Trojans on Rivalry Roll

The most recent shot in the war of words between USC and UCLA came from Heritage Hall on Monday and flew directly across the Bruins’ bow.

A smiling Desmon Farmer was the triggerman.

“Both schools are going to be known for what they are, basketball for UCLA and football for ‘SC,” the Trojan senior guard said. “But I say these past couple years, [we’ve] owned them in basketball, and I guarantee that they’ll agree with that.”

The Trojans have won four of the last five meetings with the Bruins, including three in a row. In the last three games, Farmer has averaged 27 points against UCLA and junior guard Errick Craven 20.3 points.

On Wednesday, USC hopes to complete a sweep of UCLA for the second consecutive season for the first time since 1940-42.

“You should see Des do back-flips or some [stuff],” Craven said. “He’s always crazy, so he should do something.”

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Despite USC’s consistently inconsistent showings, Coach Henry Bibby is adamant that changes in his coaching staff the last few years have had no real effect.

“It’s the same system we’re teaching,” Bibby said earlier this season.

While that may be true as far as X’s and O’s go, Farmer, who has played for eight assistants in his USC career, said it has been mentally challenging.

“I feel I’ve been all right, adjusting to the different kind of [personalities],” said Farmer, who has answered to David Miller, Silvey Dominguez, Damon Archibald, Kurtis Townsend and current assistants Eric Brown, Bob Cantu, Mike Johnson and Marvin Menzies.

Johnson and Menzies joined Bibby’s staff this season.

Only Farmer’s brother Tim Farmer, the Trojans’ director of basketball operations, video coordinator Erik Perea and Bibby have been with Farmer since he first set foot on campus in 2000.

“It’s just relationships, trying to find out where you and the assistant coaches stand,” Farmer said. “Just building a relationship was kind of hard. My recruiter [Miller] left, then more came in, and I had to figure out where [I stood]. Right now I have a great relationship with everybody.

“It just depends on how you handle it. If you come in positive, it should work out positive. If you come in negative, then that’s what you’re going to get ... negative feedback. I came in positive and the guys came in positive and we adjusted well to the new assistant coaches this year.”