USC’s Bibby Isn’t Satisfied

What an awful night.

USC runs and guns down an outmanned but plucky Bradley team, 107-92, before 1,576 at the Sports Arena on Saturday. All five Trojan starters--one of them freshman guard Desmon Farmer, in place of the injured Jeff Trepagnier--score in double figures, led by Sam Clancy’s career-high 31 points.

It was the most points scored by USC since totaling 117 against Arizona State in the 1998 season finale. It’s the first time Bradley has given up 100 points since Jan. 11, 1990, at Tulsa--a span of 309 games.

So what’s not to like?

Plenty, according to the coach of the nation’s 23rd-ranked team, which is 1-0.

“I didn’t think we played well, especially on defense,” USC Coach Henry Bibby said. “I thought our defense was atrocious.

“We didn’t play defense well in the [exhibition games] and we didn’t play it tonight. We didn’t talk out there. We didn’t have the kind of intensity on defense I’d like to see. Maybe it was opening-night jitters. But we have a veteran team now. Games like this show you where you are.

And where is USC?

“Not where I want them to be.”

In case you’re wondering if Bibby was looking for an excuse to yell at his players to keep them humble, consider the visitors (who had only nine available players because of injuries and a disciplinary suspension) shot 75% against the Trojans in the first half, making 18 of 24 shots en route to a 49-48 halftime lead.

Bradley (0-1), picked by the media to finish eighth in its conference (Missouri Valley), cooled off in the second half (12 of 26) but still finished at 60% from the field, including 11 of 18 from three-point range.

“They were able to do pretty much what they wanted to the first half,” said Clancy. “We weren’t playing the way we should and the coaches really got on us.

“We got the win but we can’t be happy with the way we played.”

Brian Scalabrine continued the Trojans theme of discontent. “They were knocking down open shots and good college players do that. But we’ve got to get in people’s faces and force them to take harder shots, like Stanford does.”

The Braves’ problem, besides being whistled for 42 fouls, was that guards Jerome Robinson and Philip Gilbert provided the only constant scoring. Like Clancy, Robinson had 31 points, while Gilbert, a freshman, had 22.

Clancy was supported by David Bluthenthal, who had 23 points and 13 rebounds for his ninth career double-double. He also made all four free-throw attempts, stretching his streak to 37 in a row from the foul line. That ties the school record, set in 1965 by John Block. Bluthenthal’s streak started in the last seven games of last season.

Scalabrine had six assists to go with a quiet 13 points. Farmer, the first freshman to start for USC since Brandon Granville two years ago, had 12.

USC still has to be troubled by Trepagnier’s inability to shake the pain of the stress fracture in his left foot. Trepagnier said he tried to practice hard on Tuesday, but the foot hurt.

“They want to give me at least another week,” Trepagnier said. “At worst I figure I’ll be ready by the Wooden Classic (on Dec. 2).”

Bibby said he would not rush Trepagnier back into the lineup. “I want him healthy. If it’s one game or four games, I want him to be pain free.”