December 28, 1998
LOS ANGELES - The USC men's basketball team (7-1), under the direction of
third-year head coach Henry Bibby and off to its best start since 1991-92,
concludes its non-conference schedule by hosting Arkansas State (6-4) on
Tuesday (Dec. 29) at 8:05 p.m. (The game is part of a doubleheader with the
USC women's team, which hosts UC Santa Barbara at 5:30 p.m.). USC kicked
off a four-game homestand on Monday (Dec. 21) with a 74-59 win over
American. After hosting the Indians, the Trojans continue at home by
opening the Pacific-10 Conference schedule with Arizona State on Jan. 2 at
5 p.m. and against Arizona on Jan. 4 at 1 p.m.
Game #9
USC (7-1) vs. Arkansas State (6-4) on Tuesday, Dec. 29. Tip-off is set for
8:05 p.m. The game, which follows a USC women's contest at 5:30 against UC
Santa Barbara, will be broadcast live on KCTD-AM (1540). The Indians, among
three teams tied for first in the Sun Belt Conference preseason coaches
poll, are coming off of a 20-9, 14-4 season in 1997-98 and feature a
veteran corps, headed by junior guard Chico Fletcher, the nation's leading
returner in assists. Arkansas State is coming off of a pair of road wins at
Oral Roberts and San Diego State and has won five of its last six games
after dropping three of its first four games.
LAST GAME
USC, coming off of a tough loss at Kansas, resumed its winning ways with a
74-59 win over American on Dec. 21 at the Sports Arena. Sophomore
forward/center Brian Scalabrine scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed
seven rebounds and sophomore guard Jeff Trepagnier contributed 18 points,
six rebounds, three steals and two blocks. USC held American to 35.6
percent shooting (21-of-59) from the field and outrebounded the Eagles,
48-32. The Trojans led throughout and were up by as much as 23 points at
one point. USC opened up its first double-digit lead at 24-14 eight minutes
into the game and went into halftime leading 40-29. American, led by 12
points each from forward Dave Small and guard Ossie Jones, pulled to within
eight points with a three-pointer to open the second half, but that was the
last time the Eagles' deficit was in single digits. USC used an 8-0 run to
take a 48-32 lead and, when American pulled to within 58-47, put together a
12-0 run for a 70-47 lead. Junior guard Quincy Wilder, playing at the
back-up point guard spot, scored nine points, and junior forward Jarvis
Turner pulled down nine rebounds in only 16 minutes. Freshman forward David
Bluthenthal scored six points and had six rebounds in 15 minutes, all
career highs.
ROSTER NOTE
Sophomore guard Kevin Augustine has decided to leave school and transfer. A
reserve point guard this season, Augustine was averaging 1.6 points and 2.0
assists in 9.4 minutes per game in seven outings when he decided to leave
the team. He had a season-high seven points against St. Bonaventure and
played a season-high 21 minutes against Loyola Marymount. He started 10
games as a true freshman in 1997-98 and averaged 6.3 points and 3.7 assists
in 26 appearances.
Early indications
In 28 games in 1997-98, USC topped 50 percent from the field only three
times. The 1998-99 Trojans, however, matched that total in their first four
games.
USC's opponents shot 50 percent or better 11 times last year, but only
one team has done it thus far (Kansas, 59.4). Only one other team has shot
better than 40 percent (St. Bonaventure at .484). Overall, Trojan opponents
are shooting .376, which helps explain why they have outrebounded USC,
118-105, on the offensive boards. The Trojans, however, hold a slim edge in
overall rebounding against their opponents, 42.6 to 39.9.
One of USC's biggest weaknesses in 1997-98 was its free throw shooting,
finishing the year at a paltry .640. A point of emphasis in the offseason,
the extra work is slowly paying off. USC has made 137-of-193 (.710) so far,
including a 29-of-35 showing in its opener, 14-of-16 against Long Beach
State and 20-of-27 against St. Bonaventure.
It's still early in the season, but freshman guard Brandon Granville is
on pace to break the USC steal season record and is close in assists. His
average of 3.4 steals per game puts him on pace to break Derrick Dowell's
mark (62, 1987) and his 6.4 assists per game would put him close to Larry
Friend's mark (176, 1985).
