By Michael Smith
Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES. (AP)  The USC basketball team is currently holding a press conference in which the team is unveiling a plan contingent on LSU winning the NCAA men’s basketball championship. After LSU pulled off an upset over #1 ranked Duke in the Southeast Semifinal, USC supporters around the nation have pulled together to campaign for USC being named a co-champion. The basketball team has transformed that fervor into a legitimate claim of a national championship.
Tim Floyd, head coach for USC, stated,â€ÂIf our bread and butter  our football team  can do it, we feel confident that we are able to also. We are considering the possibilities of claiming the championship outright because neither LSU nor USC signed a contract with the NCAA Tournament.â€Â
Floyd was referring to the 2003-2004 college football season when USC claimed a national title even though they did not even play in the National Championship Game to which they agreed would decide the National Champion.
“We’re big LSU fans right now,†said Floyd. “We didn’t make the NCAA or NIT Tournaments, but really, does that matter? The press loves us, and to borrow unsubstantiated claims from the media in 2003, ‘Isn’t it just clearly obvious that USC is better than LSU?’â€Â
LSU officials have not responded to calls and emails for interviews. Officials at the AP Poll have stated that if LSU wins the Tournament, USC has a very strong possibility for being ranked #1 in the poll.