Trojans Get Early Start in Pac-10

January is the usual time for basketball teams to begin the serious business of conference competition.

But USC is getting a jump on the rest of the Pacific 10, whether it is ready or not. The Trojans will play Oregon State Sunday night at the Sports Arena in the conference opener for both schools.

The game was originally set for Jan. 4, but it was rescheduled because an ice show had first claim on the Sports Arena.

That isn’t unusual. USC has frequently had to play at suburban sites because of the unavailability of the Sports Arena. USC is the only school in the Pac-10 that doesn’t have its own campus facility.

The Trojans (4-4) have won three of their last four games, and Coach Stan Morrison says that his younger players are getting the concept of what is required of them.

The Beavers (2-3) lost their first three games and have been beset by injuries. Nevertheless, Morrison picks Oregon State to win the conference championship.

Asked to assess his team now, Morrison said:

“We are not where I thought we would be, or want to be at this juncture. Yet, there was a high predictability that we would be where we are, given our graduation losses.

“I don’t like to play conference games this early, but in a graph it would show that our players are improving.”

Morrison said he would like to pare his team to an eight-man rotation--three players each at the post and wing postions and two at point guard. He has been using 10 or more players in nonconference games.

As for the conference opener, Morrison said: “If we rebound, block off the boards, play defense tenaciously and continue to execute our offense, we’ll be fine. We can’t have a lapse in any of those areas. If we don’t do those things, you can turn in any score you like against Oregon State and it could be in three digits.”