University Southern California Trojans
Men's Basketball Opens Pac-10 At WSU, UW
January 04, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 4, 2000
LOS ANGELES - The USC men's basketball team (7-5), under fourth-year head coach Henry Bibby and a winner of four of its last five games, opens Pacific-10 Conference play this week when it travels to the Northwest to take on Washington State and Washington. The Trojans, in search of their first three-game win streak of the season, will face Washington State (5-4) on Thursday (Jan. 6) at Spokane Arena at 7 p.m. and will play Washington (5-7) on Saturday (Jan. 8) at KeyArena in Seattle at 1 p.m. USC, which made its sixth postseason appearance of the 1990s when it faced Wyoming in the first round of the 1999 NIT, finished 15-13 overall and 7-11 (tied for seventh) in the Pac-10 last season and returns four starters and six lettermen.
GAME #13
USC (7-5) at Washington State (5-4) on at Spokane Arena on Thursday (Jan. 6). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on XTRA-AM (690). The Cougars, under first-year coach Paul Graham, are coming off a 74-61 loss at Colorado State on Dec. 30. Before that, they had won three of four. Washington State is led by senior forward Chris Crosby (17.0 ppg) and senior guard Jan-Michael Thomas (15.0 ppg). Sophomore guard Mike Bush leads the team in rebounds (6.8). A year ago, Thomas' 89 three-pointers set a Cougar season record and led the Pac-10. He is 22-of-68 (.324) this year. The Cougars are allowing the second-most points per game in the Pac-10 (68.9).
GAME #14
USC at Washington (5-7) at KeyArena on Saturday (Jan. 8). Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. The game will be televised live by FOX Sports Net 2 and will broadcast live on XTRA-AM (690). The Huskies, directed by seventh-year coach Bob Bender, feature four starters scoring in double figures, led by senior guard Deon Luton (14.8). Sophomore guard Senque Carey is second in scoring (12.5) and leads the team in assists (4.8). Junior guard Michael Johnson and senior forward Chris Walcott average 11.5 and 10.3 points, respectively, while junior forward Will Perkins is the squad's leading rebounder (7.4). Like USC, Washington is relying mainly on its five starters, who have scored 678 of the Huskies' 824 points (82.3%). Reserve forwards Thalo Green and Greg Clark are, however, playing a combined 39.2 minutes per game and averaging a combined 8.7 points per game. Washington is allowing the most points per game in the Pac-10 (71.0) and is last in field goal percentage (.427).
LAST GAME
Beating an opponent by at least 27 points for the fifth time this year, USC completed non-conference play by pounding Northwestern, 85-44, on Dec. 29 at the Sports Arena in the final game the Trojans played in the 20th century. Guards Jeff Trepagnier and Brandon Granville and forward David Bluthenthal all scored 20 points as the Trojans forced 23 turnovers and outshot the Wildcats, .542 to .362. USC matched its season low for turnovers with only eight. The game was never close as the Trojans turned an 8-4 lead into a 19-4 bulge with an 11-0 run that culminated in a dunk by forward Sam Clancy at 12:25 in the first half. USC's lead reached 20 points at 33-13 at 4:42 and the Trojans eventually entered halftime up 47-18. USC's lead quickly grew as the Trojans' stifling defensive effort kept the young Wildcats from executing much of their offense. USC's biggest lead came at 44, last at 79-35 with 5:38 to go.
LAST GAME NOTES
USC had three players score at least 20 points for the first time since a 118-97 win over George Mason on Dec. 20, 1995 (Brandon Martin had 29, Avondre Jones had 21 and Stais Boseman had 20) ... Northwestern's 18 first-half points were a season low for USC opponents for scoring in either half and the lowest 20-minute total for a USC opponent since Loyola Marymount had 13 points in the second half of its loss to USC last year ... The Wildcats' 44 total points was the lowest USC opponent total since LMU had 43 last year ... David Bluthenthal's 20 points was a career high ... He made 9-of-10 shots, falling just short of the Trojans' individual record for field goal percentage, held by numerous people at 10-of-11 ... Brandon Granville, averaging 20.0 points over the previous three games, scored 20 exactly, the third time he's had at least that much this season ... Jeff Trepagnier had five steals, the fifth time this year he's had at least that many and the sixth time in his career ... USC's 41-point margin of victory tied its high for the year (USC also beat Loyola Marymount by 41) and it was Northwestern's worst loss of the year ... USC shot .542, the third time in four games USC has shot better then 50% and the fifth time of the year ... USC's 10 blocks were a season high ... Brandon Granville reached double figures in scoring in the first half for the third time this season and Jeff Trepagnier did it for the second time.
