Trojans Continue Tradition

Continuing with a recent tradition, USC basketball players will gather for Thanksgiving dinner tonight, but not before they work up an appetite at practice earlier in the day.

It seems a 3-0 record--the Trojans’ best start since the 1988-89 season--isn’t enough to earn them a rest on the holiday. If anything, they have been chastised by their coach for looking sluggish in workouts this week and starting slowly in a 74-48 victory over Long Beach State on Tuesday night.

That leaves them searching for ways to get an edge on upcoming opponents.

“I guess this is how we get it,” junior guard Quincy Wilder said. “Go to the gym, get some shots up, then eat some turkey. Not everybody’s going to have practice on Thanksgiving.”

Sophomore forward Jeff Trepagnier takes a more sentimental view.

“There’s a common bond on this team, a chemistry there,” Trepagnier said. “This is another part of our bonding.”