Bibby: Talk Wasn’t Cheap

USC might have fallen short in its quest to make the NCAA tournament, but Coach Henry Bibby thought his team did itself no disservice the last few weeks by trying to calculate the number of wins it would need for an at-large berth.

“We didn’t talk that much about it, but the guys knew what was needed,” Bibby said. “We talked about it more during the Cal-Stanford week than at any time during the season. We tried to use it as a motivating tool, a goal the guys could reach for.

“I don’t look at it that closely, to know what we need to do. I’m not bright enough to figure [all the scenarios]. I know this much: Take care of business and win the game you’re playing.”

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Bibby said he doesn’t expect to make any lineup changes for the Trojans’ final regular-season game today.

“The guys seem OK in their roles, and Kostas [Charissis] is looking comfortable as a starter,” Bibby said. “I still think by bringing Sam [Clancy] off the bench, we’ll be able to maximize our use of him.”

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Jarvis Turner, the lone senior on the team, will be acknowledged in a pregame ceremony.

TONIGHT

vs. Washington State, 5

Fox Sports Net 2

* Site--Sports Arena.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--USC 15-14, 8-9; Washington State 6-21, 1-16.

* Update--The Cougars have won only one Pacific 10 Conference game, but first-year Coach Paul Graham doesn’t want his team acting like doormats. “I’ve told our guys despite not being successful we’re not throwing up a white flag,” Graham said. Washington State gave UCLA a hard time before falling, 65-58, on Thursday. The Trojans believe they must win to get into the NIT. Guard Jeff Trepagnier is coming off a career-high 28 points against Washington.

* Tickets--(213) 480-3232 or 740-4672.