USC Hoops Eager To Return To NCAA Tourney

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kevin O'Neill felt empty when he flew home after Southern California's final game last season. The Trojans had nothing left to play for, having been banned from the postseason.

"It's nice to know we don't have those feelings this year," the second-year coach said.

USC is again eligible for the Pac-10 tournament and anything beyond that. The NCAA didn't impose any further punishment on the Trojans after the school's administration cracked down in January as a result of violations involving former star O.J. Mayo.

"It was great news. Now we have a chance to play for something," said 6-foot-10 forward Nikola Vucevic, voted the league's most improved player last season. "I think we can make it to the NCAA tournament."

USC was picked to finish sixth in a vote of media who cover the Pac-10. Its last NCAA tourney appearance was in 2009.

The Trojans open the season next Saturday at home against UC Irvine. They host Texas on Dec. 5 and visit seventh-ranked Kansas on Dec. 18, followed by a trip to No. 23 Tennessee three days later.

The Trojans, who were 16-14 overall and 8-10 in league play last season, lost three of their top four scorers, but feature one of the Pac-10's best frontlines in Vucevic and Alex Stepheson.

Vucevic averaged 10.7 points and 9.4 rebounds and 6-9 forward Stepheson averaged 8.4 points and 7.2 rebounds to help keep the Trojans in contention for the Pac-10 regular-season title until late February. They are the league's top returning rebounders.

Vucevic went home and played with Montenegro's national team over the summer.

"I played with guys that played pro overseas. It was a good experience for me to get better," he said. "One of my goals was to get in better shape."

O'Neill hired a strength and conditioning coach this season, and Vucevic is benefiting.

"I've seen a big-time jump in him conditioning-wise and strength-wise. His game is just overall better," O'Neill said. "I think he's primed to have a great junior year."

Stepheson got off to a slow start last season after a knee injury kept him out of practice and the first three games. The North Carolina transfer then played catch-up with his conditioning, but O'Neill said Stepheson is more focused in his senior season.

"Alex is in the best shape of his life," he said. "His work ethic has become beyond reproach. He's primed to have a great year."

Marcus Simmons, one of three seniors on the team, will be counted on for his defense and outside scoring touch.

The Trojans' backcourt has to rebound from the loss of starting guards Mike Gerrity and Dwight Lewis. They, along with the departed Marcus Johnson, combined for 32.7 points a game.

Senior Donte Smith and freshman Maurice Jones will be in the mix, and freshman Bryce Jones figures to play a significant role at point guard.

Fordham transfer Jio Fontan becomes eligible on Dec. 15 and is expected to become a starter at guard in time for the Kansas game three days later. He's down to 174 pounds, having shed 27 pounds since arriving on campus.

"The expectations are very high on him," O'Neill said. "He's the kind of guy who thrives on that, so he's looking forward to it. His first game is going to be at Kansas on national TV. I'm sure that will be an adjustment for him, but I have confidence in him."

Maurice Jones and Bryce Jones (no relation), along with Garrett Jackson and Curtis Washington represent O'Neill's first recruiting class since he took over for Tim Floyd, who abruptly quit in June 2009.

The Trojans were riding an eight-game winning streak and were 2-0 in the Pac-10 in January when O'Neill found out the administration was self-imposing sanctions on the program.

The strongest of those was the postseason ban. Having served that punishment, O'Neill is focused on getting USC back into the NCAA tournament, where it made three straight appearances during three consecutive 20-win seasons under Floyd.

A couple of minor penalties are still being felt. The Trojans lost one scholarship and 20 recruiting days for this season.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)