Ayuso Back as a Starter

Senior guard Elias Ayuso was in the starting lineup for the Trojans on Tuesday night against Nevada Las Vegas. Ayuso had been pulled from the lineup for the first time this season Saturday against San Diego State. USC officials first said that Coach Henry Bibby was just jockeying players to see how Ayuso would perform off the bench. But Bibby said Monday that he started senior swingman Ken Sims because Ayuso, who played 16 minutes against the Aztecs, had “sulked” during a practice.

Bibby, who is known to sit players--even stars--for violating rules, last season benched four players, including Rodrick Rhodes and Stais Boseman, in a single game (Ohio State). “It’s over now, it’s behind us,” Bibby said about Ayuso’s behavior. “He wasn’t being the kind of player we want him to be, so we sat him. It’s forgotten. I’m just trying to teach these guys how to be good human beings as well as good basketball players. I mean, who knows how many of these guys are going to make the NBA.”