ROSTER ADDITION
USC Coach Henry Bibby has added true freshman football player Sandy Fletcher to the Trojans' roster. Fletcher, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound guard from Los Angeles, began the football season as a safety but finished as a receiver, redshirting. He was named USC's Black Shirt (scout team) Offensive Player of the Year. He began practicing with the Trojans on Dec. 13. Fletcher averaged 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals as a 1999 senior at Inglewood (Calif.) High, earning 1999 All-CIF Division II first team, South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay first team, Bay League Co-MVP, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West honorable mention and team MVP honors. He was a three-year starter at guard. He was also a three-year starter as a receiver and cornerback on the football team at Inglewood and competed in track and field as a sprinter as well.
GOING HOME
The upcoming road trip to Washington will be a homecoming of sorts for Brian Scalabrine. The junior forward/center is the lone Trojan from the state, hailing from Enumclaw, Wash. He played at Highline C.C. in Des Moines, Wash., for one season and redshirted for another.
JARVIS TURNER INJURY UPDATE
USC has been without senior forward Jarvis Turner, the Trojans' top reserve, since the fifth game of the season because of a stress fracture in his foot. The injury originally occurred in USC's first exhibition game on Nov. 5. He is expected to return this week as the Trojans begin Pac-10 play at the Washington schools.
TRENDS
Brandon Granville is averaging 20.0 points per game in his last four outings and has made 12-of-20 three-pointers (60.0%) in that span. He was 10-of-52 (23.1%) on his trey attempts in the previous eight games ... USC is forcing opponents into an average of 21.2 turnovers a game. Last year, opponents averaged 18.0 turnovers ... USC has held opponents to 23 points or less in the first half five times, has held opponents to less than 60 points six times and has held opponents to less then 40.0% shooting six times ... In the Trojans' seven wins, they have outscored their foes by an average of 29.4 points (87.4 to 58.0) ... All five regular USC starters have at least one double-double.
TROJANS IN THE PAC-10
USC players are dominating the individual Pac-10 stat charts. Sam Clancy is second in scoring (17.2), third in rebounding (8.0) and sixth in blocks (1.6). Jeff Trepagnier is tied for fifth in scoring (16.0), first in steals (4.4) and seventh in rebounds (7.2). Brian Scalabrine is tied for seventh in scoring (15.3), second in three-point field goal percentage (.517) and 12th in rebounding (6.3). Brandon Granville is first in assists (7.9), third in steals (2.7) and 10th in free throw percentage (.781). David Bluthenthal is 10th in field goal percentage (.532) and 14th in rebounding (5.9). As a team, USC leads the Pac-10 in steals (11.7), turnover margin (+6.7) and assist/turnover ratio (1.2).
FINDING THE RANGE
The Trojans struggled from three-point range at the start of the season but have recently showed signs of climbing out of the slump. USC made only 23-of-97 three pointers (23.7%) in its first six games but have improved in the last six contests, making 43-of-106 (40.6%). USC's top long-distance marksman continues to be forward/center Brian Scalabrine, who has made 15-of-29 (.517) after making 1-of-6 all of last year.
USC AMONG THE NATIONAL LEADERS
USC guards Brandon Granville and Jeff Trepagnier are both among the nation's leaders in their respective specialties, assists and steals (through Jan. 2). Trepagnier (4.4 spg) and Granville (7.9 apg) are second and fourth in the country, respectively. Trepagnier's school-record 10 steals against Utah State on Nov. 24 are the most in the nation this year.
CLIMBING THE CAREER CHARTS
Sophomore forward Sam Clancy has surpassed junior guard Jeff Trepagnier on the USC career blocked shot chart. Clancy is now eighth with 58 while Trepagnier, standing only 6-foot-4 but possessing fantastic leaping ability, is ninth with 55. The USC record is 128 by Lorenzo Orr (1992-95). Trepagnier is also working his way up the USC Top 10 in steals with 126, good for third place. Derrick Dowell is second with 179 and Stais Boseman (1994-97) owns the record with 208.
