This Venue Is Friendly to Trojans

In preparing to face Arizona State today, how difficult will it be for No. 18 USC to bounce back from Thursday night’s 97-80 loss at No. 15 Arizona?

Not very, at least for Trojan senior Sam Clancy.

“For me, it shouldn’t be too hard,” he said. “I mean, I’m used to getting my butt kicked down there [at Arizona] then going down to Arizona State and kicking their butt. That’s been the trend for the seniors and I think we should be all right.”

While the Trojans have lost 17 in a row at Arizona, they are 10-7 at Arizona State since 1985. Clancy, who had 30 points and 11 rebounds against the Wildcats, is 2-0 in games played at the Sun Devils’ home. The power forward sat out USC’s 93-81 loss there in 2000 because of a broken foot.

USC Coach Henry Bibby said the Trojans, who fell into a first-place tie in the Pacific 10 Conference with No. 9 UCLA and No. 23 Oregon at 5-1, would be more than happy to come home from the desert with a split.

But it might not happen if senior point guard Brandon Granville has another disappearing act.

“Brandon didn’t show up [against Arizona],” said Bibby, who would later give Granville and Clancy hugs for their troubles. “I mean, he was 0 for 7 [from the field] and was not a factor in the game. We can’t go into places and have our guys that we depend on be nonfactors.”

It was the fifth time, but the first since his sophomore year, that Granville was held scoreless.

“There was no rhyme or reason to it,” the four-year starter said. “I just missed some shots early and that was it. I’ve been there before, so I can shake it off and not dwell over it.”

Said Bibby: “It’s tougher once you’re on top. We’re 5-0 [in conference] and it’s tougher to keep that same edge, I guess. This week, some of the guys didn’t lift like they were supposed to, they didn’t shoot. You get a little fat. So this is good for us. This humbles us and it should get us focused again.

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TODAY

at Arizona State

3 p.m., Channel 7

Site --Wells Fargo Arena.

Radio--KMPC (1540).

Records--No. 18 USC 13-3, 5-1 in Pac-10; Arizona State 10-6, 3-4.

Update--Arizona State Coach Rob Evans is 0-22 against ranked teams since coming to Tempe in 1998.... Sun Devil senior center Chad Prewitt is averaging 20.9 points and 7.9 rebounds over the last eight games.... Said Bibby: “We know Arizona State is physical. They grab, they hold, they shove, they push, they come over your back. They’ll be the most physical team we’ve played. Let’s see what we’re made of.”

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Paul Gutierrez