Bibby Says His Players Must Avoid a Letdown

And now for the big question: Can USC sustain against Arizona State the levels of motivation, intensity and passion the Trojans displayed Thursday in their upset of No. 7 Arizona?

“Your answer is as good as mine,” said Coach Henry Bibby. “Hopefully, they like the feel. It shows you what they can do when they set their minds to it.

“Every game [should be] like that ... doesn’t matter if it’s Arizona or the YMCA.”

Therein lies the Trojans’ biggest problem -- they have been consistently inconsistent.

Inconsistency reared its head the last time USC played Arizona State, the Sun Devils leveling a flat Trojan team last February by racing to a 46-12 lead in Tempe en route to a 108-78 thrashing that began a seven-game losing streak for USC.

“It’s about the team and our enthusiasm,” junior guard Errick Craven said. “When people start thinking about getting theirs, we’re not on the same page. Hopefully we stay on the same page now.”

Twin brother Derrick Craven agreed.

“If we can just keep things smooth within the family,” the junior point guard said, “we should be OK.”

He also said that reduced running in practice during the week had saved the Trojans’ legs for the Arizona game.

“I honestly think the coaches left it up to us,” Craven said. “They didn’t grind us and everybody was kind of clicking.”

In a streaky season during which even Bibby acknowledged USC had lost some games it should have won, and won some games it should have lost, he has a theory as to why his team cannot bring it every game.

“They’re not Michael Jordan,” Bibby said. “They’re not Magic Johnson, they’re not Larry Bird, they’re not Kareem[-Abdul] Jabbar. They’re good college basketball players.... How many teams in the country play at that level every night?”

For USC, one night was good enough to beat the elite.

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After his career-high 40-point outburst against Arizona, senior guard Desmon Farmer (1,332 points) is 10 points from passing Lorenzo Orr for 10th place on the USC scoring list.

“It’s a great accomplishment, but I’m not really worried about what place I’m in,” said Farmer, who also has 162 three-point baskets and needs eight to move into third place. “I’m just trying to play and get some victories.”

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TONIGHT

vs. Arizona State, 6

Fox Sports Net 2, HDNet

Site -- Sports Arena.

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

Records -- USC 8-6, 3-2; Arizona State 6-7, 0-4.

Update -- Since being named the Trojans’ coach March 15, 1996, Bibby has not lost to the Sun Devils in Los Angeles. Including his time as interim coach, Bibby is 11-4 against Arizona State. Lodrick Stewart, held out of Thursday night’s game by Bibby, is expected to be in uniform.