Guenther’s Focus Stays on Basketball

Gregg Guenther, a reserve tight end turned starting power forward, insisted he had no longing in his heart Tuesday.

Not even with the USC football team, which finished ranked fourth nationally, beginning spring practice and the basketball squad stuck in a six-game losing streak.

“This is my team right now so I’m just going to go out there and try and win,” said Guenther, who is on a football scholarship but joined the basketball team Jan. 6, four days after the football team’s victory in the Orange Bowl.

“It’s definitely unfinished business. I didn’t get a chance to play Washington [the first time], but I feel what the guys went through, losing by a couple of points after being up by so much.”

USC’s blowing of a 21-point lead and 76-72 loss in Seattle on Jan. 4 served as a sign of things to come for the Trojans, who have been unable to finish strongly in many games. They face the Huskies on Thursday at the Sports Arena.

Guenther has been a bright spot in USC’s longest losing streak in four years, averaging 9.8 points and 9.2 rebounds during the stretch. He has had four double-doubles in the last five games.

“A lot of people have been telling me I’ve been playing great, but I’d give up the double-doubles if they were all wins,” Guenther said. “It’s kind of hard to do well individually but not as a team.”

With the football team’s spring practice running through April 5, Guenther said he’d probably go straight to Howard Jones Field when basketball season ends.

“Hopefully [I’ll get a break],” he said, “but if not, I’m not going to complain.”