USC BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: PRUITT HAS TOUGH TIME IN RETURN.Byline: MATTHEW KREDELL Staff Writer LAS VEGAS Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. -- Gabe Pruitt Gabriel Michael Pruitt (born on April 19, 1986 in Los Angeles, California) is an African American basketball player with the Boston Celtics. Biography College career On April 27 Pruitt announced that he registered for the 2007 NBA Draft. underestimated the difficulty in getting into a rhythm after missing the first 11 games of the season and valuable practice time. Pruitt, who returned from academic ineligibility on Friday, is scoreless on six shots through two games. The only encouraging sign for Pruitt in Saturday's victory over No. 8 Wichita State is that he didn't turn the ball over in 16 minutes after giving it away fourtimes against Kansas State. ``Gabe's a very fine player and we know he's going to be a big part of what we're doing, but he needs to integrate himself into our play,'' coach Tim Floyd Tim Floyd (born February 25, 1954) is the current head coach of the University of Southern California men's college basketball team. Floyd is also a former head coach of several teams in both the NCAA and the NBA. said. ``He hasn't had that opportunity. He's not in great condition and not aware of what we're emphasizing because he hasn't practiced with us much. It's going to take him a while.'' After practicing with the team the past two weeks, Pruitt thought he would be able to get acclimated quickly. After missing five games with an injury last season, he returned to score 13 in his first game back. ``He's trying to find his flow with a new team,'' Young said. ``Gabe's a great guy, he's going to bounce back.'' Mid-game hostilities: Tempers flared between USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. and Wichita State just before halftime. Wichita State's Matt Braeuer took an elbow to the ribs from Lodrick Stewart Lodrick Stewart is a basketball player. He has a twin brother, Roderick, who plays basketball at the University of Kansas. Pro career Stewart graduated from USC in 2007 and will prepare to enter the 2007 NBA Draft. His agent is Jerome Kersey. while going through a screen. He left the game and did not play in the second half. Soon after, Wichita State's Phillip Thomasson shoved Daniel Hackett and was called for an intentional foul. Hackett made both free throws to put USC up 25-21. Another benching: Nick Young and Hackett started the second half but Taj Gibson Taj Gibson is an African American basketball power forward. College career Gibson plays at the University of Southern California. He was named to the 2007 Pac-10 All freshman team. , one of only two regular starters on the floor to begin the game, was kept on the bench. Floyd said Gibson's benching was because of his three fouls and not his performance. He didn't want Gibson to get a quick fourth foul like he did Friday, when he fouled out with 8:59remaining. Gibson didn't foul out Saturday. He entered the game with 16:30 left and scored eight of his 12 points in the second half. Quality win: Wichita State had beaten then-No. 6 LSU LSU Louisiana State University LSU Large Subunit LSU La Salle University (Philadelphia, PA) LSU La Sierra University LSU Link State Update (OSPF) LSU Learning Support Unit , then-No. 15 Syracuse and last season's tournament sweetheart in George Mason. |
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