USC Men's Basketball Upcoming Events

TIP OFF WITH THE MEN OF TROY

- USC To Host Fundraiser For The Ryan Francis Endowed Scholarship -

LOS ANGELES – The USC Athletic Department will be hosting a “Tip Off With The Men Of Troy” event on Oct. 21 at the Galen Center to introduce the 2008-09 men’s basketball team and raise funds for the Ryan Francis Endowed Scholarship.

This academic year Ryan Francis would have graduated from USC and the Trojans are committed to raising the remaining funds needed to complete the scholarship which will ensure the memory of this extraordinary young man lives on in the minds of all future Trojans.

Francis was a 2005-06 Pac-10 honorable mention All-Freshman team member, who was senselessly gunned down while visiting his mother, Paula, back in Louisiana. Francis averaged 7.1 points and 3.7 assists for the Trojans in his one season, but whose spirit and attitude forever touched the lives of the Trojan family.

This exclusive event will allow fans a chance to watch the Trojans practice from 4-5 p.m., participate in a silent auction, meet the players, hear from USC head basketball coach Tim Floyd and attend a VIP reception in the Founders Club.

To purchase tickets or to make a donation, please call the USC Development Office at (213) 740-4155. E-mail questions can be directed to athdev@usc.edu.


USC MEN’S BASKETBALL TO HOST “DRIBBLE FOR THE CURE” AND ANNUAL CARDINAL &GOLD SCRIMMAGE ON OCT. 26

LOS ANGELES – The USC men’s basketball program has partnered with the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) and the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) for the third annual “Dribble For The Cure” charity event to be held at the Galen Center on Sunday (Oct. 26) beginning at 11 a.m. Following the fund-raising festivities, the 2008-09 men’s basketball team will be on display for the annual Cardinal and Gold scrimmage to be held at 2 p.m.

The third annual “Dribble For The Cure” will feature a festival of games, activities, food and entertainment, as well as a meet and greet with the USC men’s basketball team and head coach Tim Floyd. Each participant, asked to collect pledges to earn prizes on the day of the event, will join the USC basketball team and dribble a basketball through a course winding across the USC campus, beginning and ending at the Galen Center. In addition, each participant will receive an official “Dribble For The Cure” T-shirt.

Immediately following the “Dribble For The Cure,” all fans are invited to attend the free Cardinal and Gold intrasquad scrimmage at 2 p.m. and get their first look at the 2008-09 Trojans in a game-like situation.

The USC men’s basketball team is coming off its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 20-win season, going 21-12 last year. Juniors Taj Gibson (All-Pac-10, Third Team), Daniel Hackett and Dwight Lewis along with senior Keith Wilkinson return to anchor the Trojans’ squad. They will be joined by the No. 7 ranked recruiting class according to HoopScoop.com, featuring McDonald’s All-American DeMar DeRozan, a consensus top five recruit. Despite the departure of O.J. Mayo to the NBA as the third player taken overall, early season rankings list this Trojan squad as a top 25 team with The Sporting News ranking USC No. 11.

This promises to be an exciting season of Trojan basketball and it all begins on Oct. 26. Come out to have some fun, check out the Trojans and help generate proceeds for pediatric cancer research and the treatment of children with cancer at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.