Craven Craves Only Consistency

With his breakout game Saturday at Washington State, USC freshman guard Errick Craven will not take the Cougars by surprise this time around. And that’s just fine with Craven, whose career-high 29 points were the most by a Trojan freshman since Harold Miner scored 29 against the Cougars in 1990.

“I’m not going to go in too confident,” said Craven, who also had six rebounds and six steals. “I’m just going to play ball and not force anything and look stupid. I’ll stay within the game plan and not give into the pressure of feeling like I have to score 29 again.”

Coach Henry Bibby doesn’t know what to expect from Craven tonight.

“He’s a freshman so you really don’t know what you’re going to get,” Bibby said. “Hopefully you get consistent play from him. But if he’s going well, it’s going to open up shots and plays for other people to make us better.

“But I think people have to take notice of him.”

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Lou Campanelli, the Pacific 10 Conference coordinator of men’s basketball officiating, said Thursday that he spoke with Bibby earlier in the day regarding USC’s grievance on Washington allegedly hitting Trojan players with elbows last week.

Campanelli, who said he had spoken with two of the referees, added that the Pac-10 had asked for but not yet received a tape of the alleged incident from USC.

“As soon as I look at the tape [today]--Henry’s going to overnight it--I can comment on it and take appropriate action if deemed necessary,” Campanelli said.

TONIGHT

vs. Washington State, 7:30

Site--The Forum.

Radio--KMPC (1540).

Records--USC 10-2, 2-0 in Pac-10; Washington State 4-6, 0-2.

Update--Point guard Brandon Granville said his sore left foot has stopped bothering him and that he’ll be ready to play.... Washington State regains senior shooting guard Mike Bush, who caught a 46-yard touchdown pass as a receiver in a 33-27 win in the Sun Bowl.

Tickets--(213) 740-4672