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Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:25 am EDT

Tim Floyd is now losing players to Islamabad

By Chris Chase

USC's basketball team has lost its fourth early-entrant to the NBA draft and coach Tim Floyd isn't happy about it.

After reserve forward Marcus Johnson joined DeMar DeRozan, Daniel Hackett and Taj Gibson as Trojans who decided to forgo years of college eligibility, Floyd had this to say to the Los Angeles Times:

"Kansas has two players who would have been NBA lottery picks, Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins, and they are returning to school. Good for them. Our guys get an offer from Islamabad and they're gone." 

Oh, that's gold, Timmy. GOLD! The subtle-as-a-sledgehammer dig at Johnson, the snide "good for them", going for the gusto with the Pakistani capital ... it's all deadly.

Has Floyd ever stopped to consider that it's his fault his players are on exodus from Los Angeles like the Israelites from Egypt? His program is a mess, his teams constantly underachieve and, to top it off, Floyd himself willingly recruits one-and-done guys like DeRozan and O.J. Mayo. It's all a recipe for guys to flock to the NBA.

Kansas, on the other hand, is a program of stability. Plenty of players leave Lawrence early. But because of Bill Self, Aldrich and Collins know they can improve their game (and, subsequently, their standing for the 2010 draft) while playing for a national championship next season. At USC, what's the incentive for Daniel Hackett to stay around? So his team can get put on probation in November? It doesn't make sense for him to leave (he is projected as a second-round pick) but, hey, maybe Tim Floyd's last check bounced.

In that vein, I'm surprised that USC couldn't have made a counter-offer to the Islamabadian deal given to Johnson. Surely there was an intermediary through which this could have been worked out.

Related: Pac-10 Basketball

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76 Comments

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  1. AgentUtah
    1. Posted by AgentUtah Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:20 pm EDT

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    Funny stuff - both Floyd and the story itself. I'm sure they're breathing another sigh of relief in Tucson that they didn't get this winner.
  2. Patrick M
    2. Posted by Patrick M Thu Jun 04, 2009 2:07 pm EDT

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    I hope USC is placed in college recruiting purgatory like SMU was back in the early 90's. Maybe then I will stop hearing about how great USC's football team is.
  3. knicknock
    3. Posted by knicknock Thu Jun 04, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

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    Maybe if USC fires Floyd, they can replace him with Kelvin Sampson. Then they can give him a cell phone with unlimited minutes.
  4. StevenH
    4. Posted by StevenH Thu Jun 04, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    USC has been cheating at all sports for decades. Losers can't get good people without paying.
  5. MFo
    5. Posted by MFo Thu Jun 04, 2009 4:54 pm EDT

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    Try "forgo" next time. The writing and editing is worse than Floyd's coaching.
  6. vdub
    6. Posted by vdub Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:04 pm EDT

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    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Islamabad!!! How about Abu Dhabi?
  7. Mike
    7. Posted by Mike Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:10 pm EDT

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    It can be FOREGO or FORGO...look it up before you post.
  8. Michael W
    8. Posted by Michael W Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:19 pm EDT

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    http://www.bruinsnation.com/2008/5/15/508939/pete-carroll-tim-floyd-usc
    Just read and enjoy. That school is such a mess. The NCAA needs to put their football and basketball programs on time-out by shutting them down for 5 years. That way, the trojans can think about how college athletics are supposed to work, and then come back and compete.
  9. David G
    9. Posted by David G Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:37 pm EDT

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    Rock Chalk Jayhawks
  10. JOE PA
    10. Posted by JOE PA Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:05 pm EDT

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    'Floyd's check bounced' LOL, watched his abortion for a couple of years as a Bulls fan. Anyone else think he looks like he is trying to sell a used dodge?
  11. Andrew J
    11. Posted by Andrew J Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:12 pm EDT

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    Floyd is only thinking about what is in the best interests of these kids - not himself. No, seriously. I mean it. Why are you laughing???
  12. Jason
    12. Posted by Jason Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:22 pm EDT

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    USC's problem is jus tthe tip of the iceberg for the NCAA. A lot more schools are paying for top athletes. It is in the NCAA's best interest to shut down those programs that have been found in violation. Take away their bread and butter (bowl games for football, NCAA/NIT tourney for basketball) until they can clean up.
  13. Michael W
    13. Posted by Michael W Thu Jun 04, 2009 8:09 pm EDT

