Bad Shooting Is a Big Issue

Impatience may not be one of the seven deadly sins, but it is a major reason USC is listing at 3-3.

The Trojans’ shooting problems from beyond the arc -- they’re making only 26% (34 of 131) of their three-pointers -- are oftentimes a result of them looking off their frontcourt players and settling for jumpers.

Sub-par shooting from long-range threats Desmon Farmer (28.3% from three-point range) and Lodrick Stewart (27.3%) has not helped.

“I think Desmon is rushing his shot. I think he feels a lot of pressure on him to perform because it’s his last year,” Coach Henry Bibby said. “I think Lodrick feels a lot of pressure on him because it’s his first year. You get different kids thinking different things.”

Farmer, who shot 32.3% while making a team-high 63 three-pointers last year, said his struggles are indeed a result of impatience.

“It’s been tough for me lately because I’ve been forcing shots and people got me on the scouting report now,” he said. “It’s kind of tough to get your shot off ... but if [I’m] patient my game will show and I’ll be able to ... just let the game come to me.”

Bibby said the Trojans have to shoot their way out of their slump, as long as they’re taking good shots.

“We can limit the three-point shooting to a certain degree, but I try not to restrict the kids in shooting shots when they’re open,” he said.

*

Senior center Jonathan Oliver, who missed the first six games because he was not enrolled as a full-time student for the fall semester, rejoined the team for the bus ride Thursday and could play against Fresno State tonight, especially with forward Nick Curtis nursing knee tendinitis.

“My role is to try to fit back into the team; I’m not here to save the day,” said the 7-feet, 230-pound Oliver, who averaged 2.5 points, 1.6 rebounds and 7.8 minutes in 17 games last season.

Meanwhile, USC has received a verbal commitment from 6-10, 230-pound center Bienvenu Songondo of Central Africa to play next year. He is attending Laurinburg Prep in North Carolina.

*

Senior guard Roy Smiley, who has not played this season, will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in the next few weeks.

TONIGHT

at Fresno State, 7

Site -- Save Mart Center.

Radio -- KMPC (1540), KSPA (1510), XEMM (800).

Records -- USC 3-3, Fresno State 2-4.

Update -- The combined record of the teams that have beaten USC -- Western Michigan, Nevada Las Vegas and Brigham Young -- is 16-4 while the record of the teams USC has beaten -- Cal State Northridge, St. Mary’s and Cal State Fullerton -- is 11-11.