Trojans Get Punished

David Bluthenthal missed a sociology class.

Sam Clancy missed a team meeting.

As a result, the USC senior forwards will miss the start of tonight’s exhibition game against the EA Sports Southwest All-Stars at the Lyon Center.

Bluthenthal and Clancy will, however, be in uniform and might play toward the end of the game, said Trojan Coach Henry Bibby.

“I made a promise to the kids and the parents when I came here that I would promote education, academics, promote going to class,” Bibby said. “And when they don’t go to class, there are actions that we have to take.... If you’re not going to class, then something has to be done.”

USC played its first exhibition game Sunday without senior point guard Brandon Granville, who took a blow to the mouth earlier in the week, and the Trojans needed overtime to beat a traveling team called the L.A. City Stars, 101-91.

Granville began practicing with a mouthpiece Tuesday and will play tonight.

The Trojans open their regular season Tuesday in the Preseason National Invitation Tournament against Wyoming at the Sports Arena. Clancy and Bluthenthal should both start against the Cowboys.

“What we try to do is set the tone for the season, where we don’t have to do this later,” Bibby said of the pseudo-suspension. “It’s major but it’s not major. We can’t let it happen.”

Clancy, a power forward and preseason nominee for the Naismith and Wooden awards, accepted his punishment.

“It was a misunderstanding, but Coach has to take action,” Clancy said. “I missed a meeting or whatever, but he has to take action and I respect his ruling. He has to show the team that he can’t just let guys miss stuff without a punishment.”

Clancy also saw an upside.

“I don’t think it’s that bad,” he said. “It is an exhibition game, but it’s going to get the younger guys more of a chance to play where Coach can see what they can do instead of me just being out there taking up all the minutes.”

Less than a month into practice, Bibby has harshly criticized his seniors. He blasted them after Sunday’s win, saying they were resting on their laurels from last season.

“He’s been hard on us because he knows we know we didn’t play up to his expectations,” Clancy said. “But we went into practice Tuesday and we had a great practice, a giant step forward.... Now we have to keep it going.”

Bluthenthal, a small forward and preseason Wooden award nominee, did not start Sunday.

Said Bibby: “David just hasn’t been playing well enough to start. The key is being fair to all the people coming into the program. We tell everybody they have a shot to play and if you’re not playing well, you won’t play.”