December 30, 1998
LOS ANGELES - The USC men's basketball team (8-1), under the direction of
third-year head coach Henry Bibby, is off to its best start since 1991-92
and opens the Pacific-10 Conference season by hosting Arizona State (8-4)
on Saturday (Jan. 2) at 5:06 p.m. and No. 6 Arizona (7-0) on Monday (Jan.
4) at 1:07 p.m. USC, which finished 9-19 a season ago, will look to match
and surpass its win total from a year ago this weekend. A Trojan win
against Arizona State will give USC its first 9-1 start since opening the
1975-76 season at 11-1. The Trojans are two games deep into their current
four-game homestand and are also in the middle of playing a stretch of
seven of nine games at home. After hosting the desert schools, USC takes a
road trip to Oregon for a pair of games before returning home to host
Stanford, California and UCLA.
Game #10
USC (8-1) vs. Arizona State (8-4) on Saturday, Jan. 2. Tip-off is set for
5:06 p.m. The game will be televised live by FOX Sports West 2 with Tom
Kelly and former Los Angeles Laker Kurt Rambis calling the action. (The
contest will also be televised by FOX Sports Arizona). The game will also
be aired live on XTRA-AM Sports (690). The Sun Devils, under first- year
coach Rob Evans, are led by junior Eddie House, who is averaging 21.2
points per game. Senior forward Bobby Lazor is averaging 18.1 points and
9.3 rebounds per outing and the Sun Devils also recently got back senior
forward Mike Batiste, who missed the first eight games (academics). USC
split its series against the Sun Devils last season, falling 84-81 in
Tempe, but winning, 117-71, in the season finale at the Sports Arena.
Game #11
USC vs. No. 6 Arizona (7-0, before games against Florida International and
UCLA) on Monday, Jan. 4. Tip-off is set for 1:07 p.m. The game will be
broadcast live on XTRA-AM Sports (690) and will also be televised by FOX
Sports Arizona. The Wildcats, under 16th-year coach Lute Olson, are led by
senior guard Jason Terry, one of 25 preseason candidates for the 1998-99
John R. Wooden Award. He is averaging a team-high 20.3 points per game and
3.9 steals. Arizona's other senior, A.J. Bramlett, had double-doubles in
four of the Wildcats' first five games and is averaging 14.6 points and
10.3 rebounds per game. USC split with Arizona last year, losing 91-72 in
Tucson, but upsetting the No. 2 Wildcats, 91-90, in overtime, at the Sports
Arena.
LAST GAME
USC completed its non-conference schedule with a 64-48 victory over
Arkansas State at the Sports Arena on Tuesday (Dec. 29). Sophomore
forward/center Brian Scalabrine posted his first career double-double with
a game-high 18 points and career-high 10 rebounds and sophomore forward
Greg Lakey tied a career high with 14 points, adding eight rebounds. The
Trojans, who had a season-low 15 turnovers, held a 44-40 rebounding edge
and limited the Indians to only .323 shooting (21-of-65), which included an
0-of-15 performance from three-point range. The game was tight for much of
the first half and was tied at 15-15 with 5:54 to go before halftime when
USC used a 13-4 run to take a 28-19 lead into the break. Arkansas State,
led by C.J. Pepper's 13 points and seven rebounds, made a free throw to
open the second half, but then fell victim to an 11-4 run that gave the
Trojans a 39-24 lead with 13:28 left to play. After an Indians' basket to
make it 39-26, USC went on a 15-2 run that gave the Trojans their biggest
lead of the game at 54-28 with 9:10 to go. USC coasted from there, never
leading by less than 16 points.
LAST GAME notes
USC's 28 first-half points and 64 points overall were season lows. Arkansas
State's 19 first-half points were an opponent season low. The Trojans held
the Indians to a season-low 48 points.
USC AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
The Trojans are 3-14 versus ranked teams since December of 1996. USC has
played only one ranked team this season, falling to then-No. 10 Kansas,
107-78. In the three wins, USC shocked then-No. 6 (and eventual NCAA
champion) Arizona, 75-62, on Jan. 16, 1997, defeated then-No. 16 Stanford,
84-81, on Feb. 6, 1997, and toppled No. 2 Arizona, 91-90 (OT), on March 5,
1998. All three games were at the Sports Arena.
USC AT HOME
USC is currently riding an eight-game home winning streak, including the
last two games of last season and the first six of this season. Dating back
to 1996-97, the Trojans are 23-8 in their last 31 games at the Sports Arena
and USC is 81-32 (.717) at the Sports Arena since the beginning of the 1991
season, including a 16-game winning streak over a span of the 1992 and 1993
seasons and a seven-game winning streak at the beginning of last season.
USC has won seven of its last 11 Pac-10 games at home and 11 of its last 16
such encounters.
HOME CONTINUED
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 American and
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.
trends
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 48.4). Overall, Trojan opponents
are shooting 37.0, which helps explain why they have outrebounded USC,
136-120, on the offensive boards. The Trojans, however, hold a slim edge in
overall rebounding against their opponents, 42.8 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 147-of-207 (.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. His average of 3.2 steals per
game puts him on pace to break Derrick Dowell's mark (62, 1987).
