DAYTON, Ohio — On the morning of USC’s loss to UCLA in the Pac-12 Tournament last week, Elijah Stewart gathered with USC’s coaches at the Delano in Las Vegas.
They needed to talk.
Before the Trojans’ last homestand of the regular season, Stewart arrived late to a practice and was removed from the starting lineup for the first time all season. He proceeded to sink into a slump. In the three games prior to facing the Bruins, Stewart totaled just 12 points.
That Thursday meeting was heated.
“There was a lot of screaming,” Stewart said.