Bibby Faces an Old Friend

Henry Bibby was happy to see his team advance to the second round of the tournament. But Saturday will be a tough game--and not only because Boston College presents a strong challenge.

What also makes it difficult for Bibby is he and Eagle Coach Al Skinner are good friends. The two played in the NBA together on the Philadelphia 76ers in the late 1970s.

“Before the season I called him every other day to discuss strategy,” Bibby said.

It’s a good bet they won’t be talking about strategy today.

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Add Skinner: He also played in the old American Basketball Assn. as a member of the New Jersey Nets. In fact, while playing against Denver, Skinner got the last assist ever recorded in an ABA game.

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With his first basket, Brandon Granville went over 1,000 career points. He is the third Trojan to do it this season, joining Brian Scalabrine and Jeff Trepagnier, and is the 25th player to reach the milestone in school history.

Sam Clancy is next in line. He needs four points for 1,000.

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Before Thursday’s game, USC’s last first-round NCAA tournament victory came in 1992 against Northeast Louisiana, 84-54. That year the 24-6 Trojans were a No. 2 seed.

USC lost the second-round game, falling to seventh-seeded Georgia Tech, 79-78, on a three-point basket at the buzzer by James Forrest.

The last time USC won more than one tournament game was in 1954, when the Trojans made it to the Final Four.