A Winning Start for USC

He was sitting on the bench waiting, watching USC unveil forward Rodrick Rhodes, seeing the opening tip of what would be Henry Bibby’s first victory as coach of the Trojans.

Through nearly six minutes of USC’s 77-70 season-opening victory over Long Beach State on Saturday at the Sports Arena, Jaha Wilson sat and watched, wondering how a senior who once led the Pacific 10 Conference in rebounding ends up like this.

“Yes, it was frustrating,” Wilson said. “But, you know, what’s best for the team.”

What was best for the Trojans (1-0) was Wilson’s 14 second-half points and 11 rebounds. He finished with 20 points, and added to Rhodes’ career-high 29, it was enough to give Bibby a victory after losing nine consecutive games to end last season.

“Every win feels good and it feels good to get one right away,” Bibby said. “[Rhodes] was the man for us, and Jaha did what we expected him to do, come in and give us a lift.”

Wilson had expected to start, but in a meeting earlier this week Bibby told him the team needed him to come off the bench. It was difficult for the returning starter and the Pac-10’s top rebounder in 1994-95, and it needed more of an explanation.

“I guess it has something to do with getting younger guys some experience,” Wilson said.

Is Wilson in Bibby’s doghouse?

“It wasn’t a doghouse thing,” Wilson said.

A lack of performance in practice?

“Just come watch practice, see what I do to the starters.”

What he did Saturday was save USC in the second half.

The 49ers (1-1) took their first lead since the second minute of the game, 56-55, on two free throws from Brandon Titus, who finished with a career-high 18 points. But Wilson made two free throws to regain the lead. Gary Williams made a free throw and layup to put USC up, 60-56, but Long Beach State’s James Cotton, who scored a game-high 30 points, cut the lead to two with a layup with 6:09 left.

Wilson countered with a layup and a baseline jumper from 15 feet as he scored 10 of USC’s final 15 points, ending the 49er threat.

“He played like a man,” Rhodes said. “He’s just got a nose for the ball, and that’s what we needed.”

USC needed Rhodes in the first half and he played like he was trying to impress someone, perhaps every one of the 3,756 in attendance, many of whom must have seen USC play last season without him. Rhodes had to sit out the 1995-96 season after transferring from Kentucky.

He made five of nine shots, including a pair of three-point baskets, and was six of seven from the free-throw line. He played 18 minutes in the first half, scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds.

Rhodes made three free throws after Long Beach State pulled to, 22-22, and made his second three-point shot for a 32-28 Trojan lead with 1:53 left in the half. He gave USC a 36-28 halftime lead with a layup.

His performance left nothing for Long Beach State Coach Wayne Morgan to do but shrug and say: “He is one of the best small forwards in America. We all know that.”

But as good as Rhodes is, he is still human, and he got tired and disappeared at times in the second half. That left USC’s fate to Wilson, who checked into the game with 15:15 left, never came out, and walked off knowing he had done what Bibby had asked, and then some.

“I had to accept [not starting],” Wilson said. “Coach told me I have to keep the faith, keep the focus.”

Wilson’s performance has Bibby believing he has a weapon in reserve and he said Wilson is likely to remain on the bench for at least the opening tip.

“Jaha can come in and control the boards, and we need more people rebounding,” Bibby said. “I knew that Jaha would pick up the tempo, and he gave us the lift we needed.”