University Southern California Trojans
Men's Hoops Crosses Town To Face UCLA
February 07, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 7, 2000
LOS ANGELES - The USC men's basketball team (13-8 overall, 6-3 in the Pacific-10 Conference, in fourth place), under fourth-year head coach Henry Bibby and coming off its first 0-2 weekend of the Pac-10 season, will look to nip the loss streak in the bud when it travels west on the I-10 to face UCLA (12-8, 3-6, tied for seventh) at Pauley Pavilion on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. USC, which was swept by California and Stanford last weekend, appeared in the AP rankings for the first time since 1992 earlier this season and has remained as competitive as ever despite losing both sophomore forward Sam Clancy (USC's leading scorer when he went down) and senior forward Jarvis Turner (USC's top reserve) to probable season-ending injuries during the Arizona State game (Jan. 20). 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 #22
USC (13-8, 6-3) vs. UCLA (12-8, 3-6) at Pauley Pavilion on Wednesday (Feb. 9). Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. The game will be televised on FOX Sports Net 2 and will be broadcast live on XTRA-AM (690). The Bruins, directed by fourth-year coach Steve Lavin, have been paced by true freshman forward Jason Kapono, who is averaging a team-high 15.7 points per game (18.0 in Pac-10 play). He has shot a Pac-10 high .463 from beyond the three-point arc (44-of-95). Sophomore forward Jerome Moiso is averaging 14.2 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds while sophomore center Dan Gadzuric averages 9.0 points and 6.9 rebounds. Junior guard Earl Watson is averaging 10.5 points per game and averages 5.3 assists. UCLA, which has lost three straight games overall, had its 10-game winning streak against USC snapped in the teams' earlier meeting this year, 91-79.
LAST TWO GAMES
USC's stay in first place in the Pac-10 came to an end over the weekend as the first half of conference play came to a close. The Trojans were swept at home by California, 66-62, on Thursday (Feb. 3) and by No. 2 Stanford, 67-57, on Saturday (Feb. 5). USC was in both games, but saw its offense, a strong point for most of the season, struggle. Against Stanford, the Trojans shot a season-low .328 from the field and were outrebounded, 50-27. Despite that, USC was in the game most of the way. USC was led by 20 points from junior forward/center Brian Scalabrine and 16 points from junior guard Jeff Trepagnier. The Trojans, who only turned the ball over a season-low seven times, led early, its biggest lead coming at 15-9 with 10:40 to go in the first half after a three-pointer from freshman Nate Hair. Stanford responded with a 15-0 run to take a 24-15 lead with 4:24 to go before the half, but USC closed to within 28-23 at the break. A jumper from Scalabrine and a dunk by Trepagnier brought the Trojans to within 34-30 five minutes into the second half. But Stanford, led by Ryan Mendez' career-high 24 points, then went on a 16-6 run to take a 50-36 lead with 10:25 to go and never led by less than 10 points again. The game before, USC saw its nine-game home winning streak snapped against Cal. The Trojans got 25 points from Scalabrine but only one other player scored in double figures (Brandon Granville, 14 points). USC shot only .407 from the field. Despite trailing for most of the game, USC had an opportunity to win down to the game's waning seconds. California, which shot only .439 but did outrebound USC, 37-34, never trailed in the first half. The Bears, paced by 12 points from guard Shantay Legans, led by as many as 11 points (twice) in the first, though USC rallied to within 34-30 at the break. USC got its only lead of the game at 40-38 on a Trepagnier dunk with 14:37 left to play. Cal responded with a 12-3 run to take a 50-43 advantage with 9:47 to go. USC again came back, tying the game at 55-55 and again at 59-59 with 2:34 to go. USC was repeatedly within a possession of reclaiming the lead, but was never able to get over the hump. Down by two at 64-62 with less than 25 seconds left, both Granville and Hair missed on three-point attempts. After the latter shot, Legans rebounded the ball and was fouled. He made both free throws with 0.5 left, icing the game.
LAST GAME NOTES
Brian Scalabrine's 20 field goal attempts were a career high ... USC has now allowed less than 70 points in four straight games, but is only 1-3 in that stretch ... Stanford won its third straight over USC at the Sports Arena ... The Trojans suffered season lows for field goal percentage (.328), first-half points (23), first-half field goal percentage (.276) and free throws (seven, tied) ... With his seven assists, Brandon Granville moved into second place on the USC single-season assist chart with 170. He is seven short of breaking Larry Friend's school record (1985).