Only one player (Brian Scalabrine) is averaging more than 30 minutes a
game and only three others (Brandon Granville, Jeff Trepagnier and Elias
Ayuso) are playing more than 19 minutes a game.
Only two players, Brian Scalabrine and Jeff Trepagnier, have scored in
double figures more than four times this season for the Trojans, and they
have both done it seven times. Scalabrine's only single-digit performance
came against UC Santa Barbara (nine points) and Trepagnier's came at
Nevada-Las Vegas (seven).
TROJAN NOTES
USC received 13 votes in the last Associated Press poll (Dec. 28).
The Trojans are not only in the midst of a four-game homestand but are in
a stretch of playing seven of nine games at home. After playing Arkansas
State, USC hosts Arizona State and Arizona on Jan. 2 and Jan. 4,
respectively, and then takes to the road for games against Oregon and
Oregon State on Jan. 7 and Jan. 9, respectively. The Trojans then return
home to play Stanford on Jan. 14, California on Jan. 16 and UCLA on Jan. 20.
USC is finishing games strong so far this season, outscoring its
opponents in the second half of games, 42.1 to 32.5. The Trojans also enjoy
an edge in the first half, 38.8 to 34.3. Overall, USC is outscoring its
opponents 80.9 to 66.8.
Troy, which finished last season as the Pac-10's top shot-blocking team
(4.4 bpg), is well above last year's pace and is averaging 5.4 in its first
eight games in 1998-99.
Trojan steal and assist averages are up considerably compared to 1997-98.
USC is averaging 11.1 steals per game, compared to 8.4 last year, and 17.9
assists per game, compared to 14.0 last year. USC is also forcing more
turnovers per game this season (21.9) than last year (17.0).
USC is off to a fine start. If the Trojans defeat Arkansas State, it will
give the Trojans their best preseason mark since going 8-1 in 1990-91. The
1991-92 Trojans won eight of their first nine non-conference games but lost
the 10th and entered Pac-10 play at 8-2.
After making only 13-of-42 three-pointers in their first three games, the
Trojans have unleashed their long-range offense. In the last four games USC
has made 39-of-103 three point attempts and is 52-of-145 overall (.359).
Conversely, USC's opponents are a combined 54-of-176 (.307).
With the Trojans' 7-1 start, Henry Bibby has raised his record as head
coach at USC to 33-31.
USC opponents have made only 57.5 percent of their free throws (92-of-160).
Of the Trojans' eight games, three have been decided by nine points or
less while the margins in four of the other five have been at least 26 points.
USC's win at UNLV may be a good omen. Only four teams beat the Rebels on
their home court last year (Syracuse, Utah, New Mexico and UCLA) and all
four went to the NCAA Tournament.
Senior bombers
Senior guard Elias Ayuso and senior forward Adam Spanich are both among
USC's Top 10 all-time three-point leaders at eighth and 10th, respectively.
Ayuso became the ninth Trojan with at least 100 three-pointers in his
career with his trey against St. Bonaventure. He followed that with five
threes at UC Santa Barbara and now has 110. Spanich joined Ayuso in the Top
10 with his four three-pointers against the Bonnies and now has 85 in his
Trojan career.
STARTER info
Senior guard Elias Ayuso, sophomore guard Jeff Trepagnier, sophomore
forward/center Brian Scalabrine and freshman guard Brandon Granville have
started all eight of USC's games. Freshman forward Sam Clancy has started
four times, junior forward Jarvis Turner has started three times and
sophomore forward Greg Lakey has started once.
SIDE NOTES
USC's 6-0 start was its best since the 1974-75 season, when the Trojans
won their first eight games . . . Kansas' 107 points tied the most points
ever scored against USC (Arizona 1992, UCLA 1967). Loyola Marymount's 43
points were the lowest opponent point total since Sacramento State's 40
last season . . . USC's 12 three-pointers in 28 attempts against UC Santa
Barbara are both season highs . . . Long Beach State made only two free
throws in its game at USC. Only twice in USC history has an opponent made
less (Washington State, 1981, and Portland, 1989 one each) . . . USC's
47-point margin of victory against San Diego State was its biggest since
beating UC Irvine by 62, 107-45, in the 1996-97 season.
