Notes on a Scorecard - Feb. 7, 1991

Interested in getting an opportunity to win free tuition for a semester? How about two complimentary tickets to the Final Four? Will an important matchup in the improved Pacific 10 Conference do? . . .

These are the attractions designed to lure USC students tonight to a place they rarely visit--the Los Angeles Sports Arena. . . .

If only 2,375 of the 28,895 enrolled show up for the game against Arizona, they will break the school basketball rooting section record set at a UCLA game in 1985. . . .

Before every home game, two students are selected by raffle for a halftime shooting contest. A semester’s tuition--a full load runs $7,000--goes to the person who can make a layup, a free throw, an NBA three-pointer and a halfcourt shot in order in 25 seconds. If you’re Magic Johnson, you’ve got a slight chance. . . .

Coach George Raveling is donating the tickets to the Final Four, which will be played in Indianapolis. If the lucky winner can’t make it, he or she can always sell the tickets for big money to a broker. . . .

This could be an historic night for Raveling, who already has matched his season high of 12 victories at USC. Last season, he finished 12-16. This season, he is 12-6. . . .

Here’s the story of Ronnie Coleman’s life: The morning after he set the USC career scoring record against Cal State Northridge, technical difficulties wiped out the Daily Trojan sports section. . . .

In pregame ceremonies tonight, Coleman will be given a plaque by former school record-holder Wayne Carlander. No speeches, though. These are two of the quietest men ever to play for the Trojans. . . .

Lorenzo Orr, a 6-foot-7 forward from Detroit who is expected to take Coleman’s spot in the starting lineup next season, has met the ACT qualifying standard. . . .

Six of USC’s last seven Pac-10 games, including an 87-85 loss at Arizona, have gone down to shots in the last few seconds and have been decided by a total of 16 points. . . .

Maybe the Trojans can catch Arizona looking ahead to the Arsenio Hall show, which the Wildcats will attend at Paramount studios Friday night. . . .

If the student section isn’t bulging, blame it on the free, preview showing of “The Doors” that has been booked on campus for 8 p.m., a half-hour after tipoff. . . .

Something new in trading cards--sets of 40 featuring the UCLA men’s and women’s basketball teams and coaching staffs--will be sold at Pauley Pavilion beginning tonight before the Arizona State game. . . .

Look for Nevada Las Vegas to beat Arkansas by double figures Sunday at Fayetteville, Ark. The Rebels won’t crack under pressure, and their weak schedule has enabled them to point for the nation’s second-ranked team. . . .

The Clippers should make a big deal. It’s simple. They’re not winning with the players they have, no matter how talented they might be. . . .

It’s not really surprising that the team-oriented Detroit Pistons are winning without Isiah Thomas. . . .

Something finally has stopped the Lakers--the All-Star break. . . .

LSU sophomore Shaquille O’Neal is the greatest college center ever only in the imaginations of a few dreamers, but he is ready for the NBA. . . .

Basketball should dump the disqualification rule. Whether it’s five fouls in college or six in the pros, too many good players spend too much time on the bench. . . .

Andre Agassi dropped by the USC campus the other day with a friend, who was enrolling in law school, and decided to play a set of tennis with Trojan star Byron Black. Black beat Agassi, 6-3. . . .

Just for laughs, Jay Johnstone and Jerry Reuss will emcee the Baseball Writers Assn.’s annual banquet Sunday at the Long Beach Hyatt-Regency. . . .

It might surprise you to learn that Terry Norris, not Sugar Ray Leonard, will be defending the championship Saturday night on Showtime. Norris’ World Boxing Council super welterweight title--at 154 pounds--will be at stake. . . .

The Raiders’ first positive move of 1991 was to bring back defensive line coach Earl Leggett from Denver. . . .

Houston Oiler quarterback Cody Carlson would like to be traded to a team for which he can start, and Detroit Lion backup quarterback Andre Ware might be headed for the New England Patriots. . . .

Jack Morris, the winningest pitcher in the major leagues in the 1980s, is one baseball player who merited his huge new contract. . . .

If Paul Hornung, who once was suspended by the NFL for gambling on games, can make the pro football Hall of Fame, how come Pete Rose can’t make the baseball Hall of Fame? . . .