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 18 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. Scalabrine
has done it in eight of nine games (Nevada-Las Vegas) and Trepagnier in
seven of nine.
defensive success
The Trojans have been playing fine defense all season. USC has held
opponents to under 60 points five times this season and have kept teams
under 50 points three times. USC opponents are shooting only .370 (215-581)
and are averaging 21.4 turnovers a game compared to 17.0 a year ago. The
Trojans are also playing good defense on the perimeter as their opponents
have made only 54-of-191 three-pointers (.283).
TROJAN NOTES
USC received 13 votes in the last Associated Press poll (Dec. 28).
USC's 8-1 record is their best start since the 1991-92 season. The last
time USC started better was when it opened the 1975-76 season at 11-1. Of
course, that year, USC finished 12-15, its only other win coming on a forfeit.
USC is finishing games strong so far this season, outscoring its
opponents in the second half of games, 41.4 to 32.1. The Trojans also enjoy
an edge in the first half, 37.6 to 32.6. Overall, USC is outscoring its
opponents 79.0 to 64.7.
Trojan steal and assist averages are up considerably compared to 1997-98.
USC is averaging 10.8 steals per game, compared to 8.4 last year, and 17.3
assists per game, compared to 14.0 last year.
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 is proving much more effective from behind the three-point arc than
its opponents. USC is 54-of-159 (.340) while its opponents are 54-of-191
(.283).
With the Trojans' 8-1 start, Henry Bibby has raised his record as head
coach at USC to 34-31.
USC opponents have made only 56.0 percent of their free throws (98-of-175).
Of the Trojans' nine games, three have been decided by nine points or
less while the margins in other six have been at least 15 points, including
four of by 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 86 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 nine 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 twice.
UofA-ASU-USC CONNECTIONS
USC head coach Henry Bibby's son, Mike, was Arizona's starting point guard
for the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons. The Bibbys have combined for four NCAA
basketball championships (three for Henry at UCLA and one for Mike in
1996-97) ... USC senior forward Adam Spanich and Arizona sophomore forward
Justin Wessel are both from Cedar Rapids, Iowa ... Henry Bibby and Trojan
assistant coach David Miller are both former Arizona State assistant
coaches. Bibby spent three seasons in Tempe (1983-85), while Miller was
there for the 1990 season ... USC director of basketball operations Sam
Williams was a three-year letterman at Arizona State (1979-81). "Sam-the-
Slam" was selected as the Sun Devil's MVP in 1981 after leading Arizona
State to a 24-4 record and second-place in the Pac-10, which is still the
school's highest finish in 20 years of league play.
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.
ROSTER change
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.
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 local 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 nine games, they
are averaging 36.1 points and 19.3 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.
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 (86).
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 1998 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 8.4 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
Tied for second on team with 5.0 rebounds in only 16.9 minutes per game.
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 and seven rebounds in 18
minutes against Arkansas State.
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.
Brian Scalabrine
Sophomore forward 6-foot-9 240 pounds
USC's leading scorer (16.1) and rebounder (7.9) and is second in assists
(2.3).
Had career-high 26 points, seven rebounds and two blocks against American.
Posted first USC double-double with 18 points and career-high 10 rebounds
against Arkansas State.
Scored 19 points and had four assists against Long Beach State.
Had 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
"(USC) is well-rounded with a great inside guy (Scalabrine) who will be a
professional player. He's as good as it gets." Arkansas State Coach
Dickey Nutt
"Scalabrine is a great Division I player. I think he's terrific." Long
Beach State Coach Wayne Morgan
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 (13.7), tied for second in rebounds (5.0) and
is first in blocks (1.7) and second in steals (2.4).
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.
Brandon Granville
Freshman guard 5-foot-9 175 pounds
USC's third-leading scorer (9.0) and leader in assists (5.9) and steals
(3.2).
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 15-of-35 (.429) three-point attempts this season.
Has had at least two steals in eight of nine games 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.
0 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 14 points against Arkansas State, adding eight
rebounds in second start of season. His other start was against St.
Bonaventure.
Tied career high with nine rebounds against Long Beach State and added
nine points in only 16 minutes.
Scored 10 points and had eight rebounds against the Aztecs to open the
season.
Is 17-of-20 from foul line and had made 13 consecutive free throws before
streak was snapped against Arkansas State.
Grabbed six rebounds in 15 minutes against Loyola Marymount.
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 fourth-leading rebounder (4.4) and is second-leading shot blocker
(1.3).
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 eight games, averaging 6.6 minutes per game, and has five
blocks on the season. He has averaged 6.0 rebounds in 13.5 minutes in his
last two games.
Had career-high seven points and five rebounds in 12 minutes against
Arkansas State.
Played 15 minutes against American, posting six points, six rebounds, two
blocks and two steals.
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.
Played season-high 25 minutes against Arkansas State, scoring seven points.
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 11 games in his Trojan career. Jordan, a sophomore, played in two
games as a freshman last season and two this season and Eres, a freshman,
is in his first year with the team.
Daffeh has played in four games. He has played four minutes and missed
his only shot, a three-point attempt. He didn't see any action last year.
Jordan has played twice and Eres saw his first action (one minute) against
Arkansas State.
