Naughty or Nice? Must Be Latter

Jolly old Coach Henry Bibby unexpectedly gave his players extra time off from practice Thursday.

“I was really surprised,” sophomore Jeff Trepagnier said. “Last year we practiced on Christmas, so this is a big change.”

With one nonconference game remaining, against Arkansas State on Tuesday, the players could only surmise they had earned a vacation after putting together a 7-1 record that, despite a tough loss at Kansas, represents one of USC’s best starts in years.

Trepagnier was going to spend Christmas morning with his family in Compton. Likewise, on a team that includes nine California players, other Trojans were leaving for home after practice Wednesday.

“I’m just going to take it easy and relax,” freshman guard Brandon Granville said.

Forward Sam Clancy, from Fairview, Ohio, planned to celebrate Christmas with assistant coach David Miller’s family. Center Brian Scalabrine was eager to see his parents, who were visiting from their Enumclaw, Wash., home.

It will be a treat for the junior college transfer who has suffered from homesickness since leaving his small town last summer.

“Man, I can’t wait,” Scalabrine said. “It’s been too long.”