Bibby Kicks 3 Out of Practice

USC’s hangover from beating UCLA on Wednesday, which was followed Saturday by a lethargic blowout loss to Pennsylvania, ran into Monday as Coach Henry Bibby kicked three players out of practice.

Senior point guard Robert Hutchinson, junior forward Jerry Dupree and junior center Jonathan Oliver all felt Bibby’s wrath.

“[They were] not focused, not working on what they need to be working on, not going hard enough and that’s not acceptable,” Bibby said. “It’s been coming for Jerry and Jonathan [to be kicked out of practice] and it just can’t happen. We need everybody to play. Guys have to step up to the plate and make it happen. I’m not going to put up with it.

“I ask only for effort.”

The Trojan ranks became thinner during a 3 1/2-hour practice when junior guard Roy Smiley injured his right knee in a collision. His availability for Thursday’s game at the Sports Arena against No. 2 Arizona is undetermined.

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Bibby was indignant when asked his opinion of reports that UCLA Coach Steve Lavin was contemplating a mid-season resignation.

“That’s not a concern of mine,” Bibby said. “It has nothing to do with me.”

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USC might want to reconsider playing nonconference games immediately after emotion-filled efforts against cross-town rival UCLA.

Saturday’s 99-61 loss to Pennsylvania is the Trojans’ third in a row against nonconference opponents immediately after facing the Bruins -- by an average of 29.7 points.

And with USC playing at a resurgent Nevada Las Vegas (the Runnin’ Rebels are 11-2 under second-year Coach Charlie Spoonhour) on Feb. 9, four days after playing host to UCLA, things don’t look to get any easier for the 6-5 Trojans.

This season marks the first time in school history that USC is playing nonconference games on both weekends after meeting UCLA.

The Trojans’ previous two nonconference losses after playing the Bruins both came against Cincinnati, 85-53, in 1996 on the road, and 100-81 in 1997 at home.

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While Kostas Charissis was lauded by Bibby as a bright spot for his performance in the loss to Pennsylvania, the senior center had hoped for a better end result.

“I would rather be an example in a better game, a game we were winning,” said Charissis, who had six points, five rebounds and a steal in 15 minutes. “I haven’t been able to show my game a lot lately but I hope I showed that I played with a lot of heart.”