Bluthenthal’s Play Is Hard to Ignore

He remains the least publicized and most overlooked player among the Trojans’ starters, but David Bluthenthal is off to a red-hot start for 13th-ranked USC.

After seven games, Bluthenthal leads the Trojans in scoring (18.4) and rebounding (9.1). Those figures are an increase from last season, when Bluthenthal averaged 13.9 and 8.3, respectively.

He is also the team’s best free-throw shooter, making 17 of 21 attempts (81%), and has the Trojans’ highest field-goal percentage (54.5%).

When he scores has been just as important as how much he scores. Bluthenthal has shown a knack for getting points in bunches: nine points in a two-minute span against San Diego, 11 consecutive points against Utah, nine consecutive points against Northridge.

Bluthenthal’s play has impressed Coach Henry Bibby, who has seen his 6-foot-7 small forward grow from a little-used role player as a sophomore to one of the team’s most important players as a junior.

“David was this good last year but not many people noticed,” Bibby said. “He is our best post-up player and our best outside shooter. He’s been in the background of the others, but he’s been our most consistent player.

“He’s the kind of guy [opponents] have to play, and it makes it easier for the others.”

*

Brigham Young University-Hawaii, USC’s first-round opponent and host of the three-day Yahoo! Sports Invitational tournament that begins Thursday, is a Division II team that plays in the Pacific Division of the Pacific West Conference.

Last season the Seasiders were 19-9 and advanced to the NCAA II Western Regional. This season BYU-Hawaii is 4-0 after an 84-64 Saturday victory over Seattle.