U.S.C...really?

OK, so this is apparently why the Pac-10 decided to have a post-season tournament. Or was it for the money?...

From the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/sports/ncaabasketball/15pac10.html?ref=sports

U.S.C.’s Bid Prospects Go From Problematic to Automatic

By BILLY WITZ
Published: March 14, 2009

LOS ANGELES — Over the previous two days, Southern California Coach Tim Floyd had pleaded his team’s case before every available television camera, microphone and notepad, arguing that the Trojans belonged in the N.C.A.A. tournament.

On Saturday night, a pulpit was not necessary.

The Trojans raced into the tournament, rallying from a 15-point halftime deficit to defeat Arizona State, 66-63, and win the Pacific-10 tournament. The victory gave U.S.C. the conference’s automatic bid.

Guard Daniel Hackett made the go-ahead free throws with 42 seconds left, and center Taj Gibson, the conference’s defensive player of the year, thwarted Arizona State guard James Harden, the conference’s player of the year, on two late drives to seal the win.

When Derek Glasser’s off-balance 3-point attempt missed and the buzzer sounded, the Trojans raced to center court and began jumping up and down.

Gibson let out a yell and Hackett jumped atop the scorer’s table in front of the fans. An hour later, as Hackett sat at his locker, his team’s 48-hour run had yet to sink in.

“I’m still amazed,” he said. “Seeing the clock at zero, the lady handing me the championship.”

Instead of the group that had struggled through injury and inconsistency, going 18-12 and finishing sixth in the Pac-10, the Trojans became the team Floyd had waited an entire season to emerge.

The freshman DeMar DeRozan, the apparent one-and-done heir to O. J. Mayo at U.S.C., was named the tournament’s most outstanding player after he had 25 points and 4 assists in the final. Hackett, who played every minute of the tournament, added 19 points and 6 rebounds. Gibson delivered defensively and Dwight Lewis — “who hadn’t hit a shot since January,” Floyd said — made a 3-pointer that brought U.S.C. to 63-62 with 1 minute 4 seconds to play.

When the Trojans went into halftime trailing by 15 points, Floyd reminded them that they had blown an 18-point lead against California earlier in the tournament and had nearly frittered away a 15-point advantage in the final three minutes against U.C.L.A. in the semifinals on Friday.

“Thank God that we know teams can blow leads,” Floyd said.

Floyd turned to a full-court press, something he had used only once this season. DeRozan made a 3-pointer to begin the half, and the quick pace of the game soon played to U.S.C.’s advantage.

Though the Trojans closed to 48-43 with 13:50 left on a layup by DeRozan, the Sun Devils held them off until the final minute.

“I wish I could tell you it was something tricky,” Floyd said. “But it was about the heart of these guys.”

And if the press had not worked, what would he have done next?

“Punt,” Floyd said.

An apt alternative for a football university that has now reached the N.C.A.A. tournament three years in a row for the first time.

Another of Floyd’s decisions turned out splendidly, too. In their previous two meetings with Arizona State, the Trojans had been unable to solve the Sun Devils’ pick-and-roll plays for Harden.

Arizona State had used the plays to get Harden into the lane, where he could create shots for himself or pass to open teammates.

But after Hackett’s two free throws put U.S.C. ahead, 64-63, the Trojans changed their defense. Instead of having Hackett fight through a screen set by forward Jeff Pendergraph, he and Gibson would switch.

“Oh, man, the rocker step is coming,” Gibson said of his thoughts, preparing for Harden’s favorite move.

As Harden drove left, Gibson got his hand on the ball — his fourth block of the game. He grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 16.7 seconds left, then made 1 of 2 free throws to give the Trojans a 65-63 lead.

With his team’s place in the N.C.A.A. field assured, Floyd finally acknowledged that he knew the Trojans had needed to win the final to get in.

“When they’re taking every team from the Big East,” he said, “you figure there’s probably not many spots left.”