Dowell to Play Next Season for USC

Basketball Coach Stan Morrison of USC said Monday that junior forward Derrick Dowell’s suspension will last through the remaining two games of the season but that Dowell will be back with the team next season.

“Derrick has classroom commitments and responsibilities off the court that must be met,” Morrison said, not elaborating on the responsibilities. “He is very anxious to meet all those commitments and will be reinstated March 10.”

USC’s season will have ended by that date. The Trojans, 4-12 in the Pacific 10 and 10-16 overall, will finish on the road against Oregon and Oregon State Thursday night and Saturday afternoon, respectively.

Dowell was suspended last Wednesday after telling an assistant coach that he didn’t want to start the second half of USC’s loss to California Feb. 24 at the Sports Arena.

Without Dowell, USC lost to Stanford Saturday in Palo Alto, 85-64. Morrison said that Dowell had called the team before the game and wished it good luck.