There was genuine surprise at the reunion of the 2001 Elite Eight USC basketball team last weekend because no one expected Coach Henry Bibby to attend.

“Everybody was surprised he showed up,” a player in attendance said.

Why? Well, let’s just say players would swap a lot more colorful stories than heartwarming ones regarding their head coach.

• Eric Musselman hasn’t tweeted since Feb. 13. USC hasn’t won since Feb. 8 and Musselman looked fed up after the loss to UCLA this week.

He can cite injuries but how many times can he bring in a whole new team? How many players are leaving after this season? How do you build chemistry?

• USC baseball remained undefeated with an 8-0 record after defeating Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 4-0, on Thursday night.

• A Go Fund Me has been started to help Joanne Asman, the owner and trainer of Traveler, buy a new truck to transport the USC mascot to games and events after her truck was destroyed in a hit-and-run accident. Asman suffered a concussion and other injuries in the accident.

The new truck must meet requirements to haul a horse trailer and for live-animal transport. The Go Fund Me details are here.

Perhaps Lincoln Riley can see fit to make a donation.

• And now for some history:
• Despite being a football school, USC’s contributions to basketball never get enough credit.

Peter Vecsey pointed out that USC All-American Bill Sharman is credited with the creation and adoption of the 3-point shot.

And that’s coupled with USC coach Sam Barry being credited with the creatuin of the midcourt line and 10-second rule. Barry also holds the honor of being on the cover of a Wheaties box.

• What makes the 1939 USC-UCLA game ticket below special is that Disney gave permission to use Mickey Mouse on it and as a Trojan no less.

Note that the ticket was printed by the Jeffries Banknote Co., which produced tickets for the 1932 and 1984 Olympics, and was still in business until 2017.

• Here are some more USC baseball prospect stories:

• Robin Yount thought about going to USC but told the coaches he didn’t like the uniforms. He ended being the No. 3 pick overall in the 1973 draft.
• Lloyd Allen was a pitcher expected to go to USC but then was the No. 12 overall pick in the 1968 draft and went pro.
• Ozzie Smith went to Locke High School, seven miles from USC, but the Trojans’ coaches didn’t even know who he was and Smith went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on an academic scholarship in 1973.

• Sometimes, I’m in awe of the events USC staged in the past. I’ve written previously about the DKA (Delta Kappa Alpha) professional cinematic arts fraternity founded at USC in 1936.

They used to throw an annual dinner on campus at Town and Gown and in 1968 it was like a mini-version of the Academy Awards: Jimmy Stewart, Mae West and famous director Mervyn LeRoy were honored.

Who else was there? Raquel Welch, Greer Garson, Vera Miles, Walter Pidgeon, Andy Devine plus legendary directors George Cukor and Robert Wise.

John McKay even showed up with All-Americans O.J. Simpson, Tim Rossovich and Adrian Young. They got the loudest round of applause outside of West. 

When West was introduced, she had a full-length mirror, furry rug, bed and chandelier surrounding her on the stage. Simpson, Rossovich and Young were in front of her.

“I’ve been honored for many things,” West said. “But this is the first time I’ve become a fraternity brother.”

PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Virginia North

Junko Takazawa

Stefania Sandrelli