Curtis Is Enjoying a Position Change

His nagging health problems a supposed thing of the past, junior Nick Curtis is learning a new position that, if the transition is a success, would make USC a bigger and more athletic team.

The 6-foot-8, 225-pound Curtis, a lithe but natural power forward, has been practicing at small forward and working out with the Trojan guards in practice.

“It’s fun, there’s a lot more running around,” said Curtis, who has sat out six games because of knee tendinitis but has played in the Trojans’ last three games. “You see the game from a whole new angle.”

Curtis showed flashes of his springy game last week and USC expects to have a mismatch if he can make the switch.

“That gives us a big, rebounding small forward,” said Coach Henry Bibby, who surprisingly opened practice to the media Tuesday, “maybe later on this year, maybe next year.”

And while that’s what the Trojans have missed since David Bluthenthal left in 2002, that’s the dimension Curtis expects to bring to the wing.

“Most guys are Des’ height,” Curtis said, referring to the 6-5 Desmon Farmer and small forwards in the Pacific 10 Conference. “When a shot goes up, they’re not looking to get [the rebound].

“I just have to work on my quickness and shooting.”

And the ball handling?

“Oh yeah, and the handles too,” he said.

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Jeff McMillan, who sat out Monday because of a swollen left knee, practiced Tuesday, though Bibby said the junior power forward has not been his usual vocal self because of injuries.

“He took a shot in his hip before the game at Washington State just to play,” Bibby said. “He doesn’t complain, he’s out there fighting as best as he can. I admire a guy like that.”

Bibby especially admired the way McMillan took things in his own hands during the Trojans’ victory at Fresno State on Dec. 19, when McMillan shoved freshman guard Lodrick Stewart during a timeout.

“I thought it was great,” Bibby said. “I have no problem with that; I loved it. It was like, ‘Hey, get your head out of your [behind] and let’s go to work. You do your part, I’ll do mine.’ That’s what he [was] saying.

“That’s fire. I want guys to have fire.”

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Farmer, named Pac-10 player of the week after scoring a career-high 40 points against Arizona, does not want to be USC’s lone scoring threat.

“Everybody has to produce,” said Farmer, who is averaging 21.7 points in conference play. “That’s what’s going to make us get victories. If we don’t do that, it’s going to be a long season for us.”

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Freshman point guard Rodrick Stewart suffered a burn on his right (shooting) forearm during a loose-ball drill but should be ready to play Thursday at California.