On the Air
Eighteen of USC's remaining 19 games will be broadcast on XTRA-AM Sports
690. Rory Markas handles the play-by- play duties for the Trojans and
ex-USC assistant coach Jim Hefner is the analyst. XTRA will broadcast all
18 Pacific-10 Conference games. The Arkansas State game will be broadcast
by KCTD-AM 1540.
Schedule/television changes
USC's game at California on Feb. 11, originally scheduled for a 7:30 p.m.
start, will begin at 5 p.m. to accommodate a FOX Sports West 2 television
broadcast. The Trojans' game against Arizona on Jan. 4, originally
scheduled at 5 p.m. at the Sports Arena, will now begin at 1 p.m. There is
no scheduled television coverage.
Talented newcomers
For the second consecutive season, USC has a talented cast of newcomers
that are contributing right away. In 1997-98, the Trojans featured four
freshmen, all of whom saw considerable playing time. This year, true
freshmen Brandon Granville, Sam Clancy and David Bluthenthal as well as
sophomore transfer Brian Scalabrine and junior transfer Quincy Wilder are
all pushing hard for meaningful minutes. In USC's first eight games, they
are averaging 36.0 points and 19.0 rebounds.
Tough schedule
As usual, USC plays a demanding slate of games, scheduled to play five of
the top 18 teams in the preseason AP Top 25 poll (No. 3 Stanford, No. 8
Kansas, No. 12 UCLA, No. 14 Washington and No. 18 Arizona). The Trojans
also face two other teams which received votes in the AP poll: California
and UNLV. Eight teams on the USC schedule played in the postseason in 1998
(Kansas, Stanford, UCLA, UNLV, Washington and Arizona in the NCAA
Tournament and Arizona State and St. Bonaventure in the NIT). USC opens
with eight of its first 11 games at the Sports Arena, including six of nine
non-conference games. The Trojans will enjoy a four-game homestand in that
span, with its last two non-conference games against American (Dec. 21) and
Arkansas State (Dec. 29) followed by the first weekend of Pac-10 play vs.
Arizona State (Jan. 2) and Arizona (Jan. 4).
PAC-10 PRESEASON POLL
USC was picked to finish eighth in the Pac-10 preseason media poll.
Stanford was first with 369 points and 36 first-place votes. The Cardinal
was followed by Arizona (298), Washington (277), UCLA (271), California
(253, one first-place vote), Arizona State and Oregon (150 each), USC
(144), Washington State (65) and Oregon State (56).
HENRY BIBBY
Henry Bibby, a coach with 16 years of college and professional experience
and the only player to ever play for an NCAA, NBA and CBA championship
team, is in his third full season as the head coach of the USC men's
basketball program. Last season USC went 9-19 overall, but closed out the
season with a stunning 91-90 overtime victory over then-No. 2 Arizona and a
117-71 rout of Arizona State. In his first full season at the helm of the
Trojan program, Bibby did not waste any time in moving Troy in the right
direction. The 1996-97 campaign saw the Trojans finish second in the
Pacific-10 Conference and make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since
1992. The previous year, the Trojans went 11-19 and finished ninth in the
conference.
The seven-game improvement is the third-biggest turnaround in
USC history and the seven spot increase in the standings matches a school
best. In addition, Bibby's 17-11 mark in 1996-97 is the best by a Trojan
coach in his first full year since Forrest Twogood went 21-6 in his debut
season in 1951. Bibby was named USC's head coach on March 15, 1996. Bibby
joined the Trojan program in May of 1995 as an assistant coach. He was
named USC's interim head coach on Feb. 7, 1996, replacing Charlie Parker.
Bibby came to USC after coaching a club team in Venezuela in 1995. He was
a head coach for eight seasons in the Continental Basketball Association.
His teams made it into the CBA playoffs six times and posted a 223-213
regular season record, making him only the fourth CBA coach to post 200 wins.
Adam Spanich
Senior · forward · 6-foot-7 · 212 pounds
One of USC's all-time top three-point shooters.
Scored season-high 18 points against St. Bonaventure and made
four-of-seven three pointers.
Had 13 points, six rebounds at Kansas.
Scored key eight points at UNLV, all in the second half, making
three-of-four shots.
Currently ranks No. 10 on USC career three-point chart (85).
One of three seniors on team.
Made 73-of-174 treys last season, leading the Pac-10 in both categories.