STARTERS - AND FINISHERS
USC is relying heavily on its five chief starters. The group of guards Jeff Trepagnier and Brandon Granville, forwards Sam Clancy and David Bluthenthal and forward/center Brian Scalabrine have combined to start all but two times and have accounted for 81.4% of the minutes played. The quintet has scored 856 of the team's 928 points (92.2%).
40-MINUTE CLUB
Each regular starter has played at least a full game once this season. Guards Brandon Granville and Jeff Trepagnier have played 40 minutes twice and Brian Scalabrine, Sam Clancy and David Bluthenthal have done it once each.
20-POINT PERFORMANCES
Each regular starter has scored at least 20 points once this season. Sam Clancy, Jeff Trepagnier and Brandon Granville have done it three times each, Brian Scalabrine has done it twice and David Bluthenthal has done it once.
PAC-10 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior forward/center Brian Scalabrine was named the Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 6-12. Scalabrine averaged 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists in blowout wins against Hawai'i and Loyola Marymount. In the latter game, he recorded his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds and added a career-high seven assists. It's the first time he's been honored with the Pac-10's weekly award and the 18th all-time for USC. The last Trojan to win the award was guard Gary Johnson in the last week of the 1997-98 season.
SEASON STANDARDS
It's never too early to take a peek at the school season records. The way USC guards Brandon Granville and Jeff Trepagnier are playing, why not? Trepagnier is already more than two-thirds of the way to the steals record after 12 games with 48. The season record is 62, set by Derrick Dowell in 1987. Granville's 95 assists are more than halfway to the record of 176, set by Larry Friend in 1985.
THOU SHALL STEAL
Thanks mainly to guards Jeff Trepagnier (48 steals) and Brandon Granville (32), USC has 140 steals as a team, compared to its opponents' 89. As a team, the Trojans are averaging 11.7 steals a game. Last year, the Trojans averaged 9.4.
BROKEN RECORDS
Guard Jeff Trepagnier set a USC (and Maui Invitational) single-game steals record with 10 against Utah State in the final game of the tournament on Nov. 24. He broke his own record of eight set against Loyola Marymount last season on Dec. 9. Sophomore guard Brandon Granville also posted a USC and Maui Invitational single-game record. His came with 15 assists against Memphis on the second day of the tournament on Nov. 23. The record was previously shared by Larry Friend (1986) and Stais Boseman (1996), who both had 14.
SHAQ IMPRESSIONS
After making 29-of-36 free throws (80.6%) in their season opener, the Trojans have made only 135-of-218 (61.9%) in their last 11 games combined. Overall, USC is 164-of-254 (64.6%).
HE'S STILL GIVING
After never having had more than nine assists in a game as a freshman, guard Brandon Granville has had at least 10 assists four times as a sophomore, including in all three games of the Maui Invitational. He also had nine assists against Duke. No Trojan since Burt Harris in the 1992-93 season has even posted double digits in assists in two games in a row. Granville also has posted two double-doubles this season.
RANDOM NOTES
* Guard Jeff Trepagnier has had at least three steals in all but one game he has played in this year and has a team-high 48 thefts (4.4 per game, first in the Pac-10, second in the nation). He is also second on the team in rebounds (7.2) and has two double-doubles. * Brian Scalabrine's 17 first-half points at San Diego State marked the seventh time this year he has scored in double figures in the first half of games and the sixth time he's been the Trojans' leading scorer at the break. * USC's .630 shooting percentage (17-of-27) in the second half at SDSU was its best 20-minute mark of the season, regardless of which half and the Trojans' 11 first-half steals were a season high. * The 44 points USC allowed against Northwestern was the lowest opponent total for the Trojans since holding Loyola Marymount to 43 points last season (Dec. 9, 1998). USC's 58.3% shooting in the first half vs. LMU this year was a season best, its 56 first-half points against the Lions were a season best and its 10 three-pointers matched a season high. * With 16 points and 11 rebounds against Hawai'i, forward Sam Clancy became the first Trojan to record three straight double-doubles since Jaha Wilson had four straight in 1995-96 (vs. Oregon, Stanford, California and Arizona State). * Brandon Granville has had at least four treys four times in his career, including two times this year (four against Memphis and five vs. San Diego State). He has also had at least five steals five times in his career. * Sam Clancy posted his third career 20-point plus outing (all this season) with 22 points against UC Santa Barbara. * USC received its only AP vote of the 1999-2000 season in the Nov. 15 rankings. * Brian Scalabrine's .532 field goal percentage in 1999 was good enough to put him fourth all-time on USC's career field goal percentage chart. He has continued his fine shooting in 1999-2000 and is at a .519 clip (70-of-135). * For seasons that have spanned the change of a decade (like 1989-90 or 1999-2000), USC has had seven winning seasons and only two losing ones. * USC's 25 assists against Memphis was its most since the 1997-98 season. * USC opens its home portion of the Pac-10 schedule against UCLA on Jan. 12, the first time the Trojans face the Bruins in their home conference opener since the 1989-90 season.
