Morrison’s Trojans Take on Creighton Today

Despite the fact that USC’s basketball team is playing Creighton today, Trojan Coach Stan Morrison can’t stop talking about his team’s 68-64 loss to Oregon State last week.

That’s because it was the first Pacific 10 game for the Trojans (4-5) and one that Morrison obviously thought his team should have won.

“I saw some real things to hang my hat on in terms of improvement,” Morrison said. “I just wish we had them two weeks later. The nature of the game would have been different.”

What Morrison means is that there would have been two weeks of additional practice, something his young team is starving for.

“We’re doing some things right,” Morrison said. “And I’m working hard to find them.”

If USC is not the same team as it was two weeks ago, Creighton is not the team it was one year ago. With center Benoit Benjamin (now with the Clippers) the Bluejays were 20-12 last season. Without him, and with first-year coach Tony Barone, the Bluejays are 4-3.

Creighton is a team of balance, with four starters averaging double figures in scoring. The Bluejays rely on forward Kenny Evans, who is averaging 18.9 points and 11.1 rebounds a game. The 6-foot 4-inch senior is also shooting 90% from the free-throw line.

Guard Gary Swain runs the Creighton offense and is averaging 14.7 points per game.

Tom Lewis continues to lead the Trojans in scoring, with an 18-point average. Derrick Dowell is averaging 16 points and seven rebounds for USC.

The game, scheduled for 3 p.m. in the Sports Arena, will follow the 1 p.m. championship game in the women’s Transamerica-USC Classic.