RANKINGS
USC made its first appearance in the AP Top 25 since the end of the 1992 season on Jan. 24 at No. 23. USC has since dropped out. In the most recent rankings (Feb. 7), the Trojans received six votes in the ESPN/USA Today poll and three votes in the AP poll.
INJURY UPDATE
Both senior forward Jarvis Turner and sophomore forward Sam Clancy will miss 6-to-8 weeks while recovering from injuries suffered against Arizona State on Jan. 20. Turner, who missed seven games with a stress fracture earlier in the season, suffered a fracture in his left ankle in the first half. Clancy sustained a fracture in his right foot in the second half. Both injuries occurred while the players were attempting layups on fastbreaks.
FAST STARTS
USC's 6-3 Pac-10 start is its best since the 1996-97 season, when the Trojans opened 6-3. That year, USC finished the regular season 17-10, 12-6 (tie for second place in the Pac-10) and qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
HAIR TONIC
In the five games since the injuries to Sam Clancy and Jarvis Turner, freshman guard Nate Hair has stepped up his game big time. He has started twice in that span, against Oregon State and California. In those five games, Hair is averaging 29.8 minutes per game, 9.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and has made 16-of-30 field goals (.533) and 13-of-22 three-pointers (.591, tops in the Pac-10 in conference games only). In USC's previous 16 games, Hair had played 13 times, averaging 2.0 points in 11.4 minutes.
PLATINUM RECORDS
* Sophomore forward David Bluthenthal tied a 22-year-old USC record with 28 rebounds vs. Arizona State on Jan. 20 at the Sports Arena. He tied Cliff Robinson, who had 28 boards vs. Portland State on the same date in 1978. It was the most in the conference since Robinson's effort and is tied for fifth-best ever in the Pac-10. Bluthenthal's 28 rebounds is the third-most ever in a Pac-10 game (tied with Washington's Steve Hawes in 1972) and the most in a conference game since Hawes' effort. The Pac-10 record in any game is 36, set by Swede Halbrook of Oregon State (Feb. 15, 1955). The 28 boards are also the most in Division I since 1996 (Marcus Mann, Mississippi Valley State). For perspective, no one in the Big Ten or the ACC has had at least 28 rebounds in the last 30 years.
* Junior 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. It is the most in the nation this year and it's one off the Pac-10 record (Tyus Edney, UCLA, 11, 1994).
* Sophomore guard Brandon Granville posted a USC and Maui Invitational single-game record 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. It is the most in the Pac-10 in two seasons and ties for sixth all-time in the conference. The Pac-10 record is 19 by Arizona's Russell Brown in 1979.
* USC set a Pac-10, USC and a Gill Coliseum record for three-pointers made when they connected on 20-of-29 three-point attempts at Oregon State on Jan. 29. The previous conference record was 18 by Washington State vs. Seattle on Dec. 29, 1990. The previous USC record was 15, set against Arizona State in 1998 and Oregon State in 1992. The 20 three-pointers are the most in the nation this year. The NCAA record is 28 (Troy St., 1994).
ALL THINGS STEALS
* USC junior guard Jeff Trepagnier, who earlier this year set a USC school record with 10 steals in one game against Utah State (the most in the nation this year), broke Derrick Dowell's USC season record of 62 steals set in 1987 at Oregon (Jan. 27). Trepagnier, who now has 73, broke the record in his 17th game compared to Dowell's 28. The Pac-10 season record is 110 set by Jason Kidd (California) in 1993. Trepagnier needs five to tie Brevin Knight (of Stanford) for 10th place on the Pac-10 chart at 78.
* Trepagnier is averaging 3.7 steals per game, fourth in the nation. The Pac-10 record for steals average in a season is 3.8 (Jason Kidd, California, 1993).
* Trepagnier has had at least three steals 15 times and has had at least five steals six times.
* Trepagnier is working his way up the USC career Top 10 in steals with 151, good for third place. Derrick Dowell is second with 179 and Stais Boseman (1994-97) owns the record with 208. Brandon Granville is seventh on the career chart with 105.
