Experience Makes Difference

USC Coach Henry Bibby often falls back on his “We’re a young team” response when asked if the Trojans can realistically expect an NCAA tournament berth.

But Bibby admits that, with a five-game winning streak going into tonight’s game against Arizona State, opponents no longer think of his team as average.

“I’m sure people are paying us a little more attention now than they did before,” Bibby said. “But we thought last year we had a chance to play well and we were very young.

“But I feel we’re capable of putting a string of games together. We’re a year older. The chemistry is good; guys know their roles more so than ever, and the guys playing are happy with their playing time.”

*

Attention, Jeff Trepagnier: Eddie House is calling you out.

The Sun Devils’ star guard, who leads the Pacific 10 Conference in scoring (24.4 points), gave Trepagnier some bulletin board motivation. Trepagnier, who is averaging 4.3 steals a game, is considered USC’s best defender.

“I’m going to have to run him around a little bit and try to get him tired,” House told the Arizona Republic. “I think I’ll take away from his offense by him focusing so much on guarding me.

“I’m still going to get points by getting some steals and stuff. I’m definitely going to be up to the challenge.”

*

Sandy Fletcher, a scholarship football player, is no longer on the basketball team. USC officials said Wednesday that football Coach Paul Hackett asked Bibby to remove Fletcher from the team for academic reasons.

Fletcher, a 6-foot-3 freshman who joined the basketball team Dec. 13, appeared in four games, played a total of 11 minutes and scored four points. He was a defensive back on USC’s scout team last season.

TONIGHT

vs. Arizona State, 7

* Site--Sports Arena.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--USC 10-5, 3-0; Arizona State 11-4, 3-1.

* Update--Both teams are looking to prove they are serious Pac-10 contenders and NCAA tournament worthy. The Trojans have won five in a row, while the Sun Devils have a three-game win streak. Arizona State also wants to reverse the trend of not playing well in Los Angeles. The Sun Devils’ last win at USC was in 1996, and their last win at UCLA, where they play Saturday, was in 1987.