Bibby Searching for a Little Defense

In its two exhibition games and Saturday’s season-opening victory over Bradley, USC scored more than 100 points each time. Which means the Trojans know how to score.

But Coach Henry Bibby keeps trying to instill a defensive sensibility in the Trojans because he knows that not every game this season will be a run-and-shoot affair.

So when Bibby talks about newcomers Desmon Farmer, Robert Hutchinson, Tyler Murphy and the still-sidelined Gennaro Busterna getting “a real opportunity” to play because of injuries to starting guard Jeff Trepagnier and top reserve Nate Hair, it’s more than the dreaded “coach speak.”

Encouraged by the notion the Trojans do have reserve strength this season, Bibby seems determined to have them expend energy on every inch of the floor.

In Saturday’s game Farmer (who started), Hutchinson and Murphy all played at least 14 minutes, giving regulars Brandon Granville, Brian Scalabrine and David Bluthenthal plenty of rest. (Sam Clancy was the one extended Trojan, playing 37 minutes.) And the Trojans played a variety of defenses against Bradley, switching from full-court and half-court traps to man-to-man and matchup zones--the kind of defenses teams play if they’re going to use a lot of people.

What USC has not yet found is a defensive system that works consistently. Sure it has only been three games, and two were against traveling “all-star” squads. But all three opponents, supposedly below the caliber of USC, scored at least 80 points. Bibby wants USC to keep teams at about 65.

“I’d like to see more of a killer instinct,” he said.