Yamen Sanders

USC guard Harold Miner got a big buildup before the Trojans played Florida State in an NCAA tournament first-round game at Louisville, Ky., last season. Sportscaster Dick Vitale, calling Miner one of the best players in the nation, named him to his 1991-92 All-American team. A columnist for the Louisville Courier Journal lavished praise on Miner, comparing him to Miner's idol, Michael Jordan. But Miner didn't live up to the hype, missing 20 of 27 shots as Florida State ousted the Trojans, 75-72.

USC basketball Coach George Raveling could have killed Rodney Chatman after he forced a shot that missed at the end of the first half of Saturday's game against Arizona. But Raveling nearly hugged Chatman to death after he made a 17-foot jump shot as time ran out to lift the 10th-ranked Trojans to a 70-69 victory over second-ranked Arizona before 10,746 at the the Sports Arena. "Sometimes Rodney frustrates me and I yell at him," Raveling said.

Watching Bjorn Borg play tennis Tuesday at UCLA was like watching Willie Mays bat for the New York Mets, Joe Louis fight Rocky Marciano, or O.J. Simpson run for the San Francisco 49ers. . . . It took Volvo/Los Angeles tournament announcer Mike Walden nearly as long to introduce Borg as it did Chris Pridham to polish him off in straight sets. . . . About the only credential Walden failed to mention was the five-time Wimbledon champion's current world ranking--No. 917 among 1,300. . . .

After watching USC guard Harold Miner tire at the end of his first two seasons, Coach George Raveling urged Miner to begin lifting weights. Miner followed Raveling's advice, and he has developed more stamina this season. Miner's increased endurance was evident Thursday night. He scored 35 points in 37 minutes as the 15th-ranked Trojans beat California, 94-81, before 4,173 at the Sports Arena.

After Washington State stunned eighth-ranked USC, 82-68, Sunday before 6,277 fans at Friel Court, the Cougars' student rooting section mobbed the players. Washington State's fans had every reason to celebrate after the Cougars knocked USC out of a first-place tie with UCLA in the Pacific 10 Conference. The loss dropped USC, 21-5 overall and 13-3 in the Pac-10, into a second-place tie with Arizona (23-4, 13-3).

USC Coach George Raveling wore a scowl as he slumped in his seat during the Trojans' Pacific 10 opener against Arizona on Thursday night. Raveling had every reason to be disgusted after the sixth-ranked Wildcats embarrassed the Trojans, 107-68, before 13,832 fans at McKale Center. "Not a whole lot surprised me except the margin," Raveling said. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think the game would dissolve into that kind of game."

Oregon guard Terrell Brandon knew that he'd been fouled as soon as he launched the three-point shot with 12 seconds left in Thursday night's Pacific 10 game against USC, which trailed, 85-84. Referee Tom Harrington was standing next to Brandon, but he didn't call a foul on Trojan guard Harold Miner, who had hit Brandon as he went up. The crowd of 7,554 at McArthur Court began to berate the officials as Trojan guard Robert Pack worked the ball upcourt after Brandon's miss.

USC's basketball team had difficulty maintaining its composure in close games in Coach George Raveling's first five seasons, losing 32 of 52 decided by five points or fewer. However, the Trojans have matured, as evidenced by their 59-56 victory over Washington Saturday at the Sports Arena. "One thing that's pretty evident about this team is that they find a way to win," Raveling said after the 16th-ranked Trojans won their eighth game in a row.