PACIFIC-10 PRESEASON POLL
USC was picked to finish seventh in the 1999-2000 Pac-10 media poll. Arizona (356 points), with 32 of a possible 36 first-place votes, was tabbed as the favorite to win the title this season. UCLA (307) finished second and had three first-place votes and Stanford (296) was picked for third with one first-place vote. Oregon (246) was fourth, followed by Oregon State (174), California (152), USC (151), Arizona State (129), Washington (117) and Washington State (44).
TOURNEY TEAMS ON THE SCHEDULE
The Trojans will face six teams this season that reached the 1998-99 NCAA Tournament (North Carolina, Duke, Washington, UCLA, Arizona and Stanford) and another three that played in the 1999 NIT (Northwestern, Oregon and California) for a combined 15 games against teams that reached the postseason a year ago.
RANKED TEAMS ON THE SCHEDULE
USC is slated to play eight games against five teams ranked in the Associated Press' Preseason Top 25. They are North Carolina (No. 6 ), Arizona (No. 9 ), Duke (No. 10 ), UCLA (No. 12 ) and Stanford (No. 13 ). All rankings preseason.
USC AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
The Trojans are 0-2 against ranked teams in 1999-2000, went 1-6 against ranked teams in 1998-99 and are 4-21 versus ranked teams since December of 1996. USC's lone win over a ranked team last year was at then-No. 6 Stanford, 86-82, in overtime. In USC's other three wins in the above stretch (all at home), 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 then-No. 2 Arizona, 91-90 (OT), on March 5, 1998.
USC AT HOME
Dating back to 1996-97, the Trojans are 31-13 (.705) in their last 44 games at the Sports Arena and USC is 89-37 (.706) 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 nine-game winning streak spanning the end of 1997-98 and the beginning of 1998-99.
TROJANS ON TELEVISION
USC will be quite visible throughout the year. Currently, USC has 16 games that will be televised live in Los Angeles. Two of those games (against North Carolina and at Long Beach State) were broadcast nationally on ESPN and five other games will be aired nationally on FOX Sports Net (FOX Sports Net locally). Nine other games will be televised by FOX Sports Net 2 and the Duke game aired on KCAL (Channel 9).
HENRY BIBBY
Henry Bibby, a coach with 17 years of college and professional experience and the only player to ever play for an NCAA, NBA and CBA championship team, is in his fourth full season as the head coach of the USC men's basketball program. Last season, he directed the Trojans to a 15-13 overall mark (7-11 in the Pac-10, tied for seventh) and a first-round appearance in the NIT. USC went 9-19 the previous season, but closed out the year 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.
