FLOYD SETS LOFTY EXPECTATIONS FOR USC.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

PHOENIX - Tim Floyd arrived at USC on Friday without the rambling stories or excuses of his predecessor, Rick Majerus, but quickly disarmed everyone who thought he was worried about being the Trojans' second-string basketball coach.

``I fully understand why Rick Majerus was the first choice,'' Floyd said. ``He's a phenomenal, phenomenal basketball coach, and I'll say this: I thought about it and I can deal with it, when it comes to my ego. My wife, if she was choosing, I don't think I would have been her first choice, either.

``I was the fifth choice at Idaho, the fourth choice at Iowa State and the fourth choice at (University of) New Orleans. I've only been somebody's first choice once, and that was in Chicago and New Orleans (in the NBA), and those two didn't really work out.''

Floyd, 50, said although he accepted the USC job last month, his introduction was delayed with the holidays and because his wife is being treated for cancer.

``We didn't have everything squared away. My wife's medical procedure is the 25th,'' he said. ``We were getting a second opinion. I didn't feel comfortable.''

There was also the matter of finalizing a buyout with the Hornets, who owe him $3 million the next two seasons.

``Most everything is squared away,'' Floyd said. ``Documents are still being exchanged.''

Like Majerus, Floyd will start his coaching duties after this season and said USC will be his last job. Unlike Majerus, Floyd came out swinging in the expectations department, saying the Trojans will not take a back seat to Arizona, the most successful program in the Pacific-10 Conference the past 15 years.

``I want guys who can play for the University of Arizona,'' he said. ``I'm not going to sign guys just to fill out the roster. If I have to hold a scholarship this season to get a better player the following year, I'll do that.''

He also refused to address sharing the scene with crosstown rival UCLA.

``I'm not going to use UCLA as the barometer,'' he said. ``I'm using the University of Arizona as a barometer, because they are the team, in my opinion, that is at the level we are trying to reach. I'm looking forward to recruiting the same players those people are recruiting and we'll try to do our best in those head-to-head matchups.''

Although Floyd speaks with a Southern accent, recruiting in Los Angeles and Southern California will not require a transition. He actively recruited in the area as an assistant at UTEP, where he signed 10 players from area. He also signed Southern Californians at Idaho, New Orleans and Iowa State.

``I do feel familiar with it and need to reacquaint myself with some high school coaches,'' Floyd said.

Floyd will meet with the Trojans on Monday, along with the coaching staff. He knows it's a daunting task to rebuild the program, with only four scholarship players (Nick Young, Gabe Pruitt, Lodrick Stewart, Dwayne Shackleford) scheduled to return.

``There's no power forwards or centers,'' Floyd said. ``If you take a step back before you go forward, that's what you do. I won't run any guys off for their scholarships.''

Floyd might have some convincing to do with the returning players, who still don't know a lot about him, although Young said he spoke with Hornets guard Baron Davis.

``I heard he's a better college coach than pro coach,'' Young said. ``That his program is better run for college basketball. I can see myself playing for him.''

Stewart said the returning players first need to decide if they will return.

``Everyone has to do what's best for them,'' Stewart said. ``I can't really say what I'm doing. I've got to finish the season strong.''

USC athletic director Mike Garrett said he expected Floyd to turn around the basketball program much the way Pete Carroll rejuvenated football. Floyd was introduced just before a much larger crowd watched quarterback Matt Leinart announce he would stay in school for his senior year.

``You'd have to have blinders on and earmuffs on to not know how big the football program is,'' Floyd said.

Said Garrett: ``If it takes him a year or two longer than (Carroll), where it's two or three years, I'll be very happy about that.''

Garrett said he wasn't disappointed to hire Floyd following the initial hiring of Majerus, who quit after less than a week, claiming he wasn't fit enough to coach.

``Between he and Rick, it was a very narrow difference. Rick is better known in Los Angeles, but after that it's not much of a drop-off, if any at all,'' Garrett said. ``He's not as well known as Rick on the West Coast, but other than that, he's basically the same animal.''

Although Floyd didn't want to talk about UCLA, Bruins coach Ben Howland is more than familiar with him, since both coached in the Big Sky Conference - Floyd at Idaho and Howland at Northern Arizona.

``He's won everywhere he's been,'' Howland said. ``That's a great hire for USC.

``I called him when I got the NAU job and asked him for advice about the Big Sky 11 years ago. I respect him. He gave me good, sound advice.''

Floyd said he had not contacted any potential assistant coaches, although San Jose State coach Phil Johnson and Louisiana State assistant Butch Pierre are two likely candidates.

Staff writers Rich Hammond and Brian Dohn contributed to this story.

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) New USC men's basketball coach Tim Floyd speaks to the media.

(2) New USC men's basketball coach Tim Floyd, center, is congratulated by former men's baseball coach Rod Dedeaux, left and Norm Chow.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) TIM FLOYD YEAR-BY-YEAR

(2) USC vs. ARIZONA ST.

- Scott Wolf