Tall Huskies Present Problems for Trojans

Western Kentucky pounded USC, 82-52, a few weeks ago with a big front line that the Trojans couldn’t handle.

“We have trouble with that type of team,” USC Coach George Raveling said Monday.

The Trojans will encounter more of the same tonight at 7:30 when they meet Washington’s Huskies at Hec Edmundsen Pavilion in Seattle. Washington has two physical-type players up front in 7-foot Chris Welp and 6-10 Phil Zevenbergen.

Welp was virtually unstoppable inside against UCLA Sunday afternoon. He scored 28 of his 40 points in the second half as the Huskies won, 90-80. Zevenbergen was also a factor in the second half, getting 14 of his 20 points.

USC is 4-4 overall and 0-1 in the Pacific 10. Washington is 5-4 and 1-0.

Raveling would have settled for a split on this conference-opening trip to the Northwest. But Washington State, not Washington, was the team USC had a better chance to beat.

It didn’t turn out that way Saturday afternoon as USC couldn’t protect a 35-34 halftime lead and lost, 70-60, at Pullman, Wash.

The Trojans committed 12 of their 15 turnovers in the second half as the Cougars harassed USC’s guards and took forward Derrick Dowell out of the game with double-teaming tactics. Dowell got only 6 points in the second half after scoring 20 in the first half.

“I was very disappointed because we didn’t have a good physical effort in the second half for the first time this season,” Raveling said. “We were lethargic, didn’t chase loose balls, didn’t get back on defense, or run the floor on offense.”

Raveling said his team can’t afford the luxury of letting up against anyone because it isn’t overly talented, or experienced.

“What bothered me was that five of the turnovers were unforced,” he said, “and it really bothers me when you have possession and don’t even get off a shot.”

After tonight’s game, the Trojans will return home briefly and then will fly to Knoxville, Tenn. on Christmas Day for a Saturday game against Tennessee.