Bibby Gives Team the Rundown

Being a disciplinarian and keeping his team grounded are part of the job. So USC Coach Henry Bibby had no problem chasing the No. 18 Trojans out of the gym earlier this week and onto the track for some extra running. This after some Trojans skipped a weightlifting session.

Bibby didn’t want the first-place Trojans to get comfortable after last week’s victory over UCLA extended their winning streak to nine games.

“It was punishment to say, ‘Hey, now is not the time to start taking time off and start feeling good about yourselves because 5-0 [in Pacific 10 Conference play] is nothing at this point in time,’” Bibby said of the impromptu track meet. “‘So keep plugging away and keep doing the things you need to do, stay solid.’”

Bibby will see tonight if the Trojans heeded his words, as USC plays No. 15 Arizona at Tucson, where USC has not won since 1985.

To a man, the Trojans insist they have not developed over-inflated senses of themselves. It’s quite the opposite, they say.

“We still have things to prove,” freshman guard Errick Craven said. “There’s still no respect. After beating UCLA, people are looking at it as a fluke.”

TONIGHT

at No. 15 Arizona, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

Site--McKale Center.

Radio--KMPC (1540).

Records--USC 13-2, 5-0 in Pacific 10; Arizona 11-4, 4-2.

Update--Craven is the Pac-10’s leading scorer among freshmen, averaging 12.3 points. Arizona’s Salim Stoudamire is second with an 11.7 average. Arizona’s Jason Gardner is leading the conference in scoring, averaging 22.1 points....Olson is 17-1 against USC at McKale Center, but Arizona is only 3-2 at home this season.

Paul Gutierrez