Bibby Is Kept at Bay on Trips

The Bay Area has not been kind to USC Coach Henry Bibby when it comes to the California-Stanford trip, especially not Berkeley.

His hard luck up north began immediately -- the Pacific 10 Conference trek marked Bibby’s first games, a day after he was appointed USC interim coach Feb. 7, 1996.

Including that first series, but not counting a game later forfeited by Cal, Bibby is only a combined 3-13 in the Bay Area against the Golden Bears and Cardinal.

“We’re going to change that this weekend, OK?” said Bibby, whose Trojan teams are 1-7 at Cal, the lone non-forfeit victory coming in 2001. “We’re trying to keep this positive.”

Senior guard Desmon Farmer, who did not play at Cal as a freshman but has averaged 7.5 points on 28% shooting (five for 18) from the field at Haas Pavilion, did not think the Trojans were jinxed in Berkeley.

“I don’t think it’s a hard place, I mean, the last few times I’ve played here, we’ve been in the game every time,” Farmer said Wednesday at the team hotel, apparently forgetting about the Trojans’ 83-64 loss at Haas two years ago. “I think the atmosphere is good for us. I think it’s cool. The guys are excited.”

In its seven losses there under Bibby, USC has been outscored by an average of 11.1 points.

Said Bibby: “What we’ve done there in the past means nothing this year.”

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If Gregg Guenther seems a little more determined tonight, a tad angrier, he has good reason.

The last time the junior power forward-tight end was in Berkeley, it was Sept. 27 and he was on the wrong end of a 34-31 triple-overtime loss in football to the Bears at Memorial Stadium. The defeat cost the Trojans an undisputed national championship.

“I’ll try to do well for my teammates on the football team for that one loss,” said Guenther, who joined the basketball team the day after the Rose Bowl. “But in another sense, none of the guys here were on the football field that day so I’m just playing for the basketball team.

“I guess that somewhat helps me feel better about what happened that day.”

Guenther’s biggest fan seems to be Bibby.

“To take off the cleats and go to the sneaks the next day, that’s an ultimate warrior,” Bibby said.

“He’s a winner. He’s a kid you’d die to have on your team.”

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Bibby was only kidding when he said that the former stickman known as Jonathan Oliver had “put on about 200 pounds” over the summer, but was serious when he said the 7-foot senior center had become “a factor for us inside” of late.

Oliver, who was a surprise starter against the Arizona schools last week and had a career-high five blocks against Arizona State, said he went from 227 pounds last season to a beefy 258 when he became eligible Dec. 19.

“It’s like half-and-half; most of it’s good weight, but some of it’s lazy weight,” Oliver said.

TONIGHT

at California, 7

Site -- Haas Pavilion.

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

Records -- USC 8-7 overall, 3-3 in Pac-10; California 6-8, 2-3.

Update -- Cal freshman forward Leon Powe is leading the team in scoring (15.4) and rebounding (a Pac-10-best 9.5). The Bears have lost at home to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Washington State, both winners over USC this season, and Air Force.