Full-Time Coach May Have to Wait

With Athletic Director Mike Garrett saying on Wednesday that a full-time coach could be hired within two weeks, and with supposed leading candidate Rick Majerus saying that he would honor his contract with ESPN as an analyst and not coach this season, USC could announce a hire, though the coach would not take over until the end of the season.

Senior associate athletic director Daryl Gross would not comment on speculation, saying only, “The search is still on and we’re still talking to candidates.”

There is precedent at USC for such a move: Women’s volleyball coach Mick Haley was hired under similar circumstances in 1999, but his U.S. Olympic team duties precluded him from taking over immediately.

In that scenario for the men’s basketball team, interim coach Jim Saia and former coach Henry Bibby’s staff would have the rest of the season to show their wares.

“We can’t worry about that,” Saia said Friday night before a reception to kick off the San Diego Slam doubleheader. USC will meet San Diego in the first game and California plays San Diego State in the nightcap.

“It’s not about winning and losing right now, it’s about getting better,” Saia said. “Of course we want to win games, but I want them to have fun with the game of basketball and improve on the fundamentals.”

As such, he is simplifying the offense.

“We want to make them react instead of think,” Saia said. “Sometimes it’s been like paralysis by analysis; they’re thinking too much.”

The Trojan seniors, though, have not been thinking much about Saia’s successor.

“I’m more upset at the loss to Fresno,” Derrick Craven said of Wednesday’s defeat. “But I would think if the rumor was true, it would be natural for the staff to want to have a good season. That way they could get a job somewhere else.”

USC officials are in New York City for the Heisman Trophy presentation, but they are not expected to meet with Majerus even though ESPN’s base is in Bristol, Conn.

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Bibby is expected to make his debut as an analyst for ESPN soon, sources in the USC program said.... Junior guard Dwayne Shackleford (knee) is not expected to play today but should return next week.

USC TODAY

vs. San Diego, 5

Site -- Cox Arena.

Radio -- KMPC (1540), KSPA (1510), XEMM (800).

Records -- USC 2-3, San Diego 3-4.

Update -- The Toreros are led by senior forward Brice Vounang, who is averaging 17 points and 7.6 rebounds.