Made two dramatic three-pointers in USC's upset of No. 2 Arizona last
season. The first sent the game into overtime and the second won it with no
time on the clock.
Was named to the Pac-10 All-Newcomer first team.
Elias Ayuso
Senior · guard · 6-foot-2 · 195 pounds
Another strong three-point threat.
Scored season-high 21 points at UC Santa Barbara, including five-of-10 on
three pointers.
Averaging 9.2 points, fourth-best on team.
Scored game-high 16 points at UNLV and made three-of-five three-pointers.
Had 11 points and three steals against both San Diego State and Loyola
Marymount.
Currently No. 8 on USC's career three-point chart (110).
One of only three seniors on team.
Averaged 8.8 points per game in 1997-98 and made 46 three-pointers.
Scored a career-high 25 points in last season's final game against
Arizona State.
Jarvis Turner
Junior · forward · 6-foot-8 · 230 pounds
Scored season-high 16 points and had six rebounds against St. Bonaventure.
Came off bench to score 13 points, grab seven rebounds, dish out four
assists and make three steals in only 15 minutes against Loyola Marymount.
Had nine points, two steals and a block in the season opener against San
Diego State.
Had nine rebounds in 16 minutes against American.
Suspended for UC Santa Barbara game for team academic violation.
In the season finale against Arizona State last season, he recorded his
second consecutive double- double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Against No. 2 Arizona last year, Turner had a career-high tying 19 points
and a career-high 11 rebounds.
Jeff Trepagnier
Sophomore · guard · 6-foot-4 · 185 pounds
One of the top athletes and best leapers in the nation whose dunk in the
season opener against San Diego State knocked out a shot clock for one
half. Another slam against Long Beach State earned a spot on ESPN's Plays
of the Week on Nov. 29.
USC's second-leading scorer (14.9) and rebounder (5.6) and first in
blocks (1.8) and second in steals (2.6).
Scored career-high 22 points and had seven rebounds at Kansas.
Had USC record eight steals against Loyola Marymount in addition to his
first career double-double (18 points and 11 rebounds).
Scored 19 points, including a handful of monster dunks, and had seven
rebounds at UC Santa Barbara.
Had 18 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks against American.
Had 12 points, three blocks and two steals against Long Beach State and
11 points, seven rebounds and two blocks against St. Bonaventure.
Scored 12 points and had two blocks and three steals in USC's season opener.
Averaged 5.2 points and 3.5 rebounds as a true freshman in 1997-98 while
starting six games.
Brian Scalabrine
Sophomore · forward · 6-foot-9 · 240 pounds
USC's leading scorer (15.9) and rebounder (7.6) and is second in assists
(2.1).
Had career-high 26 points, seven rebounds and two blocks against American.
Scored 19 points and had four assists against Long Beach State.
Posted 17 points, nine rebounds and two blocks against Loyola Marymount.
Scored 15 points and had nine rebounds at UNLV and had 15 points and
eight rebounds against St. Bonaventure.
Scored 14 points (including six-of-six from the line) and had nine
rebounds and two blocks in Trojan debut against San Diego State.
Averaged 16.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game
as a freshman in 1996-97, helping lead Highline C.C. in Des Moines, Wash.,
to a 31-1 overall record and the state junior college championship.
"The most impressive newcomer (in the Pac-10), by far, is USC forward
Brian Scalabrine. Scalabrine is skilled, athletic and plays with limitless
energy." Jon Wilner, Los Angeles Daily News
"Scalabrine is a great Division I player. I think he's terrific." Long
Beach State Coach Wayne Morgan
Brandon Granville
Freshman · guard · 5-foot-9 · 175 pounds
USC's third-leading scorer (9.5) and leader in assists (6.4) and steals
(3.4).
Made five-of-nine three pointers en route to season-high 22 points at UC
Santa Barbara, adding eight assists and three steals.
Has made 14-of-31 (.452) three-point attempts this season.
Scored 14 points and dished out eight assists against St. Bonaventure.
Has had six steals three times (San Diego State, Long Beach State, Loyola
Marymount).
Scored 15 points (including eight-of-nine from the foul line) and had
seven assists at UNLV.
Scored 10 points and had five assists and six steals vs. San Diego State
in becoming the first true freshman to start a season-opener at USC since
Burt Harris in 1992-93.
