Dupree Gets Another ‘Day Off’

First, the good news for Jerry Dupree: The junior forward was not kicked out of USC basketball practice Monday afternoon.

Now the bad: Dupree was not fully welcomed back by Coach Henry Bibby and allowed to work out with his teammates.

Dupree was benched for Sunday’s victory over Oregon after he skipped two treatments for his ailing right foot and was kicked out of practice Saturday.

On Monday, he took part in a pre-practice weightlifting session with teammates and was in uniform to practice. But after missing another treatment for tendinitis in his foot, Dupree was sent home by Bibby before the workout.

“I think another day off helps him, helps him focus a little more and get his injury back to where he can play,” Bibby said.

“If Jerry’s healthy, mentally and physically, he’s pretty good. I’ve been waiting for Jerry to step up and play like he can play.

“But if you don’t play in practice ... we’re making changes and adjustments in practice all the time. I mean, if we were freelance and just rolled the basketball out ... then you’d have no problem [in] playing guys. But if you’re structured, you’re organized, it’s kind of tough to come in and pick it up.”

Dupree maintained his three-week-old moratorium with the media and offered no comment.

Still, Bibby said there was a chance that Dupree, who played his best all-around game in nearly a year at Stanford on Jan. 25 before starting against Oregon State on Thursday, might play Wednesday against UCLA.

“I’m not upset with anybody,” Bibby said. “My main purpose is to win the basketball game. Why would I not play a kid who’s helping the team?”

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Sophomore Nick Curtis’ left ankle is healing and he took the tape off his swollen right pinkie finger, but his right heel is still bothering him and he sat out practice.

“It’s hard because I get bored and I want to play,” Curtis said.