McMillan Set for Pac-10

Jeff McMillan is one of five seniors on the USC team getting a last swing through the Pacific 10 Conference. And there is, naturally, a sense of urgency among the quintet to go out on a high note.

McMillan feels that urgency a little more. The 6-foot-8 forward, who transferred to USC from Fordham, knows that the Trojans last appeared in the NCAA tournament in 2002, losing in the first round to North Carolina Wilmington. And that few expect USC to reach the tournament this season.

But, as the Trojans prepare to open conference play at Oregon on Friday, McMillan said USC can -- and should -- be involved in the Pac-10 race.

“It all starts with practice, and we’re practicing hard,” McMillan said Wednesday. “Everybody’s feeling comfortable. Once we get the first Pac-10 games out of the way, show the freshmen how it is, I think we’ll come along.”

Still, McArthur Court in Eugene is considered one of the toughest places to get a conference road win, something the younger Trojan players will learn quickly.

“I’ve told them, especially the freshmen, [the atmosphere] is no place like you’ve ever played in before,” McMillan said, referring to the loud fans and the intimate configuration of the court. “I know I’d never experienced a place like that.

“But right now, this is a good time for us. We don’t have classes to worry about. Even with the coaching situation, everybody’s buying into what [interim Coach Jim Saia] says. Who knows what will happen in the future? So everybody’s just worrying about now, and not about tomorrow.”

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Errick Craven will travel with the team, but his sprained right ankle will keep him from playing against Oregon and Oregon State.

“Errick’s about a week to a week and a half away,” Saia said, adding that Craven will not be in uniform for the games.