The USD men's basketball team was two Texans short of a full roster for its practice yesterday.

Sophomore forward Clinton Houston, who hails from Dallas, was out with a throat problem that coach Bill Grier said might be tonsillitis. Sophomore guard Trumaine Johnson, from Houston, missed the workout, three days before the regular-season opener at UNLV, and was “studying,” Grier said.

Johnson started 17 games last season, including the last 15 from late January to March as the point in a three-guard alignment with Brandon Johnson and De'Jon Jackson. The Toreros went 12-3 during the stretch, winning the West Coast Conference Tournament and upsetting UConn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Senior forward Gyno Pomare, who practiced yesterday, and Houston are on indefinite suspension for separate violations of team rules. Grier said he planned to make an announcement regarding their situations tomorrow.

USD also is expecting to sign three players to national letters of intent, with an announcement coming as soon as today.

Vitale at USD tonight

Basketball Hall of Famer Dick Vitale will be at the USD Bookstore from 5-6:30 tonight to sign copies of his new book, “Dick Vitale's Fabulous 50 Players & Moments in College Basketball: From the Best Seat in the House During My 30 Years at ESPN.”

– HANK WESCH