Defense Delivers Desired Results

Maybe Coach Henry Bibby’s message is getting across.

The message that it’s OK to play defense with the same relentless desire that USC--and most teams--plays offense.

Granted, holding Washington State to 36.2% shooting and forcing 23 turnovers in Thursday’s 83-61 victory is not comparable to shutting down Stanford or Arizona.

But it’s noteworthy when you keep a team from making a basket for the final 4:27, no matter the opponent.

It’s also no accident that USC has won five of its last six games by playing aggressive defense, in particular a half-court trap that has forced opponents into either a flurry of turnovers or speeded up the tempo beyond the opponent’s effectiveness.

“I think we can play defense like that the whole game,” guard Brandon Granville said. “We can force a lot of spurts where we hold a team without a field goal several minutes. We’ve just got to pull it together, just worry about what we’re doing and not so much what the other team is doing.”

Before the Trojans become complete believers, they’ll need to see that kind of defensive effort pay off against a quality opponent.

They’ll get that chance, with UCLA and both Arizona schools as their next three opponents after today.

*

Jarvis Turner made a fruitful return Thursday after sitting out seven games because of a broken foot. The senior sixth man played 14 minutes and scored five points, including his first three-pointer of the season.

Turner reported no ill effects or soreness.

Today

at Washington, 1 p.m.

Fox Sports Net 2

* Site--KeyArena, Seattle.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--USC 8-5, 1-0; Washington 6-7, 1-0.

* Update--After their successful Pac-10 opener against Washington State on Thursday, the Trojans should not suffer a letdown against a team that knocked off UCLA. But USC should not have a letdown anyway; it has not defeated Washington on the road since 1994.