Utah Might Keep the Officials Busy

USC’s game against Utah on Saturday will be another test of how serious the officials are about calling basketball games closely this season.

The 18th-ranked Utes are known for rugged rebounding and being physical on defense. Nothing has changed so far. In its five games, Utah holds a 35.2 to 26.8 edge on the boards. By contrast, USC has been outrebounded, 34.3 to 31.7, in three games.

In Utah’s five games, 205 fouls have been called, 100 on the Utes. In USC’s games, 147 fouls have been called, 64 on the Trojans.

“If they call it like they’ve called the other games we’ve played, it won’t be that physical,” Coach Henry Bibby said. “So far, from what I’ve seen, they’re trying to call things close to the rule book. They’ve called a lot of ticky-tack fouls, which they said they would do. So it has been consistent.

“I don’t know if the physical play has lessened because the teams haven’t adjusted yet. We really don’t know what a foul is, because things have changed. But I think the refs are committed to this. They’ve been taught that this is the way the game is called this year. And they’re not backing down.”

*

Jeff Trepagnier, who has sat out three games because of a stress fracture in the left foot, continues to practice. But Bibby said it would probably be “a game-time decision” on whether Trepagnier is fit to play.

*

Chris Burgess is not the only Southern California player at Utah. Guard Kevin Bradley, the team’s co-scoring leader with Jeff Johnsen at 11.8 points a game, went to Crenshaw High and played last season at Compton Community College.