Trojans Are Doomed From the Start

The dream is finally dead.

There is no scenario the USC Trojans can come up with now that will get them an NCAA tournament bid. Not after being drubbed by California, 86-73, before a sellout crowd of 12,172 Saturday at Haas Pavilion.

It was the ninth loss in 11 games for USC (14-14, 7-9) in a season that steadily crumbled after starter and leading scorer Sam Clancy went down because of a broken foot six weeks ago.

Although Clancy gave USC 31 minutes and 13 points Saturday, his return was negated by an injured Brian Scalabrine, who was obviously slowed by the right hip injury suffered Thursday against Stanford. Scalabrine had only one point in the first half and finished with nine points.

“Defensively I could move,” Scalabrine said. “But I couldn’t move for rebounds or block out as well. I couldn’t really jump for my shots.

“I’ll get four days off and I hope it helps. I have to be 100% Thursday.”

David Bluthenthal led all scorers with 17.

It’s getting hard to remember that USC actually led the Pacific 10 Conference with a 6-1 record. Today the Trojans find themselves close to the seventh-place prediction given them before the season started.

“I thought we played hard,” Coach Henry Bibby said. “But Brian is playing on one leg, Sam is just getting back. The guys fought, but Cal kept pecking away and making good shots.”

The Bears made plenty of shots--30 of 58, or 51.7%. They held USC to 41% shooting (25 of 61), outrebounded USC, 35-31, and also blocked four shots without suffering one rejection of their own.

Moreover, the Trojans could never find that one sustained offensive burst, that 10- or 12-point run that could steal the momentum away from Cal. They spent the afternoon trying to recover from the 17-5 lead Cal had after the first 5 1/2 minutes.

“When you have guys hurt, it can look like you’re clawing at straws out there,” Bibby said. “We were fortunate Brian was able to play at all today; yesterday he could barely walk.”

Then again, USC had no right to expect any good fortune here. Haas Pavilion, Harmon Gym, Hell’s Kitchen--whatever you want to call the Bears’ lair, it’s a pit for the Trojans, who have now lost eight consecutive games in Berkeley. They have also lost six in a row to Cal overall.

USC’s day got off to a bad start when Jeff Trepagnier was spotted dunking during pregame warmups, which is illegal, and USC was assessed a technical foul before the game began.

Coming on the heels of Jarvis Turner’s tug of Stanford’s Casey Jacobsen’s shorts from the bench Thursday, it was the last thing USC needed to happen.

“I always [dunk] before the game to help me get loose,” Trepagnier said. “I didn’t know the refs were out there, but they were standing out at halfcourt. As soon as I did it I turned around and saw them. They told me I would get the technical.

“I knew it was illegal, but I’ve always done it.”

Donte Smith made both free throws. Trepagnier watched from the bench, replaced in the starting lineup by Nate Hair.

“When you’re snakebit, you’re snakebit,” Bibby said. “I haven’t seen that call since I’ve been coaching. But that’s the referee’s job. If we’re not supposed to do it, we don’t do it. I didn’t start Jeff, and if we hadn’t been so short I probably wouldn’t have played him today.”

The Trojans need a split with the Washington schools to be considered for the NIT.

“One at a time,” Bibby said.