* Led by Trepagnier (73 steals) and Granville (51), USC has 218 steals as a team, compared to its opponents' 149. As a team, the Trojans are averaging 10.4 steals a game. Last year, the Trojans averaged 9.4. As a pair, Trepagnier and Granville average 6.1 steals per game.
ALL THINGS ASSISTS
* USC sophomore guard Brandon Granville, who set a school record earlier this year with 15 assists against Memphis (third most in the nation this year), is closing in on the school season record. Granville's 170 assists are the second most ever by a Trojan in a season and leaves him seven short of breaking the record of 176, set by Larry Friend in 1985. The Pac-10 season record is 294 (Ahlon Lewis, ASU, 1998). Granville's total for all of last year was 140.
* In less than two seasons, Granville already has 310 career assists, good for seventh place on USC's career chart. The career record is 409 by Larry Friend (1983-86). Granville needs only 10 more assists to crack the top five. The Pac-10 record is 938 (Gary Payton, Oregon State, 1987-90). Tenth place on the list is 554 (Reggie Geary, Arizona, 1993-96).
* After never having had more than nine assists in a game as a freshman, Granville has had at least 10 assists nine times as a sophomore, including a recent stretch of four straight and in all three games of the Maui Invitational. 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 seven double-doubles this season.
* Granville is averaging 8.1 assists per game, fourth in the nation. The Pac-10 record for assists average in a season is 9.19 (Ahlon Lewis, ASU, 1998).
* As a team, USC is averaging 17.3 assists per game, compared to its opponents' 12.8. Last year, the Trojans averaged 15.6.
USC PAC-10 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Junior forward Brian Scalabrine and sophomore forward David Bluthenthal have both earned Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Week honors this year. Bluthenthal was named for the week of Jan. 17-23. He averaged 22.0 points and 17.5 rebounds in the Trojans' sweep of the Arizona schools. He had 18 points and a USC-record-tying 28 rebounds against Arizona State and a career-high 26 points and seven rebounds vs. Arizona. It was Bluthenthal's first such honor, the second for USC this season and the 19th all-time for the Trojans. Scalabrine earned his award 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 was the first time he's been honored with the Pac-10 award.
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH
USC has allowed opponents to shoot .500 or better only three times this year and only more than .517 once ... On the other hand, USC has shot .500 or better eight times ... The Trojans have taken more foul shots than their opponent in 10 of the last 12 games ... USC has held opponents to 23 points or less in the first half five times, has held opponents to 61 points or less seven times and has held opponents to less then 40.0% shooting seven times and less then 45.0% shooting 13 times ... In the Trojans' 13 wins, they have outscored their foes by an average of 20.5 points (86.5 to 66.0) ... All five regular USC starters have at least two double-doubles.
TURN THIS OVER
USC is turning the ball over the least in the Pac-10 (14.9) and is forcing the second-most turnovers (19.7). That translates into a 4.8 turnover margin, tops in the league.
ROSTER MOVE
Sandy Fletcher, a freshman football player who played four games with the basketball team as a guard this season, has left the squad to concentrate on academics. Fletcher joined the team in mid-December and saw 11 combined minutes of action in games against Long Beach State, San Diego State, Washington State and Washington. He scored a total of four points.
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 (Feb. 7). Trepagnier (3.7 spg) is fourth in the country and Granville (8.1 apg) is as well. Trepagnier's school-record 10 steals against Utah State on Nov. 24 are the most in the nation this year.
PAC-10 STAT NEWS
Overall in the Pac-10, Brian Scalabrine is second in scoring (17.5), three-point field goal percentage (.451) and field goal percentage (.532) and tied for 13th in rebounds (6.3). Jeff Trepagnier is ninth in scoring (15.4), first in steals (3.7), 10th in rebounding (6.6) and seventh in blocks (1.3). Brandon Granville is first in assists (8.1), third in steals (2.4), 19th in scoring (13.2) and 10th in free throw percentage (.786). David Bluthenthal is fourth in rebounds (7.7).