BRIAN SCALABRINE
Junior o forward/center o 6-foot-9 o 250 pounds
* Averaging 15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals (all third best on the team). His .517 three-point percentage (15-of-29) is the best on the team. His .519 field goal percentage and 3.2 assists per game are second on the team. * 1999-2000 Top-50 Wooden Award and All-American candidate. * Named Pac-10 Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 6-12, the first such honor of his career and the 18th overall for USC. During games against Hawai'i and Loyola Marymount, Scalabrine averaged 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. * Posted second and third career double-doubles with season-high tying 21 points and career-high 11 rebounds at San Diego State and 16 points and 10 rebounds at Loyola Marymount. * Scored 21 points and had three steals against UC Santa Barbara. Had 19 points at St. Bonaventure and against Hawai'i, 18 points vs. Cal State Northridge and 17 points against both Memphis and then-No. 15 Duke. * 1998-99 Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year and also received All-Pac-10 honorable mention honors. * Led USC in scoring (14.6), rebounding (6.4) and field goal percentage (.531, 152-of-286) last year. Was second in assists (68) and third in blocks (25). * "(Scalabrine) is an all-leaguer. He's the closest thing I've seen to Detlef Schrempf since Detlef Schrempf. He can bring it on the break. He can pass it and he can shoot it. He's a pro, no question." - Arizona Coach Lute Olson * "(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
Junior o guard o 6-foot-4 o 195 pounds
* One of the top athletes and best leapers in the nation whose dunks and athleticism (he has a 40-inch vertical leap) often land him on Plays of the Week highlight reels around the country. * Leads the team in steals (4.4, first in the Pac-10, second in the nation) and minutes (35.5) and is second in scoring (16.0) and rebounding (7.2). * He has made at least three steals in 10 of his 11 games and has had at least five steals five times. His 48 steals leaves him just 15 short of breaking Derrick Dowell's USC season record of 62. * Had a spectacular game against Utah State in defeat at the Maui Invitational. Had 19 points, broke his own USC single-game steals record with 10 steals (the old mark was eight), blocked four shots and had seven rebounds. Overall in Maui, Trepagnier averaged 15.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.3 steals, 2.7 assists and 1.7 blocks in 39.0 minutes per game. * Had second double-double of season vs. then-No. 15 Duke with 15 points and season-high 12 rebounds. * Had season-high 23 points vs. UC Santa Barbara to go with five steals. Posted 20 points vs. both Northwestern and Hawai'i and had 19 points, six steals and four assists against Memphis. * Missed the St. Bonaventure game while attending a funeral for his grandmother in Southern California. * Was the only Pac-10 player to finish in the Top 10 in steals, blocks and field goal percentage (.492, 125-of-154) last year and he averaged a double-double in his last five games (16.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg). * Was also a two-sport athlete in 1999, competing in the high jump for the track and field team in a dual meet with UCLA and at the Pac-10 Championships. New to the sport, he won the event against the Bruins (6-9 3/4) and finished second at the Pac-10s (7-0 1/2). * Posted fifth double-double of last season with career-high 24 points and career-high 17 rebounds at Wyoming in the first round of the NIT. * "Jeff Trepagnier is as good of an athlete as we've played against and he's got courage, too." - Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Head Coach * "Trepagnier is a sensational athlete who has improved his fundamentals and gives the Trojans' backcourt some much-needed size." - Jon Wilner, Los Angeles Daily News
SAM CLANCY
Sophomore o forward o 6-foot-7 o 240 pounds
* USC's leading scorer (17.2, third in the Pac-10), rebounder (8.0) and shot blocker (1.6). He also leads the team in free throws made (52) and attempted (84) and in double-doubles (four). * Scored career-high 24 points on 8-of-9 field goals and 8-of-9 free throws and also had eight rebounds against Cal State Northridge. * Had 23 points (including career-high 11 field goals) and three steals against then-No. 5 North Carolina and had 15 points and seven boards against Memphis. * Eighth all-time on USC's career blocked shot chart (55). * First Trojan to post three consecutive double-doubles since Jaha Wilson did it four consecutive times in the 1995-96 season (vs. Oregon, Stanford, California and Arizona State). Clancy's double-doubles came against UC Santa Barbara (22 points and 11 rebounds), St. Bonaventure (15 and 11) and Hawai'i (16 and 11). * Had 19 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks at Long Beach State, had 19 points, eight rebounds, two blocks vs. then-No. 15 Duke and 18 points and nine boards at San Diego State.
BRANDON GRANVILLE
Sophomore o guard o 5-foot-9 o 175 pounds
* Averaging 7.9 assists per game (first in the Pac-10) and has four double-digit assist efforts and two double-doubles. He is second on the team in steals (2.7, third in the Pac-10) and fourth in scoring (12.4). * Had USC single-game record 15 assists against Memphis in the Maui Invitational, also setting a tournament record. He also had 19 points and five steals in the game. * Posted career highs in points (24) and field goals (eight) at San Diego State and made a career-high tying 5-of-7 three-pointers. * Scored 20 points, dished out seven assists and had five steals, without a turnover, against Northwestern. * Had 20 points in only 22 minutes at Loyola Marymount and made 3-of-4 three-pointers and had a career-high two blocks. * Had 16 points and five rebounds at Long Beach State. * Scored 15 points and had 11 assists against then-No. 5 North Carolina and had 12 assists and five steals vs. UC Santa Barbara. * Earned 1998-99 Pac-10 All-Freshman honorable mention honors.
