USC Finishes With Whimper : Trojans: But a berth in the NIT appears probable despite a 101-67 loss to Arizona State.

The USC season probably didn’t end with its 101-67 loss to Arizona State at the Activity Center on Saturday night, but maybe it should have.

The Trojans, who collapsed during the second half after Lorenzo Orr kept them in the game for the first 20 minutes, are expected to be invited to the NIT tonight. There is a report that USC, which finished 16-11 and 9-9 in the Pacific 10 Conference, will play host to an opening-round NIT game at the Sports Arena. It will probably be the second half of a doubleheader in which the USC women will play a first-round NCAA tournament game.

Although Sun Devil Coach Bill Frieder played this game as if he had a chance to win an NCAA berth, the Sun Devils appear headed for the NIT, too. They finished 18-9 overall and 11-7 in the Pac 10, tying UCLA for third place.

Coach George Raveling of the Trojans would like nothing better than to face the Sun Devils in the NIT. Although he didn’t complain about Frieder leaving his regulars in almost to the end, it was obvious he didn’t like it.

“Bill Frieder has to coach the way he sees fit,” Raveling said. “But sometimes those things come back to haunt you. Every dog has his day.”

Frieder kept his regulars on the court until there were 96 seconds left to play and Arizona State led by 35 points. Moreover, though Raveling had cleared the bench, the Sun Devils were still using a full-court press.

Orr scored 18 points during the first half and Arizona State led by only 44-33 at halftime. But freshman Ron Riley made two three-pointers in the first 30 seconds of the second half and the Sun Devils scored 13 consecutive points.

Except for Orr, who had seven dunks and nine baskets in the first 20 minutes, the Trojans did almost nothing right.

Among the things USC could not do in its worst performance of the season was shoot from outside two feet, beat the press, make layups, play defense or catch the ball.

Raveling was disappointed that the Trojans failed to beat Arizona on Thursday night, but this was an embarrassment.

“It followed a pattern,” Raveling said. “In the second game of every trip in conference play we have been terrible. It must be something I am doing wrong. I followed the same pattern I did the previous two seasons when we did not have this problem.

“I tried to point out that this was not a nothing game. That we could tie the Sun Devils for fourth place by winning. That we would probably ensure ourselves an NIT berth. Now, I don’t know.”

Raveling benched Burt Harris, voted to the All-Freshman Pac 10 team, at the start because he was late for the bus to the morning shoot-around. But the way the Trojans played, that wasn’t a factor.

The Sun Devils shot 53.6%, their best this season. They had six players in double figures, including Stevin Smith, who had 24 points, the same as Orr. The Sun Devils were 14 for 31 on three-point tries, the Trojans two for 19.