Numbers Add Up to Nothing

In jumping out to a 4-0 start in Pacific 10 Conference play, USC swept Washington and Washington State by a combined 78 points.

No. 11 UCLA, meanwhile, won its four games against the Huskies and Cougars by a combined 35 points.

A statistical edge to the Trojans as they prepare for their game Thursday at the Forum against the Bruins, the only other unbeaten Pac-10 team?

“With the rivalry and all, all that is thrown out the window,” USC point guard Brandon Granville said. “It’s going to be a war.”

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One of USC’s fall signees has left his junior college team, putting his future as a Trojan in jeopardy.

Jack Wolfinger, a 6-foot-11, 225-pound forward at Ventura College, did not return from the holiday break, leaving the fifth-ranked junior college team without an explanation.

“We got back from a holiday tournament Dec. 30 and he came in and cleaned out his locker, so I haven’t had any contact with him,” Ventura Coach Greg Winslow said Monday night.

“I know he was frustrated with some injuries and a lack of playing time, but it’s really unfortunate. I think he made a bad decision.”

Wolfinger, a native or Portland, Ore., transferred to Ventura from St. John’s.

A sore hip and an abscessed tooth relegated him to the sidelines for the first month of the season and he never really got into a groove.

As a junior college transfer, Wolfinger must complete his Associate Arts degree to be eligible to play next season at USC.

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USC’s three senior starters--Granville, small forward David Bluthenthal and power forward Sam Clancy--continue to move up in the Trojan record book.

Granville scored 17 points against Washington on Sunday to move into a tie for 14th place on USC’s all-time list with Maurice Williams at 1,204 points.

Bluthenthal’s team-high 18 points against the Huskies moved him past Roy Irvin for 23rd on the scoring list with 1,078 points.

Bluthenthal is seven points behind Paul Westphal in 22nd place.

Clancy’s career-high five steals gave him 111 and moved him past Rich Grande (108) and Ronnie Coleman (109) for sixth place on the school’s all-time list.

Paul Gutierrez