Clancy Says Team Is Feeling Stepped On

There is plenty of motivation for 22nd-ranked USC going into Thursday’s game against UCLA.

There are the cross-town rival Bruins themselves, the Trojans’ desire to keep their home record spotless (10-0), and the drive to win the Pacific 10 Conference title. The Trojans are tied for fourth, two games behind Pac-10 leading Stanford.

On Tuesday Sam Clancy revealed another motivating factor.

Shoes that don’t boing.

Clancy said Nike, the company that supplies the team’s shoes, had sent the Trojans new footwear for the game. The Trojans, he added, were hoping for the latest shoe, which has a springy cushion at the heel.

But Nike sent other shoes.

“What really bugs me is, other schools have them,” Clancy said. “But we couldn’t get them because--as far as Nike is concerned--we’re not a top Nike program. We didn’t get them, but some teams we’re ranked higher than got some. Kentucky, which isn’t ranked, got some.”

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Thursday’s game will feature the Pac-10’s top two active assist leaders. UCLA’s Earl Watson leads USC’s Brandon Granville, 550 assists to 532. Both are close to moving into the conference’s top 10. Arizona’s Reggie Geary (1993-96) is 10th with 554. Ninth is Oregon’s Ron Lee (1973-76) with 572.