In Pac-10 play only, Scalabrine is second in the conference in scoring (20.4) and Bluthenthal is tops in rebounding (10.1). Granville leads the Pac-10 in assists (8.3), Trepagnier leads in steals (2.8) and freshman Nate Hair leads in three-point field goal percentage (.591). Trepagnier is also third in blocks (1.6). The Trojans are shooting .466 in conference play and are holding their opponents to a combined .438. USC has been outrebounded, 34.7 to 36.9 and outscored them, 77.6 to 72.6. The Trojans are also shooting .466 from three-point range and .717 from the foul line.
CAREER BLOCKED SHOTS CHART
Sophomore forward Sam Clancy had surpassed junior guard Jeff Trepagnier on the USC career blocked shot chart at 64. But Trepagnier has caught him and, standing only 6-foot-4 but possessing fantastic leaping ability, now has 69. Trepagnier is now sixth on the list and Clancy is seventh. The USC record is 128 by Lorenzo Orr (1992-95).
STARTERS - AND FINISHERS
Prior to the injury to Sam Clancy against Arizona State, USC was 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 had combined to start all but two times and accounted for 83.0% of the minutes played. Including the injuries and missed games, the quintet has still scored 1,494 of the team's 1,626 points. However, freshman guard Nate Hair has scored a combined 43 points in his last four games.
40/45-MINUTE CLUB
Each regular starter has played at least a full game once this season (including overtime). Guard Brandon Granville has played a complete game six times, Jeff Trepagnier has done it five times, Brian Scalabrine has done it four times, David Bluthenthal has done it twice and Sam Clancy has done it once. Granville and Scalabrine both played 45 minutes in an overtime game at Washington and Granville did the same vs. Arizona State. Additionally, Bluthenthal played all but 15 seconds of the Arizona State game.
20-POINT PERFORMANCES
Each regular starter has scored at least 20 points once this season. Brian Scalabrine has done it seven times, Brandon Granville has done it five times, Sam Clancy and Jeff Trepagnier have each done it four times and David Bluthenthal has done it twice.
RANDOM NOTES
* All five USC starters have scored in double figures in the same game six times this year. * When David Bluthenthal scored 20 points against Northwestern, he did so on 9-of-10 shooting. That fell just short of the Trojans' individual record for field goal percentage, held by numerous people at 10-of-11. * USC has had four games decided by four points or less and the Trojans are 2-3 in those games. * USC's .652 shooting percentage (15-of-23) in the second half at Oregon State was its best 20-minute mark of the season, regardless of which half. * 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 and its 56 first-half points against the Lions were a season best. * 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 five times in his career, including three times this year (four against Memphis and five vs. San Diego State and Oregon State). He has also had at least five steals five times in his career. * Brian Scalabrine's .5315 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 .532 clip. * 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.
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. So far, USC is 4-5 against the above teams.
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
USC's win over then-No. 2 Arizona (and over then-No. 25 UCLA) gives the Trojans back-to-back wins over ranked teams for the first time since the 1993-94 season. That year, USC downed No. 18 California, 86-78, and No. 15 UCLA, 85-79. The last time USC defeated ranked teams more than twice in a row was in 1991-92, when the Trojans did it four straight times. They beat No. 24 Stanford, 82-72, No. 2 UCLA, 86-82, No. 4 UCLA, 83-79, and No. 2 Arizona, 70-69. Counting wins over No. 5 Arizona and No. 12 UCLA at the end of the 1990-91 season, the Trojans defeated six straight ranked teams. The Trojans are 2-3 against ranked teams this year with losses to then-No. 5 North Carolina, then-No. 15 Duke and then-No. 2 Stanford. USC went 1-6 against ranked teams in 1998-99 and is 6-21 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
USC saw its nine-game home winning streak snapped against California on Feb. 3. Dating back to 1996-97, the Trojans are 34-15 (.694) in their last 49 games at the Sports Arena and USC is 92-39 (.702) 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 two nine-game winning streaks that spanned the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons and the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons.
