Three Starters Get Carded

Brian Scalabrine, Brandon Granville, and Sam Clancy were engrossed in their card game when the clock struck 10:30--the time when all USC players were supposed to be in their downtown hotel rooms for a bed check.

All three got to their rooms five minutes later. But that was too late for the Trojan coaching staff. So Scalabrine, Granville and Clancy did not start Saturday’s game.

“Thirty seconds, one hour--late is late,” said Scalabrine, who had started 71 consecutive games at USC before Saturday. “I was wrong and had to take the blame.”

Coach Henry Bibby said the punishments were necessary.

“I got this job with me making the best decisions for the basketball team,” Bibby said. “Discipline is very important to me, and we can’t have any letdowns in any situation.”