Kevin O’Neill is back baby!

"Scholarships! Get your scholarships here!"

The USC basketball program has fallen on hard times.  Seemingly rejuvenated in recent years thanks to contributions from players like Gabe Pruitt, Taj Gibson, and, of course, O.J. Mayo, the program’s building process came to screeching halt recently amidst allegations that Coach Tim Floyd had provided financial incentives to Mayo (and his handlers) in order to secure a commitment from the highly sought after high school phenom.

Yahoo originally reported the story on May 12th (although there had been prior speculation) and since then the program, Tim Floyd, Mayo, and his handler Rodney Guillory have come under a tremendous amount of media and NCAA scrutiny.  Significant NCAA sanctions are expected, and Floyd resigned on June 9th as a result of the allegations made against him.  Since then, USC has been seeking a new coach.   Shockingly, they are having a tough time selling big name coaches on a school that has won the Pac 10 regular season twice in the last 50 years, and has only experienced a resurgance  recently thanks to Tim Floyd’s “recruiting” of one and done prospects like Mayo and Demar Derozan.

Sounds like a pretty bad situation for USC, right?

Well some people seem to think it just got worse, and a number of Raptors fans may be inclined to agree.  USC has recently hired League of Extraordinary Gentlemen illustrator former Raps head coach Kevin O’ Neill as their new head coach.

You, the devoted Dinos fan, must remember O’ Neill.  High intensity, defensive minded guy who led the Raptors to both the best defensive season in franchise history and the worst offensive season in franchise history in the same year?  Presided over the Mengke Bateer era?  Proud McGill Redman?  Any of this ringing any bells?  No?

Perhaps you might remember him best as someone you hated with a passion.  Because if Eamonn Brennan’s excellent work over at The Dagger is any indication, you wouldn’t be the only one.  Kevin O’ Neill, it seems, is the anti-Ray Romano, especially amongst those who have had the displeasure of playing for him.  Some fantastic quotes from The Dagger’s collection of articles follow:

“O’Neill’s favorite target at Tennessee, according to those in and around the program from 1994-97, was Aaron Green, a 3-point specialist from Cleveland, Tenn., whom O’Neill christened “Hee-Haw” and “Henry the Hick,” nicknames that spread all over campus and clung to him like skunk spray for the duration of his career”

 ”One practice, point guard Alico Dunk struggled with the press break. O’Neill grew so annoyed with Dunk that he left the court, took a seat in the stands and, for the next 15 minutes, booed him.”

“Then there was the game at Arkansas when O’Neill sent reserve Jason Moore onto the floor. Moore made a handful of mistakes, and Tennessee’s lead evaporated. O’Neill screamed at Moore: ‘You better hope you DIE before halftime!’”  (Memphis Commercial Appeal)

You won’t find a single player … who has anything positive to say about him.  Current NBA player Jerryd Bayless despised him. Ditto for Chase Budinger. (Fox Sports)

I know what you’re thinking, and you’re absolutely right.  This is exactly the kind of guy that’s going to get along perfectly with Lil’ Romeo.  Make ‘em say uhhh, Kev!

But never fear, USC fans.  You can bet that while he may piss off the majority of the team’s players, fan base, and other personnel, he will instill a serious defensive work ethic in this team.  And LA area recruits don’t really have any other options when it comes to defensive minded coaches in the immediate area.  What?  Who the fuck is Ben Howland?  Consistent recent success, you say?  And his players don’t consider him a complete and utter douchebag?  Well that certainly doesn’t bode well for O’Neill.  At least he’s got a decent returning roster, right? 

“Since the Trojans’ season ended in March, starters DeMar DeRozan, Taj Gibson and Daniel Hackett, along with Marcus Johnson, declared for Thursday’s NBA draft, and the Trojans have lost eight recruits. ” (Canoe)

Hooo boy…sounds like the start of yet another remarkably successful stint for Kevin O’ Neill.  Let’s hear some of your favorite (or least favorite, depending on how you look at it) Raptors-era Kevin O’Neill moments in the comments.