Bibby Is Still Looking for a Little Consistency

Just when it seemed USC had found the components of success -- hard-nosed defense, sustained intensity, perseverance -- in a gut-check three-point win at Fresno State on Dec. 19, the Trojans came hurtling back to reality courtesy of the 93 points Cal Poly San Luis Obispo dropped on them Monday.

“We’re still searching,” Trojan junior guard Errick Craven said with a sigh Saturday. “We’ve got to find something solid.”

That USC, which has five starters from last year’s team, is still looking for that elusive answer before its ninth and final nonconference game today, against Lafayette, is a source of major frustration for the Trojans.

“Yeah, it is disappointing,” Craven added. “We have expectations

USC finished 13-17 last season, though surprised many by advancing to the Pacific 10 Conference tournament title game.

More was expected from the Trojans this season, but uneven efforts, especially in blowout losses to Western Michigan (83-65), Brigham Young (85-61) and Cal Poly (93-78), have contributed to their .500 record.

In what has become a familiar refrain, Coach Henry Bibby said his upperclassmen have yet to show up.

“We expect more from [them] and we’re just not getting it at this time, so you’re kind of fortunate to be 4-4,” Bibby said. “The games that we’ve won, we’ve really dug deep and won. The games we lost, we threw a couple of those games away. That hurts.

“The older guys have to make it happen and we’re sitting here depending upon [freshmen guards] Rodrick Stewart, Lodrick Stewart and [junior transfer forward] Jeff McMillan and those ... are not the guys you depend on the first year.”

Craven agreed, saying that the Trojans need “consistency, maturity and intensity, staying intense and staying in the game for a whole 40 minutes, rather than just at the beginning or at the end. That comes with maturity.

“We need people to step up, talk like Coach is always saying, and motivate ... and ease our way into it.”

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Craven, whom Bibby once called the best freshman he had ever coached, made 32.4% (34 of 105) of his three-point shots while averaging 11.8 points his first year. But his three-point shooting dropped to 26% (25-96) as a sophomore and the downward spiral has continued this year; he has made only one of 20 three-pointers.

“It is definitely in my head because I hit in practice,” said Craven, who is averaging 10.1 points. “In a game ... when I miss it, I’m letting down the team. Every miss feels like the end of the world and when you’re ready to shoot your next one it’s like, ‘Ugh.’

“I’m trying to get past that and just shoot the ball but that’s easier said than done.”

TODAY

vs. Lafayette, 5 p.m.

Site -- Sports Arena.

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

Records -- USC 4-4, Lafayette 8-1.

Update -- The Leopards, who have four senior starters and have won eight in a row since dropping their opener at Rutgers, are led by senior point guard Justin DeBerry, who is averaging 16.3 points and 4.3 assists. USC junior forward Nick Curtis (knee tendinitis) is out.