Players Still Believe in Bibby

Despite the rough times the Trojans are going through, the players dismissed the notion they were tuning out Coach Henry Bibby and his staff.

“We believe in the coaches,” David Bluthenthal said. “I know myself, in the beginning of the year I was fighting Coach a little bit, but lately I’ve been trying to do what they say and get on their way of thinking. I think other guys are trying to too.”

Said Jeff Trepagnier: “Everybody is still with Coach Bibby, trying to stay positive. Nobody is going against Coach because we still believe his system works. We just have to do it on the court.”

Said Bibby: “I don’t think you tune out at this point in time. This is a big part of the year. If anything, they’re pressing too hard.”

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Bibby lifted the media ban for his players Friday, but Brian Scalabrine was still not speaking to reporters.

“It’s his decision, I had nothing to do with it,” Bibby said.

Scalabrine, usually the most talkative player on the team, may be gun-shy after reportedly saying some of the Trojans “may be afraid of success” after a 44-point loss to Arizona last week.

TONIGHT

at Oregon, 6

Fox Sports Net

* Site--McArthur Court, Eugene, Ore.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--USC 17-8, 7-6 in Pac-10; Oregon 13-11, 4-10.

* Update--Oregon, which lost to UCLA on Thursday, and the rest of the conference have to smell blood in the wake of the Trojans’ struggles of late. And the Ducks’ devoted fan support can make any opponent feel vulnerable. “Without a doubt, this is our biggest game of the year,” Trojan forward Sam Clancy said. “We have to get a win.” It would help if the Trojans could shoot higher than their 30% of the past two games.