Averaged 12.0 points, 10.0 assists and 3.0 steals in 1997-98 at
Westchester (Calif.) High, playing with current Trojan teammate David
Bluthenthal.
Was a USA Today All-USA honorable mention, Los Angeles Times South
Bay/Westside All-Star Team and South Bay Daily Breeze All-Area first team
selection.
Greg Lakey
Sophomore · forward · 6-foot-8 · 200 pounds
Tied career high with nine rebounds against Long Beach State and added
nine points in only 16 minutes.
Made first start of 1998-99 against St. Bonaventure.
Scored 10 points and had eight rebounds against the Aztecs to open the
season.
Grabbed six rebounds in 15 minutes against Loyola Marymount.
Has made 11 consecutive free throws.
Had two blocks at UC Santa Barbara.
USC's third-leading returning rebounder from 1997-98.
Averaged 5.3 points and 3.7 rebounds last season while starting 19 games
as a true freshman (second most on the team).
Had a career-high 14 points and eight rebounds against Washington State
last year.
Sam Clancy
Freshman · forward · 6-foot-7 · 240 pounds
USC's third-leading rebounder (5.0) and is second-leading shot blocker
(1.5). He's had at least one block in six of eight games.
He has started four times this year.
Had five blocks, nine points and five rebounds at Kansas.
Started at UC Santa Barbara, finishing with six rebounds, and against
Loyola Marymount.
Posted a double-double in his first game at USC, scoring 11 points and
grabbing 10 rebounds against San Diego State.
Had six rebounds in 12 minutes against Long Beach State.
Averaged 17.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game in 1997-98 at
St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio.
Led the Eagles to the Ohio "Big School" state championship and earned
Parade Magazine All-America fourth team honors.
Was a Street & Smith's 1997 College Basketball fourth team All-American
and an All-Metro (Cleveland) pick.
Shannon Swillis
Sophomore · forward · 6-foot-6 · 225 pounds
Has played in five games as a reserve, averaging 6.2 minutes per game.
USC's leading returning rebounder (5.9) from 1997-98 and a part-time
starter.
Can play as a swingman or a power forward.
Had a team-high 41 blocks (1.52 pg second in the Pac-10) last year and
blocked three or more shots in eight games.
Earned 1997-98 Pac-10 All-Freshman honorable mention honors.
Against Tennessee last year, he finished with a career-high 13 points,
nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.
David Bluthenthal
Freshman · forward · 6-foot-7 · 215 pounds
Has played in seven games, averaging 5.9 minutes per game, and has five
blocks on the season.
Saw most significant action of season against American, posting season
highs in points (six), rebounds (six), blocks (two) steals (two) and
minutes (15).
Scored four points and had three rebounds in his first game as a Trojan
against San Diego State.
Averaged 21.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game at Westchester (Calif.)
High in 1997-98.
Teamed with current Trojan teammate Brandon Granville in leading the
Comets to a 30-3 record and their first-ever City Section 4-A title and
Division I state championship.
Was the City 4-A Player of the Year.
Can play both forward positions.
Quincy Wilder
Junior · guard · 6-foot-3 · 200 pounds
Scored 10 points and had three assists off the bench against San Diego
State.
Had nine points against American.
Had six points and six rebounds in 17 minutes against Long Beach State.
A versatile player, he can play either guard spot or small forward.
Suspended for UC Santa Barbara game for team academic violation.
As a sophomore at Highline C.C. in Des Moines, Wash., Wilder averaged
23.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.2 steals per game.
He led the Thunderbirds to consecutive Northwest Athletic Association of
Community Colleges championship.
Scored in double figures in all 33 games he played in and scored 20 or
more in 23 of those games.
Seymour Daffeh, Shelby Jordan, Rob Eres
Rounding out the Trojan roster are walk-ons Seymour Daffeh, Shelby Jordan
and Rob Eres. Daffeh, a senior, is in his fourth year with USC and has
played in eight games in his Trojan career. Jordan, a sophomore, played in
two games as a freshman last season and Eres, a freshman, is in his first
year with the team.
Daffeh has played in three games. He has played three minutes and missed
his only shot. He didn't see any action last year. Jordan saw his first
action (one minute) against Loyola Marymount.
