Pac-10 notebook: Lodrick wants a role in rebuilding at USC

LOS ANGELES — First-year USC coach Tim Floyd stood before reporters at the Pac-10 men's basketball media day Thursday and said one of the players his team will count on this season for stability and leadership is Lodrick Stewart.

Yes, the same Lodrick Stewart who has made news mostly for rumors of unhappiness, rumblings of transferring and even hints of turning pro during a tumultuous first two seasons with the Trojans.

Floyd said he met with Stewart, a graduate of Rainier Beach High School, shortly after he took over last spring and told him that if he wasn't happy with what Floyd expected of him "it would be a great opportunity for him to look elsewhere."

But instead of opting out, Stewart decided to dive right into Floyd's rebuilding program. Stewart is one of just four returnees. Last season, Henry Bibby was fired early in the season and Jim Saia took over an interim basis before Floyd was hired as the permanent coach following the ill-fated run at Rick Majerus.

Floyd said he told Stewart "it would be very important how he carried himself, how he approached class, how he approached coaching and being at USC. ... He has embraced that. He's been accountable, been respectful, not only to teammates, but to coaching. I've heard he might have a strong personality but I haven't seen that. Maybe he's had the spit-shine on for [the first two weeks of practice] but he's been absolutely terrific."

Stewart will team with sophomores Nick Young and Gabe Pruitt, each regarded as having potential NBA futures, to form a backcourt that could rival anyone else's in the league.

Local report

There's no shortage of players with local connections around the Pac-10.

• Aaron Brooks, Oregon: The Franklin High grad, a junior, was praised by Ducks coach Ernie Kent for returning to practice with a better grip on his job as point guard. "We have great scorers on our team, and his job is to get them the ball and he is understanding that," Kent said.

• Marcus Williams, Arizona: The Roosevelt High grad will have a major role with the Wildcats as a freshman. "He is for real," coach Lute Olson said after watching Williams through two weeks of practice. Olson said when he had the team evaluate each other recently, Williams was voted one of the team's top five players.

• Mitch Johnson, Stanford: The O'Dea High grad, a freshman, has been bothered by a bruised knee during early practices. But coach Trent Johnson said he has high expectations for Johnson this season. "He is very, very mature and he has a great understanding of the game — as much as any kid I've ever been around as a freshman," the coach said.

Trent Johnson said he already envisions using Mitch Johnson at the point and moving Chris Hernandez to shooting guard at times this season.

• Michael Fey, UCLA: The Capital High grad, a senior, has yet to practice while bothered with a groin pull, and when he will return is uncertain.

• Randy Green, WSU: Green, a senior from Rainier Beach, is the only scholarship player from the state on the Cougars' roster and has been a "very pleasant surprise," according to coach Dick Bennett. "He's playing his best ball, and he figures into our top-eight rotation." "That really makes me happy because I've just watched him grow and handle the change in philosophy [from former coach Paul Graham to Bennett] and grow as a student and a person."

Huskies notes

• UW coach Lorenzo Romar said forward Jon Brockman has missed the past couple of practices with a strained arch. But it's nothing serious, Romar said, and Brockman should return to practice today.

• Romar said the starting lineup for UW's exhibition game Sunday against Simon Fraser will consist of the five leading rebounders at their position. He said he did the same thing a year ago.

• The only player UW appears to still be considering redshirting is freshman center Joe Wolfinger. However, Wolfinger can play against Simon Fraser and still redshirt and Romar said how he performs in that game will help make the decision. "It could go either way right now," Romar said. "But we'll definitely know something by next week."

• There is no local TV yet for Washington's game against New Mexico in the Wooden Classic, but that's one of the things the school is working on. It expects to announce revisions to its TV schedule soon.

Pac-10 notes

• Oregon coach Ernie Kent said sophomore guard Malik Hairston has vastly improved his outside shooting. "I think if he has a good enough year, this might be the last year we would have him," Kent said. "But if he has a good enough year, that's good enough for us."

• Olson said that, because of Arizona's abundance of good guards and swingmen, the Wildcats are shifting to a perimeter-based offense this season.

• Bennett said he won't decide until after the season whether he will return for another year. His son, Tony, was recently named as his successor. "Who knows — you might be stuck with me a little longer," he said.