In the first of many exciting interviews, Deli reporter Joshua Fischman caught up with former USC guard Chris Penrose. As a walk-on in 2003, Penrose witnessed the transformation of USC basketball from a broken program to a national contender. In an exclusive interview, Penrose discusses being a fan favorite, the '07-08 Trojans, freshman phenom O.J. Mayo and the genius of coach Tim Floyd.

Joshua Fischman: The USC faithful loved you (and still do). How does it feel to be a fan favorite?

Chris Penrose: It's fun. Obviously, I didn't play that much but in the blow-outs, when the fans would start chanting for Coach to put me in, that was great. When I hit my shot on my senior night and the fans and students cheered, that was probably the best moment in my life. Jumping into the stands after the game into the student section was really fun.

JF: What is your favorite memory in a Trojans uniform?

CP: I have a couple favorite memories. The first would be my shot at the end of the Cal game on my senior night. The second would be beating Texas in the NCAA Tourament; and beating UCLA my junior year.

JF: Since graduation, and the culmination of your basketball career, what have you been up to?

CP: I took a couple months off after I graduated to just chill out. I'm living in a house with (USC forward) Keith Wilkinson, (USC guard) Ryan Wetherell and (USC guard) Terrence Green. I am now working for the prestigious real estate firm Transwestern Properties. I am learning to become a broker.

JF: What are your impressions of the USC basketball team this season?

CP: This season the team is very different from last year, personnel-wise. Last year we had a very even distribution of points throughout the starting line-up between Nick (Young), Gabe (Pruitt), Lod (Stewart) and Taj (Gibson). This year we have O.J. (Mayo) getting his points and then we will see who else is going to step up.

Taj is still rebounding hard, but at least this year he will have help with Kasey Cunningham and Davon Jefferson. Defensively we should be better because we have more athletes on this team who are willing to buy into Coach Floyd's defensive principles, which have shown to be successful. When Marcus Simmons gets healthy, you will see the best on-ball defender in the country.

JF: Describe Tim Floyd's coaching style.

CP: Coach Floyd is a defense-first coach. He has always said that there are some nights that the ball isn't going to fall through the hoop, but you can play defense every night. He is a strong believer in shooting more free throws than your opponent attempts, getting back in transition and limiting turnovers. Coach Floyd is the best college basketball coach in the country right now.

JF: What have Nick Young and Gabe Pruitt told you about life in the NBA?

CP: They have pretty much said the same things. They are enjoying playing more than practicing. They said there is a big learning curve and they are realizing that EVERYONE in the league is a good basketball player. Every night they are playing against the best of the best. Their opponents are stronger and playing hard every night.

JF: Score prediction for the USC/UCLA football game coming up [Saturday]?

CP: USC 45, UCLA 13