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    jason p,
    You're right. But USC is an awfully big tip of the iceberg, and one that's not very well concealed. Most programs bend the rules, but few blatantly break them as often as USC. Even fewer perpetually deny them the way their school does. Miami's football team of the late 1990s was similar, but not even as bad.
    The one school I applaud is Oklahoma. In the last few years, they had a promising starting QB who broke NCAA rules, and the university expelled him. It's tough, but that's what a respectable program does. (And no, I'm not a sooner fan.)
    In basketball, Memphis under Coach C has been similar to Timmy Floyd's team. We're just now finding out about some of their violations.
    These programs do need to be shut down. Hit them where it hurts. Taking away championships / wins doesn't do enough. Disqualify them from bowl games or postseason play for 3-5 years, and things will change quickly. No $ for the school, no top-recruits, etc. Shutting down a major school that has a huge following will never happen, since the NCAA is still a business, but it should.
  14. Happy Customer!
    14. Posted by Happy Customer! Thu Jun 04, 2009 8:15 pm EDT

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    U$C. Guess that says it all.
  15. Spamboy88
    15. Posted by Spamboy88 Thu Jun 04, 2009 8:39 pm EDT

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    Timmaaaahhhh!!!
  16. A.D.
    16. Posted by A.D. Thu Jun 04, 2009 9:43 pm EDT

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    The only problem at USC is Mike Garrett, get rid of him and there will be no more issues.
  17. Bigtrain
    17. Posted by Bigtrain Thu Jun 04, 2009 10:01 pm EDT

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    Islamabad??? Why don't all of you get up off your butts and come over here for real. I am near Khost , Afghanistan, I'll leave the lights on so you can over and help out here. Who really gives a turd where he goes to school, they are going to become another product of the system trying to get to the NBA so they can make millions without ever working an honest day. blah, blah, blah
  18. Dustin Dawind
    18. Posted by Dustin Dawind Thu Jun 04, 2009 10:11 pm EDT

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    What's the big deal? Marcus probably just realized that he was underpaid relative to some of his teammates at USC, so he took a better offer. Happens all the time...
  19. Me
    19. Posted by Me Thu Jun 04, 2009 10:34 pm EDT

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    Tick...tock.....tick....tock.....its almost midnight dips**t! The ride is over!!
  20. Aba M
    20. Posted by Aba M Thu Jun 04, 2009 10:40 pm EDT

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    Fight on Floyd and SC. Dog Bark, but the Caravan Rolls On
  21. TheTruth
    21. Posted by TheTruth Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:10 pm EDT

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    Not to mention that Floyd flirts with other schools every offseason (Arizona this time). Why should they stick around when he's looking to jump ship himself?
  22. ICE
    22. Posted by ICE Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:28 pm EDT

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    I find it funny that people are jumping on the SC program as a whole. Blatanly cheating??? Exactly when did this happen??? I am an SC fan, and am P O'ed at what Floyd has done to our basketball program. We absolutely need to dump him on his keister soon. Just don't lump the entire Department, into something this jackhole has created.
  23. LakersBruinsNo1
    23. Posted by LakersBruinsNo1 Fri Jun 05, 2009 12:21 am EDT

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    The University of SECRET CASH..... check the football program... why doesn't reggie bushleague talk... deathpenalty is the only right thing to do....
  24. LakersBruinsNo1
    24. Posted by LakersBruinsNo1 Fri Jun 05, 2009 12:24 am EDT

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    It's a two sided sword when you make deals with the devil... now it's time to pay the reaper. and the prince of darkness doesn't take IOU's. (you might want to remind pete carroll of that)... it only makes sense. he can't coach anywhere and then suddenly he flips a switch.... devil made me do it... university of secret cash....
  25. James Lee
    25. Posted by James Lee Fri Jun 05, 2009 12:56 am EDT

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    The NCAA and NCAA coaches are getting what they deserve.
    They are exploiting the athletes making millions of dollars and pretending like everything is fair. Its a fraud.
    If players are offered money why
    SHOULDN'T they take it. Their coaches are making top dollar. There is not truth and justice in
    Division 1 men's college basketball or football.

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