In the month and a half since federal prosecutors charged USC associate head coach Tony Bland in the sprawling college basketball bribery and corruption investigation, the school remained tight-lipped.
That changed Friday, on the cusp of one of the most anticipated seasons in Trojans history.
Nine minutes before the scheduled tipoff of the opener against Cal State Fullerton at Galen Center, USC issued a two-sentence statement making official what had long been expected. Do-everything sophomore guard De’Anthony Melton wouldn’t play because of the case.
“USC is working diligently to independently investigate this matter in order to confirm that De’Anthony meets the NCAA eligibility requirements,” the statement said, describing the move as a “precaution.