Turner Has More Tough Luck

The one thing Jarvis Turner wanted more than anything else in his senior season was to be injury free.

“I really haven’t played a whole year of college basketball,” the 6-foot-8 swingman said. “My first year I was out eight to 10 weeks with a back injury. My sophomore year I broke my hand and missed another six to eight weeks.

“I’m looking forward to a healthy year, and bringing some type of leadership role to the team as an older guy.”

Unfortunately, Turner, who had appeared in three games this season, will not get his wish. A second MRI exam on his left foot has revealed a stress fracture. He is out at least four weeks.

That was not good news for a team that has depended primarily on its top six players and has lost three of the last four games. Turner’s absence robs Coach Henry Bibby of his best and most experienced role player off the bench.

“Losing Jarvis is a serious blow,” Bibby said. “He brings so much to the court and can fill in at just about any position.”

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The University of Hawaii, Wednesday’s opponent, has a 5-1 record but the Rainbows played all six games at home. On Sunday, they defeated Pacific in the Hawaii Invitational, 72-42, for their fourth consecutive win. USC holds a 30-5 lifetime edge. The Trojans have won 16 consecutive games since the Rainbows last beat them in 1959. This will be the first meeting between the schools since 1975.