Trojans off to Best Start Since 1974-75 Season

December 7, 1998

LOS ANGELES - The USC men's basketball team (5-0), under the direction of third-year head coach Henry Bibby and off to its best start since starting the 1974-75 season 8-0, is set to host Loyola Marymount (3-3) on Wednesday (Dec. 9) at 7:36 p.m. before heading east to play No. 10 Kansas (5-1) on Saturday (Dec. 12) at 7:05 CST. USC's current streak includes three home wins and two road victories, including a 76-73 win at UC Santa Barbara on Dec. 4. After facing the Lions and the Jayhawks, USC concludes its non-conference schedule by hosting American on Dec. 21 and Arkansas State on Dec. 29.

Game #6
USC (5-0) vs. Loyola Marymount (3-3) on Wednesday, Dec. 9.
Tip-off is set for 7:36 p.m. The game will be televised live by FOX Sports West 2. The contest will also be broadcast live on KCTD-AM (1540). The Lions have gone 3-1 since losing their first two games of the season and are coming off of a 73-65 win over San Diego State on Dec. 5. Senior guard Willie Allen and sophomore forward Elton Mashack are Loyola's leading scorers at 14.7 and 14.0 points per game, respectively. Senior guard Haywood Eaddy is also a key for the Lions, but he has played in only three games, hampered by a sprained ankle.

Game #7
USC at No. 10 Kansas (5-1, plays Iowa on Tuesday, Dec. 8) on Saturday, Dec. 12.
Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m. CST. The game will be broadcast live on XTRA-AM (690). USC will try to snap the Jayhawks' 62-game win streak in the Allen Fieldhouse - the nation's longest current homecourt winning streak. The Jayhawks also haven't lost a non-conference home game since losing to Temple on Dec. 1, 1993 a streak of 35 consecutive victories. Kansas won its first four games before falling to No. 8 Kentucky on Dec. 1. The Jayhawks have been paced by sophomore guard/forward Kenny Gregory (13.5 ppg), senior guard Ryan Robertson (13.0 ppg) and 7-foot sophomore center Eric Chenowith (12.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg). The Jayhawks have been outrebounding opponents 40.8 to 34.8. They will, however, be without junior forward Lester Earl, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on Monday and is expected to miss at least seven to 10 days.

COMMON OPPONENTS
Loyola Marymount has played three teams that USC has faced, falling to Long Beach State, 98-92; defeating UC Santa Barbara, 79-78; and beating San Diego State, 73-65. USC and Kansas have played one common opponent: UNLV. The Trojans won at UNLV, 71-68, and the Jayhwaks beat the Runnin' Rebels, 78-50, at the Tip-Off Classic in Springfield, Mass.

USC AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
The Trojans are 3-13 versus ranked teams since December of 1996. In the 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.

LAST GAME
Behind season-high performances from senior guard Elias Ayuso and freshman guard Brandon Granville, USC improved to 5-0 with a 79-73 win in the Thunderdome at UC Santa Barbara on Dec. 4. Granville finished with 22 points, making five-of-nine three point attempts, and Ayuso scored 21 points, making five-of-10 threes. Sophomore guard Jeff Trepagnier added 19 points and seven rebounds, scoring many of his points on an array of dunks. Despite shooting a season-low .413 from the field (26-of-63) and playing without junior Jarvis Turner and Quincy Wilder (who were suspended for the game for violating a team academic rule), the Trojans had enough to hold off a feisty Gaucho team that fell to 0-6. USC led by as many as 13 points in the first half at 34-21, but only entered the lockerroom at the half up 43-40. The game remained close throughout the second half and was tied at 60-60 with 6:43 to play. USC then went on a 13-5 run to take an eight-point lead with 1:06 to go and made six-of-six free throws in the last 45 seconds to ice the win. Sophomore forward/center Brian Scalabrine contributed nine points and eight rebounds and Granville added eight assists and three steals. UC Santa Barbara was led by center B.J. Bunton's 22 points and 12 rebounds.

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 no one has done it yet against the Trojans this season and only one opponent has shot better than 40 percent (St. Bonaventure .484). Overall, Trojan opponents are shooting .368, which helps explain why they have outrebounded USC, 79-54, on the offensive boards. The Trojans, however, hold a slim edge in overall rebounding against their opponents, 40.2 to 38.8.

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 paying off. USC has made 92-of-121 (.760) foul shots in its first five games, including a 29-of-35 showing in its opener, 14-of-16 against Long Beach State and 20-of-27 against St. Bonaventure.

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.

It's still early in the season, but if Brandon Granville maintains his pace of 7.0 assists per game, he will break the USC season mark of 176 (Larry Friend, 1985).

TROJAN NOTES

USC received 24 votes in the last Associated Press poll (Dec. 7).

USC's 5-0 start is its best since the 1974-75 season, when the Trojans won their first eight games.

Including USC's wins over Arizona and Arizona State to close out the 1997-98 season, the Trojans are enjoying a seven-game winning streak, longest in the Pac-10 and the lengthiest for the Trojans since a nine-game run in the middle of the 1991-92 season, when the Trojans earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

After making only 13-of-42 three-pointers in their first three games, the Trojans have unleashed their long-range offense. In the last two games USC has made 23-of-48 three point attempts and is 36-of-90 overall (.400). Conversely, USC's opponents are a combined 36-of-127 (.283).