DAVID BLUTHENTHAL
Sophomore o forward o 6-foot-7 o 220 pounds
* After coming off the bench last year, has earned a starting role in 1999-2000 at small forward. * Scored career-high 20 points vs. Northwestern on 9-of-10 shooting. * Had 19 points (17 in the first half) and nine rebounds at Long Beach State and played all 40 minutes for the first time. * Posted 18 points and a career-high 11 rebounds against Memphis in the Maui Invitational for first career double-double. He shot 9-of-12 in the game. * Scored 17 points (including 4-of-7 on three-pointers) at St. Bonaventure and had career-high four steals at San Diego State. * Fifth in scoring (11.8) and fourth in rebounding (5.9) on the team. * Scored 14 points and had nine rebounds against Utah State in the final game of the Maui Invitational. He averaged a team-high 8.7 rebounds in the tournament and also averaged 12.7 points. * Played in 20 games and averaged 7.6 minutes, 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game as a freshman.
JARVIS TURNER
Senior o forward o 6-foot-8 o 240 pounds
* USC's lone senior, he was fourth on team in scoring (5.6) and rebounding (3.5) in 1998-99 in only 13.1 minutes per game. * Has missed USC's last seven games recovering from a stress fracture in his foot. He is scheduled to return to action this weekend against the Washington schools. He suffered the injury in the preseason but initially tried to play on it. * Started three times last season but has 23 career starts to his credit. * Scored season-high 16 points and had six rebounds against St. Bonaventure last year.
KONSTANTINOS CHARISSIS
Freshman o center o 6-foot-11 o 250 pounds
* A talented big man with a traditional European game, he has challenged for time at center. * Made first career start against Hawai'i and posted highs in points (four), rebounds (six) and minutes (23). * Averaging 1.5 rebounds in 6.1 minutes per game. * Also goes by the first name Kostas. * Was a reserve center on the mid-level Greek club team Papagou-Athens in 1999 and averaged 3.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in limited action.
NATE HAIR
Freshman o guard o 6-foot-3 o 195 pounds
* An athletic guard, Hair has become an oft-used reserve in the Trojans' guard rotation. * Had season-high nine points and season-high five rebounds at Loyola Marymount. * Averaging 2.5 points, 1.5 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game. * Scored first six points of his career at St. Bonaventure, going 2-of-3 on three-pointers, playing season-high 28 minutes. * Missed most of the preseason and both exhibition games recovering from a stress fracture in his knee. * Was a 1999 Street & Smith's All-American honorable mention, an All-Stater Sports 1999 West Regional Dream Team fourth teamer and a 1999 Best in the West and 1999 Orange County Register Fab 15 second team pick as a senior at Capistrano Valley (Calif.) High. * Averaged 15 points and five rebounds his senior year.
RASHAD JONES
Junior o guard o 6-foot-2 o 195 pounds
* A hard-working point guard, he backs up Brandon Granville in the backcourt in his first year as a Trojan. * Played 24 minutes off the bench in USC's 1999-2000 season opener against Cal State Northridge, scoring six points (all on free throws) and grabbing six rebounds to go with two steals. He also played 21 minutes against Memphis and had three rebounds and two points. * Shooting team-best .842 from free throw line (16-of-19). * Averaging 10.7 minutes and 2.0 rebounds as a reserve guard. * Averaged 15.7 points, 6.0 assists and 3.1 steals per game in leading the Jaguars to a 19-10 mark as a 1999 sophomore at San Jose (Calif.) City College. He made 50.4 percent of his field goal attempts (120-of-238) and shot 80.1 percent from the foul line (125-of-156).
MALACHI THURSTON
Freshman o guard o 6-foot-4 o 200 pounds
* An athletic swingman, he competes for minutes as a reserve in the backcourt. * Made first career start at St. Bonaventure, scoring three points and getting four rebounds. * Played 26 minutes against UC Santa Barbara, grabbing a career-high five rebounds and scoring a career-high four points. * Averaging 6.0 minutes per game. * He averaged 24 points, nine rebounds and three assists last year at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn., and earned the William Duryee Award as the top player in the Tri-State League.
LUKE MINOR
Freshman o center o 7-foot-3 o 320 pounds
* USC's tallest player ever, he may redshirt as a true freshman. * Minor averaged 7.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks as 1999 senior at Blue Ride Academy in Dyke, Va., leading his team to a 19-6 mark and an appearance in the state semifinals of the Virginia Association of Independent Schools. * He broke the school's season block record with 67 and the career block record with 124. Minor was named Virginia's 10th best prospect
