Wilder Happy to Be Playing

Not long ago, USC’s Quincy Wilder was upset over a lack of playing time and what he called “a misunderstanding with the coaches.” But now that Kevin Augustine has left the team, Wilder is happy to fill the vacancy at backup point guard.

“I finally get to settle down in a position,” said Wilder, who had his longest outing of the season against American of Washington, D.C., on Monday, scoring nine points and grabbing three rebounds in 20 minutes. “I like doing that. I like being one of the leaders on the team.”

At 6 feet 3 and 200 pounds, the junior-college transfer is big enough to play small forward but earlier this season, Coach Henry Bibby pulled him aside and said, “[Point guard] is really your natural position. You can help this basketball team.”

Bibby liked Wilder’s combination of size and quickness, especially on defense when he replaces the starting point guard, 5-foot-9 Brandon Granville.

“Quincy can play the bigger guards we have in the conference,” Bibby said. “He can play Jason Terry and Baron Davis . . . and we don’t give up the size factor.”

If there is a weakness to Wilder’s game, it is offense. At Highline Community College in Des Moines, Wash., he played forward and averaged 23 points by driving past slower opponents. In big-time college basketball, Bibby thinks he must develop an outside shot to keep defenders honest.

“I like to drive before I shoot because when I drive, that’s a for-sure basket,” Wilder said. “But sometimes [Bibby] takes me out of practice if I don’t shoot when I’m open. So I’m looking to shoot more.”