Bibby Dismisses Non-Ranking

Riding a five-game winning streak and unbeaten in the Pacific 10 Conference, the Trojans would not have been surprised to see themselves in the Associated Press top 25 this week.

They didn’t make it, but they got some votes. USC didn’t get a sniff in the coaches’ top 25 poll.

If Coach Henry Bibby was surprised or disappointed by the polls this week, he did a masterful job of hiding it Tuesday.

“I haven’t even looked at [them],” Bibby said. “It’s not a concern of mine. We have to take care of our job. The only place the poll means something now is when you’re recruiting. Otherwise it doesn’t mean anything.”

The players also said they’re all right with being unranked.

“We feel if we continue to do well, we’ll end up in the rankings,” Jeff Trepagnier said. “Right now, we’re really not worried about it. We’re just trying to get a couple more wins this week.”

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Trepagnier will probably get the first crack at guarding Arizona State’s Eddie House on Thursday. House has been on a scoring binge.

Averaging 24.4 points, House figures to come into the Sports Arena gunning, because he’s never had a big game against USC. His highest one-game total in three previous seasons is 18.

“I played against him last year so I’m familiar with him,” Trepagnier said. “I know he never gets tired. He just keeps running up and down the court. He can go out and get 30 any night, so I have my work cut out for me.”

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Some streaks of note: Brandon Granville has made at least two three-point baskets in seven consecutive games. Sam Clancy has scored in double figures in 11 consecutive games. Trepagnier has had at least three steals in 13 of 14 games.