Farmer Is Making an Impact

The loss of senior guard Jeff Trepagnier has been softened so far by the play of freshman Desmon Farmer.

Farmer has averaged 11 points and three rebounds in USC’s three games. He’s made 45.5% of his shots, a percentage that rises to 54.5% from the three-point line, where he is six for 11.

But Farmer also has played some tough defense, even though he doesn’t always know where he supposed to be on the court. His two steals and one block almost balance his five turnovers. And he has brought a level of energy to the Trojans that is close to that supplied by Trepagnier, idled because of a stress fracture in his left foot.

“I think he’s farther ahead than I expected him to be,” Coach Henry Bibby said of Farmer. “With Jeff being sidelined, it’s given [Farmer] an opportunity to show his talent level. And he’s very, very talented.”

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Utah Coach Rick Majerus has not recovered sufficiently from knee surgery and will not be with the team for the next five weeks, which means he will miss the Wooden Classic game against USC Saturday. Assistant coach Dick Hunsaker will direct the team.