Lineup Shuffle Will Continue

At first glance, there would seem to be a certain counter-productivity to the way Henry Bibby doles out playing time.

But although the USC coach is notorious for his freewheeling style of shuffling players, a move that sometimes wounds their confidence, Bibby said there is a reason for it, especially this season.

“I have probably 10 guys that could start on this team,” he said. “That’s why it’s difficult, at times, to start certain guys. I don’t really know who I’m going to start, game to game, because we’re so even from 1-10. There’s not one [player] that’s better than the next.”

That’s why the Trojans, who are still trying to recover from losing three senior starters, have had five different starting lineups in five games.

It’s no wonder, then, that in Bibby’s system, his leading scorer has started only twice.

“He’s just trying to find who’s going to produce,” said junior guard Desmon Farmer, who is averaging a team-high 15.2 points, despite shooting a career-low 32.8%, down from the 44.6% he was shooting before this season.

In Saturday’s 78-72 loss to Missouri in the Wooden Classic, nine Trojans played, none played more than 29 minutes.

It was the first time since USC lost at Arizona, 88-73, on March 4, 1999, that no Trojan had played at least 30 minutes.

Junior forward Jerry Dupree’s six-game suspension is up tonight and he’s sure he made enough academic progress in the fall semester to warrant his return.

With Dupree starting the fall semester on academic probation and in danger of being academically ineligible for the spring, he was suspended by Bibby in an effort to help him concentrate on his studies.

“Hopefully, things will be positive for him,” Bibby said. Dupree, who has been hobbled by a sore right heel, was cleared Tuesday to begin light workouts.

*

TONIGHT

vs. Cal State Fullerton, 7:30

Site -- Sports Arena.

Radio -- KMPC (1540), KPLS (830), KWRM (1370).

Records -- USC 2-3, Cal State Fullerton 1-4.

Update -- Trojan point guard Robert Hutchinson practiced the last two days and is probable for tonight’s game after missing Saturday’s loss against Missouri.

Tickets -- (213) 740-4672.

-- Paul Gutierrez and Paul McLeod