Latest Victories Move Trojans Into Top 25

USC returned to the Associated Press top 25 poll Monday for the first time since the final poll of the 1991-92 season. The Trojans (12-5), on top of the Pacific 10 Conference with a 5-0 record and riding a seven-game winning streak, are No. 23.

USC plays Thursday at Oregon.

Also entering the top 25 this week were North Carolina State and Temple.

Dropping out of the top 25 were UCLA, DePaul and North Carolina, ending a stretch of 172 consecutive appearances for the Tar Heels. The last time North Carolina was unranked was the 1990-91 preseason poll. UCLA has the most consecutive appearances in the poll, 221 from 1966-1980.

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USC officials expect to accept architectural bids by the end of February for their proposed on-campus arena.

Carol Dougherty, assistant dean of administration and project coordinator, said Monday “three-quarters of the programming and planning phase” for the arena is completed. Helping USC in the planning is HNTB, an engineering, architectural and planning firm based in Kansas City, Mo.

Certain specifications are in place, Dougherty said. The arena will cover 300,000 square feet and seat 12,000. There will be 24 suites, Dougherty said, and a two-level restaurant with street access as well as an entrance from the arena concourse.

In addition to the main arena floor, there will be separate practice facilities for the basketball and volleyball teams, Dougherty said. Each practice facility will consist of two full courts.

Construction costs for the facility are estimated at $70 million.