Trojan steals and assists averages are up considerably compared to 1997-98. USC is averaging 10.0 steals per game, compared to 8.4 last year, and 18.2 assists per game, compared to 14.0 last year. USC is also forcing more turnovers per game this season (20.6) than last year (17.0).

With the Trojans' 5-0 start, Henry Bibby has raised his record as head coach at USC to 31-30.

Troy, which finished last season as the Pac-10's top shot-blocking team (4.36 bpg), is averaging 4.20 in its first five games in 1998-99.

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.

The Trojans snapped an 11-game road losing streak with their win at UNLV. USC's previous road win was last November at San Diego State.

USC opponents have made only 53.8 percent of their free throws (49-of-91).

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 (tied) and 10th, respectively. Ayuso became the ninth Trojan with at least 100 three-pointers in his career with his trey against St. Bonaventure and he followed that with five threes at UC Santa Barbara and now has 105. Spanich joined Ayuso in the Top 10 with his four three-pointers against the Bonnies and now has 81 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 five of USC's games. Junior forward forward Jarvis Turner has started three times and sophomore forward Greg Lakey and freshman forward Sam Clancy have each started once.

SIDE NOTES
USC's 12 three-pointers in 28 attempts against UC Santa Barbara were both season highs . . . St. Bonaventure's 82 points and 48.4 shooting percentage are both opponent 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; also, when the Trojans held Long Beach State to 48 points, it was the lowest opponent total since the game with the Anteaters . . . USC's 22 steals against San Diego State tied a school record (Seattle, 1989). Nine of 13 Trojans had at least one pick.

On the Air
Nineteen of USC's remaining 22 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 as well as the Kansas game. The remaining seven games 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 at 1 p.m. at the Sports Arena, originally scheduled to be broadcast on FOX Sports West 2, will not be aired on television.

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 five games, they are averaging 37.6 points and 19.2 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 picked 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.

Bibby media luncheons
USC Coach Henry Bibby will hold media luncheons in the varsity lounge of Heritage Hall on the following dates: (Dec. 7, Dec. 28, Jan. 12, Jan. 19, Feb. 2 and Feb. 23.) He will also be available at 1 p.m. in the Sports Information Office on an informal basis on the following dates: (Dec. 18, Jan. 5, Jan. 26, Feb. 9 and March 1). Bibby will also be available at the L.A. Athletic Club on Feb. 16. All gatherings begin at 1 p.m.

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.
* 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 (81).
* 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.
* Scored game-high 16 points at UNLV and made three-of-five three-pointers.
* Had 11 points and three steals against San Diego State in USC's opener.
* Currently tied for No. 8 on USC's career three-point chart (105) with Rodney Chatman.
* 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.
* Suspended for UC Santa Barbara game for team academic violation.
* Had nine points, two steals and a block in the season opener against San Diego State.
* One of two returning starters from 1997-98 and the second-leading returning scorer (10.6) and rebounder (5.3).
* 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 third-leading scorer (12.2) and top shot blocker (1.6).
* Scored career-high 19 points, including a handful of monster dunks, and had seven rebounds at UC Santa Barbara.
* 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 second-leading scorer (13.6) and leader in assists (7.0) 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 12-of-24 (.500) three-point attempts this season and is 21-of-36 (.583) overall.
* Scored 14 points and dished out eight assists against St. Bonaventure.
* Had six steals for the second time against Long Beach State and seven assists.
* 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 game 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.

Brian Scalabrine
Sophomore * forward * 6-foot-9 * 240 pounds
* USC's leading scorer (14.4) and rebounder (7.6).
* The forward/center is second on the team in assists (2.6).
* Scored 19 points and had four assists against Long Beach State.
* 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

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.
* 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.

Kevin Augustine
Sophomore * guard * 6-foot * 185 pounds
* Saw his most action of the season against St. Bonaventure, playing 17 minutes and scoring seven points.
* Started 10 times at point guard in 1997-98 as a true freshman.
* Averaged 6.3 points and 3.7 assists last season despite being hampered all season by tendinitis in the rotator cuff in his right shoulder.
* Earned Pac-10 All-Freshman honorable mention honors.

Shannon Swillis
Sophomore * forward * 6-foot-6 * 225 pounds
* 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
* 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.

Sam Clancy
Freshman * forward * 6-foot-7 * 240 pounds
* USC's second-leading rebounder (5.8) and shot blocker (1.0). He's had at least one block in four of five games.
* Made first start at UC Santa Barbara, finishing with six rebounds.
* 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.

Quincy Wilder
Junior * guard * 6-foot-3 * 200 pounds
* Scored 10 points and had three assists off the bench against San Diego State.
* Suspended for UC Santa Barbara game for team academic violation.
* 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.
* 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.

Jason Thomas
Freshman * forward * 6-foot-4 * 220 pounds
* A true freshman quarterback on the Trojan football team who is redshirting the 1998 season, he is also a talented basketball player who may play for Henry Bibby's squad after the football season.

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 played two minutes in USC's season opener. He didn't see any action last year.

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