Time Helps USC Women

Look long and hard through most of the predictions on the top teams in women’s basketball, and you won’t find USC mentioned anywhere.

The Trojans have posted only one winning season in the last four, 16-14 in 1999-2000, with no NCAA tournament appearances since 1995.

That does not mean, though, that the women of Troy don’t think highly of themselves.

“What I see so far is, this is a better team than a year ago,” Coach Chris Gobrecht said. “This is a really good team that has within its power--and it’s up to them--to be exceptional.

“I don’t know if I’m ready to use the word ‘great,’ because we’re not quite there yet. But this is a team that has the potential to be exceptional. It should be considered a favorite to win the Pac-10 title.”

At various parts of last season, USC used nine players as starters, and three were freshmen. Half of the 14-player roster consisted of freshmen and sophomores.

The preponderance of youth was partially responsible for the wild swings of fortune for USC, which opened with two losses, won five straight, lost six in succession, won three of four, dropped six of seven, then won its last four, finishing 15-13 overall and tied for sixth in the Pac-10 at 8-10.

“We’ve had so many kids on this team that won so much in high school,” Gobrecht said. “But we spent half the season last year in shock. These kids had never lost. And they were so stunned and had no idea how to approach what was going on, how to keep your perspective and figure out what you do in these situations.”

By the time USC figured things out, the Trojans had sunk in the Pac-10 with a 4-10 record. But they swept their last four games, one an 88-76 victory over a Washington team that was ranked No. 22 and reached the regional finals of the NCAA tournament.

This season, when conference play begins, Gobrecht--who feels there is a better roster balance with three seniors, three juniors, five experienced sophomores and two freshmen--expects the Trojans to start out the way they finished.

Sophomore forward Ebony Hoffman, last season’s leading scorer at 12.5 points a game, plans to shoulder more responsibility for the team’s success. That’s because she has two sound shoulders. Last season, her right shoulder dislocated easily. .

“I’m double-jointed, and I can just pop my shoulders whenever possible. So they tried to fix that,” said Hoffman, who underwent surgery on March 10. “The shoulder feels a lot better. Now I can play continuously without it popping out. I think I’ll be a lot more effective.”

Hoffman said she also expects more consistency from her team.

“Hopefully this year, we won’t have to go through [ups and downs]. In fact we won’t go through that. I’m not going through that. I refuse. The team refuses. We’ve talked about that. We’re not going through that stage anymore, it’s over.” If the Trojans are to contend, however, they must:

* Become stronger on defense, especially when it’s time to close out an opponent. Last season, USC lost five games by seven points or fewer, and was outscored overall in the second half, 967-951.

* Settle on a point guard. “Last year, we just turned to anybody and said, ‘Let’s see if you can play the point,”’ Gobrecht said. “It’s hard [that way] to focus on it as your job and the type of pressure that position carries.”

Sophomore Jessica Cheeks will start at the point, backed by sophomore Ryane Alexander.

“I played there enough last year,” Cheeks said. “I just have to talk more, and get people where they’re supposed to be.”

* Accelerate the development of 6-5 freshman center Kim Gipson, freshman forward Rachel Woodward and sophomore center Portia Mitchell to help Hoffman on the inside.

* Keep Tiffany Elmore at one or two positions so the senior guard-forward stays fresh. Last season, Elmore played point guard, shooting guard, small forward and power forward while averaging nine points and 3.4 rebounds. She said she will play anywhere Gobrecht needs her, but would prefer shooting guard.

“I have something to prove to myself,” Elmore said. “I haven’t had the [kind of] year I’ve wanted to have here. Last year I wasn’t focused and should have been. This year I want to be a leader and do the things I know I can do to help this team out.”

The women of Troy will learn much about themselves in a hurry, thanks to a nonconference schedule that includes Tennessee, Notre Dame and the Paradise Jam tournament in which Florida and Texas are entered.