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.

First off this team is Taj Gibson's. He lead the Pac-10 last year in blocks, but still had an off year all around. This year he should dominate.

Additionally, the offense cannot function without Daniel Hackett.

Ok onto DeMar:

1) excellent body control
2) very level headed
3) does not need touches or shots to get in the game

Did not get a real accurate read on his defense, but it's easy to see why this kid is going to work so well with Tim Floyd.

North Carolina transfer Alex Stepheson is finally expected to get word today on whether or not he will be eligible.

He is not getting the Grizzlies much in the way of wins, but he is just a rookie. The last 5 games he is averaging close to 39 minutes, 26 pts, 3 assists, and 4 rebounds on shooting 50% from the field and 48% from three.

The USC one-and-doner just turned 21 years old last Wednesday and looks to have a really bright future in the NBA.

Free TrojanWire T-shirt to the first person to guess who O.J. is sizing up (in the picture above) and how he is related to USC. Send your answers to scoop@trojanwire.com.

**Editor's Update** Congrats to Moose for getting it first. But since we know him we are awarding a second one to Joel.

O.J. Mayo Player Profile [ESPN]

USC will be holding its tip off event Tuesday, October 21st, where Tim Floyd will talk about the 2008-09 team. All proceeds will go to benefit the Ryan Francis Endowed Scholarship Fund. This academic year, Ryan would have graduated from USC.

Help finish a commitment to #12.

2008-09 Tip Off Invite [USCtrojans.com]
2008-09 Tip Off Tickets [USCtrojans.com]

Mayo drains six 3s as Grizzlies drop Pacers for second straight win [ESPN]

Thank me later.

USC's got Mayo with 19.9 pts/G, Arizona's got Bayless with 19.9 pts/G. While Arizona has a near 4 point lead on scoring offense, USC bests Arizona's scoring defense by nearly four points. While Arizona ranks #2 in the conference in field-goal and #1 in three-point percentages, USC leads the conference on both counts defensively. Arizona's got Budinger, USC answers with Jefferson. USC shouts "Lewis!," "Hackett," and "Gibson!", Arizona screams back, "Hill!", "McClellan!" and "Wise!". It seems for every question raised by one team, the other has an answer. But the real question will be answered tonight.

Bot teams come in to the Galen Center red-hot, but only one team will leave with the victory.

-7:30 PM PT, FSN West-

Hip Hop Elements is reporting that future USC basketball player and child-rapper sensation, Romeo Miller a.k.a. Lil' Romeo, will miss the rest of the Beverly Hills High School basketball season due to injury. Miller, who was awarded a full scholarship to USC, will rest the injury the remainder of the year in preparation for the Trojans.

There are those who doubt Romeo's ability, claiming his scholarship is due to his star-power and not his game. While there may be some truth to that, you can decide for yourself by watching Romeo's highlight video on USChoops.tv.

Not only can you talk to Coach Floyd about the Trojans' recent clutch victories against UCLA and Oregon, you might win yourself a free pair of sneakers.

For more information, visit nikebasketball.com/hoopstalk »

It was more than just USC-UCLA. It was unofficially billed as Love vs. Mayo and The Battle of the Freshman. Kevin Love and OJ Mayo, arguably the best two freshman in the country, happened into the hottest rivalry in college sports. The hype was unimaginable. It didn't seem to matter much that Mayo plays guard and Love plays center, and that in all likelihood, the two phenoms would have little direct contact with one another throughout the game. In the eyes of many the game was simply Love vs. Mayo, mano a mano, and the world seemed about ready to hand a victory over to Kevin Love and UCLA.

I guess nobody told the Trojans it was supposed to go that way.

Big, big, big, really, really, really big game tonight at the Galen Center at 8pm (and televised on FSN) as the Trojans look to upset the undefeated, #4 Washington State Cougars.

USC vs. #4 Washington State - Game Preview [Conquest Chronicles]

Highlights from a long SI article on Love & Mayo after the jump...