three-point and free-throw shooting contest,” with less emphasis on the raw, competitive, physical nature of previous eras.
    • Evolution of Fan Consumption: Younger demographics increasingly prefer highlight clips over watching full, 82-game season contests.
    • College Basketball Issues: The “one-and-done” phenomenon, where top players leave after one year, prevents fans from building lasting connections with college teams. 

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    1. I don’t care for basketball (until the tournament), except for USC basketball. Unlike some people who call themselves Trojans, I root for our teams no matter what the sport is.

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    2. KAM: Usually this time of year hopes are high about the mens basketball team …

      DON: And then March Madness comes and the reality of another season of failure sets in… but Spring Football revives us.

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    3. The comments about basketball, especially NBA basketball, are right on target. It seems like every game there is another injured Laker player, and when I watch a professional game even for just a few minutes, I am disgusted by the lack of defensive intensity. I thought when the Association allowed zone defenses instead of just man to man, that we would see better defensive schemes, but that has not occurred because the divas in the NBA do not like to play defense. And, the college game does suffer because of the 19 year old rule for eligibility. The only thing that has any loyalty in the college games of basketball and football is the college brand. I root for USC even though I don’t know the players because of the one and done and the portal. Great analysis. Fight on, Dan, Class of 1962

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  8. SC basketball has had its moments but nothing long-term sustainable. The 1970s Westpahl-Riley, the 1990s Harold Miner, the early 2000s with Clancy and his gang, and recently the Evans flock were very very exciting teams.

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  10. KAM: What are the prospects of a Russia-Ukraine peace?

    DON: Well, the Ukranians have grave markers of fallen comrades with little Ukrainian flags dotted along the byways commemorating their sacrifices to keep the remaining Ukraine intact. So no land concession to the Russians, no deal

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  11. What is taking the athletic dept so long to hire a currently unemployed coach!?

    I do love hiring a coach who could become HC. Let Riley know he is easily replaceable without disruption.

    Let’s bring back Ed O too.

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