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 * forward/center * 6-foot-9 * 250 pounds
* Averaging team-best 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals. His .451 three-point percentage (23-of-51) and .532 field goal percentage are tops on the team and his 3.0 assists per game are second on the team. * Averaging 20.4 points in Pac-10 play. * 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. During games against Hawai`i and Loyola Marymount, Scalabrine averaged 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. * Posted career-high 27 points and six rebounds in upset of then-No. 2 Arizona. * Had 26 points vs. Arizona State, including seven points in overtime. * Scored 25 points and had nine rebounds in losing effort vs. California. * Had 24 points and nine rebounds at Washington, playing all 45 minutes of overtime game. * Posted second and third career double-doubles with 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 and had 20 against then-No. 2 Stanford. * 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 * guard * 6-foot-4 * 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 (3.7, first in the Pac-10) and minutes (36.7) and is second among active players in scoring (15.4) and second among active players in rebounding (6.6). * Set USC season record for steals with 73 and counting. Old record was 62 by Derrick Dowell. He has made at least three steals 15 times and has had at least five steals six times. * Scored a career-high 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting to go with 10 rebounds for third double-double in win over then-No. 25 UCLA. * 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. * Scored five of his 16 points vs. ASU in the final 90 seconds of regulation to erase an 82-77 USC deficit and force overtime in an eventual Trojan win. * Had second double-double of season vs. then-No. 15 Duke with 15 points and season-high 12 rebounds. * Had 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 and 18 points and four steals at Washington State. * Had 17 points, including career-best three treys, at Oregon State. * 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 a then-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 * "(Jeff Trepagnier) is the conference's top defender." - Richard Obert, Arizona Republic. * "Trepagnier has been the missing link for the Trojans ... He has given the Trojans the scoring pop on the wing that they lacked a year ago." -- Andy Katz, ESPN.com
BRANDON GRANVILLE
Sophomore * guard * 5-foot-9 * 175 pounds
* Averaging 8.1 assists per game (first in the Pac-10) and has nine double-digit assist efforts and seven double-doubles. He is second on the team in steals (2.4) and fourth in scoring (13.2). * 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. * Averaging 14.3 points and 8.3 assists in Pac-10 play. * Reached double digits in assists in four straight games once this season and did it three straight times earlier this year. * Had USC best seventh double-double with 21 points and 11 assists at Oregon State. He also tied career high with five three-pointers. * 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. * Had second-best scoring outing of season vs. Arizona State, scoring 22 points and dishing out 11 assists. * 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 17 points and 10 assists against then-No. 25 UCLA. * Posted 10 assists and 14 points at Washington. * 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 * forward * 6-foot-7 * 220 pounds
* After coming off the bench last year, has earned a starting role in 1999-2000 at small forward. * USC's leading rebounder (7.7, fourth in the Pac-10) and fifth-leading scorer (12.6). * Averaging 13.7 points and 10.1 rebounds in Pac-10 and has made 13-of-34 three-point attempts (.382) and 28-of-33 foul shots (.848). * Named Pac-10 Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 17-23, the first such honor of his career. During games against Arizona State and Arizona, Bluthenthal averaged 22.0 points and 17.5 rebounds and made 14-of-23 field goals and 14-of-17 free throws. It is USC's 19th such honor. * Had a monster performance vs. Arizona State, recording 28 rebounds and scoring 18 points. The 28 boards tied USC's school record (Cliff Robinson, 1978, Portland State) and was the most rebounds in the Pac-10 since that same game. His previous career high in rebounds was 12 (vs. UCLA this year). * Had career-high 26 points (on 9-of-12 shooting) and had seven rebounds in win over then-No. 2 Arizona. * Scored 20 points vs. Northwestern on 9-of-10 shooting. * Made career-high five three-pointers at Oregon State. * 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 11 rebounds against Memphis in the Maui Invitational for first career double-double. He shot 9-of-12 in the game. * Had 12 rebounds and 12 points against UCLA for second career double-double. * Scored 17 points (including 4-of-7 on three-pointers) at St. Bonaventure and had career-high four steals at San Diego State. * Had 17 points and nine rebounds at Oregon. * 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.
SAM CLANCY
Sophomore * forward * 6-foot-7 * 240 pounds
* Will be out 6-to-8 weeks while recovering from a fractured right foot suffered in the second half of the Arizona State game at the Sports Arena on Jan. 20. * Clancy left the lineup as USC's leading scorer (17.25), second-leading rebounder (7.7) and leading shot blocker (1.6). He also leads the team in free throws made (68) and attempted (112). * Scored in double figures in team-best 12 consecutive games, which has been suspended by his injury. * 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 23 points at Washington. * Posted fifth double-double of season with 17 points and 10 rebounds in Pac-10 opener at Washington State. * Had 18 points, nine rebounds vs. UCLA. * Seventh on USC's career blocked shot chart (64). * 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.
