Trojans, Bruins Still Own the Letters

Thank goodness USC defeated UCLA in basketball. According to Mr. Simers, it was a slam dunk because the Bruins were looking forward to Kansas. Just think of all the flak USC would have taken from him had UCLA won that meaningless game. Now, for the February rematch, T.J. indicates that the Bruins will be looking forward to that vaunted East Coast powerhouse Villanova, which was 9-3 with a strength of schedule of 293rd. Heck, it is USC that will be looking beyond UCLA. The Trojans will be gearing up for their next game, against Arizona State.

In an attempt to drum up interest for his column, while putting down USC in the same breath, did it ever occur to Mr. Simers that he is as transparent as cellophane?

Larry Harris

Manhattan Beach

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USC occasionally defeats UCLA in basketball, and sometimes has better teams. However, every season the Bruins play teams such as Kansas, Duke, North Carolina, etc., while the Trojans consider Utah a big game.

Coach Henry Bibby claims he’s a “pioneer” for USC basketball, but the Trojans won’t gain the national prestige they seek until they upgrade their nonconference schedule.

Jim Woodard

Woodland Hills

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To the Wooden Award committee:

Am I missing something, or are you? Who is the best collegiate basketball player around? Who scores outside and inside, makes great assists, rebounds, plays great defense, can press and break a press, and consistently plays huge in big games against the best big men in the game?

Matt Barnes exemplifies the type of player John Wooden used to produce better than anyone else. I wonder what Wooden himself would say?

Don Shoji

Torrance