UCLA With the Cream; USC Fails to Rise : Trojans: Despite 10-2 start and four touted freshmen, Raveling’s team is failing chemistry test.

Riding a five-game slump into tonight’s showdown with UCLA at Pauley Pavilion, USC is not on the type of streak it had imagined at the start of the season.

With several key players back from last season’s National Invitation Tournament team, along with four highly touted freshmen, the Trojans had high expectations for this season.

“I envisioned this game differently,” said Lorenzo Orr, USC’s leading scorer and rebounder. “I saw both teams coming in rated high in the country, as far as rankings were concerned. I definitely didn’t see us like this.”

For the first six weeks, the Trojans appeared close to living up to their potential. Starting out 3-0 in the Pacific 10 Conference for the first time since 1979, they had a 10-2 overall record at that point.

Since then, however, the season has fallen apart for USC. Beginning with a 30-point loss at Washington State, the Trojans have played more like an inexperienced team in need of some good luck than as the Pac-10 force they had hoped to be.

“When your back is up against the wall, you have to come up with something positive,” Coach George Raveling said. “I told the team in practice the other day that even if the clock on the wall was broken with both hands stuck on 12, you still would have the right time two times a day. You just have to look at things from a positive perspective and not feel sorry for yourself.”

Despite their current 10-7 record, the Trojans still seem to have enough talent to win in the Pac-10, but they need to find the right chemistry.

Getting consistent backcourt play and outside shooting would be a good start. Point guards Burt Harris and Damaine Powell have both played well at times, but have come up short in a conference dominated by guards such as Jason Kidd of California, Khalid Reeves of Arizona and Stevin Smith of Arizona State.

The Trojans are at their best when Orr, Mark Boyd and Tremayne Anchrum are effective inside. However, the lack of reliable outside shooting has hampered the Trojans’ half-court offense.

When able to get clear shots, sophomore Brandon Martin has proven to be a scoring threat, but opponents have too often been able to shut him down.

“It’s no secret that we have had problems with our half-court offense,” said Martin, who is averaging 13.5 points. “We have a lot of new guys and we’re still learning. But at some point, we have to step up and show some growth. We’re that close (to) being a good team.”

For freshmen Avondre Jones, Jaha Wilson, Stais Boseman and Claude Green, the lack of steady playing time has been especially disappointing. In 17 games, they have combined for averages of 15 points and 8.4 rebounds, well below the numbers they had anticipated.

“This has not been the type of season I expected,” said Jones, a 6-foot-11 center, who is averaging three points and three rebounds in 12 minutes a game. “It’s been frustrating for all of us.”

Raveling acknowledges USC’s freshmen have struggled, but he is not about to make radical changes.

“They are probably all a lot better than they have had an opportunity to show,” Raveling said. “Some of the blame falls on my shoulders because I’m not totally convinced in my own mind that I’ve done the best coaching job with them.

“I tend to have a format that I feel comfortable with, and I tend to try to get people to fit into that format. In this case, I may be trying to get a round ball to fit into a square peg. If in fact this is the case, the problem is more with me than with them, but after 31 years you get comfortable with a system that has been productive.

“But the teaching process I value is one that doesn’t just take place on the basketball court. It spills onto other areas. I have my own style--my own management style and my own coaching style--and I think some players adjust quicker than others. Just about every kid I’ve had had some difficulty at the beginning, but at the end it all worked out for the best.”