Early Optimism Loses Bounce

When USC’s season began in November, there was cautious hope that the Trojans would finish in the upper half of the Pacific 10 Conference.

But Tuesday, Coach Henry Bibby sounded as if he was scaling back those expectations.

“We’re still a young basketball team,” he said. “The expectations are high, but not as high as other people’s. We’re building this program; we have sophomores and juniors. I’m more interested in laying a solid foundation. That’s what we’re trying to do more so than anything else.”

*

Tonight’s opponent, Northwestern, will feature a pair of long-range shooters in sophomore forward Steve Lepore and freshman guard Ben Johnson. They have taken 94 of the Wildcats’ 156 three-point shots, and have made 40 of them.

Tonight

vs. Northwestern, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

* Site--Sports Arena.

* Radio--KCTD (1540).

* Records--USC 6-5, Northwestern 4-5.

* Update--Sixth man Jarvis Turner (broken left foot) will not suit up tonight, but is expected to return next week against Washington State. The Trojans lead the series, 5-2, but have not played the Wildcats since 1966.