JARVIS TURNER
Senior * forward * 6-foot-8 * 240 pounds
* After missing seven games earlier in the season with a stress fracture in his left foot, he will miss 6-to-8 weeks after suffering fracture in his left ankle against Arizona State on Jan. 20. * Turner has only played in seven games this year, averaging 1.7 points and 1.6 rebounds in 14.1 minutes of action. * USC's lone senior, he was fourth on team in rebounding (3.5) in 1998-99 in only 13.1 minutes per game. * Returned from seven-game layoff at Washington State with five points in 14 minutes then played a key defensive role in USC's overtime win at Washington. * Missed seven games recovering from a stress fracture in his foot. 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.
NATE HAIR
Freshman * guard * 6-foot-3 * 195 pounds
* An athletic guard, Hair has become an oft-used reserve in the Trojans' guard rotation and has seen considerably more playing time since the injuries to Sam Clancy and Jarvis Turner, starting two of the last three games. * Made first career start at Oregon State and posted season highs in points (14), three-pointers (four), assists (seven), steals (three) and minutes (39). * Had 13 points in 35 minutes at Oregon off the bench, hitting 3-of-4 three-point attempts. He tied season high with five rebounds. * His overall .439 three-point percentage (18-of-41) is second best on the team and his .591 three-point percentage (13-of-22) in Pac-10 play is high for the league. * Scored nine points (on 3-of-5 three-pointers) vs. then-No. 2 Stanford. * Had nine points and five rebounds at Loyola Marymount. * Subbed in for fouled-out Jeff Trepagnier in overtime win at Washington and helped hold Huskies to 1-of-10 shooting in extra frame. * Had three rebounds and three points in 16 minutes against then-No. 2 Arizona. * Averaging 4.0 points in 16.5 minutes overall and 5.9 points in 22.0 minutes in the Pac-10. * 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 in high school.
KONSTANTINOS CHARISSIS
Freshman * center * 6-foot-11 * 250 pounds
* A talented big man with a traditional European game, he has challenged for time at center and has seen more action with the injuries to Sam Clancy and Jarvis Turner. He has started four times in 17 games. * Started for second time against then-No. 2 Arizona, getting two rebounds and two steals in 16 minutes. Also started at Oregon (six minutes) and vs. then-No. 2 Stanford (12 minutes, two rebounds). * Made first career start against Hawai`i and posted highs in points (four), rebounds (six) and minutes (23). * Averaging 1.3 rebounds in 6.2 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.
RASHAD JONES
Junior * guard * 6-foot-2 * 195 pounds
* A hard-working point guard, he backs up Brandon Granville in the backcourt in his first year as a Trojan. He figures to see more playing time with the injuries to Sam Clancy and Jarvis Turner. * 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). * His 13 minutes vs. California was his most since playing 14 minutes vs. ASU. * Averaging 8.0 minutes 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 * guard * 6-foot-4 * 200 pounds
* An athletic swingman, he competes for minutes as a reserve in the backcourt. He will likely see more action with the injuries to Sam Clancy and Jarvis Turner. * Played in first Pac-10 game against then-No. 2 Arizona. He saw 10 minutes of action and missed his only field goal attempt. * 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 5.2 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 * center * 7-foot-3 * 320 pounds
* USC's tallest player ever, he is redshirting 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 by the Roanoke Times.
ABDULLAH ELMAGBARI, FRANKIE EVANISKO, ROB ERES AND SHELBY JORDAN * Rounding out the USC roster are four walk-ons: junior forward Shelby Jordan, sophomore forward Rob Eres, juniors forward Abdullah Elmagbari and freshman guard Frankie Evanisko. Of the four, Elmagbari has seen the most meaningful time, including a four-minute stint in the second half of USC's upset of then-No. 2 Arizona and two minutes against then-No. 2 Stanford. He has played 14 minutes in six games overall. Jordan has played 15 minutes in six games, scoring two points at Loyola Marymount. Eres has played three minutes in two games without scoring and Evanisko has played two minutes in two games, scoring one point against the Lions.
