Stewart May Not Be Up to the Task

With junior guard Errick Craven serving a one-game suspension tonight, it would seem natural for USC to look to freshman Lodrick Stewart for added scoring punch.

But Stewart, who is averaging 8.2 points in 20.6 minutes, has been battling flu-like symptoms, sat out Wednesday’s 6 a.m. practice and grudgingly acknowledged that he will not be close to 100% physically.

“I don’t feel so good but I’m still going to go,” Stewart said late Wednesday afternoon. “If we’re winning, and it’s convincing, I’ll sit out then. But it all depends on what he says.”

He is Coach Henry Bibby, and he is notorious for deciding on his starting lineup at the last possible moment.

“Who knows,” Bibby said. “We need five guys to play.”

In Craven, the Trojans will be missing their second-leading scorer in Pacific 10 Conference play -- Craven averages 11.4 points in league games. He also leads USC in steals (a Pac 10-high 60), assists (72) and turnovers (71).

“People have been wanting to play, and now they’ve got to step up,” said senior Desmon Farmer. “On any given day, Lodrick Stewart can put up points. Everybody on our team is capable of scoring.”

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Stewart’s twin brother Rodrick has also taken ill and missed Wednesday morning’s practice.

“I had a green tongue when I woke up,” he said, incredulously.

The twins are just as surprised with rumors saying they are disillusioned at USC and contemplating a transfer, though they did leave a sliver of doubt. “That’s more everybody else saying things,” Rodrick Stewart said.

“They think we’re not happy and everybody says we should be playing more,” Lodrick Stewart added. “But I’m not even worried about it. We’ve got these last few games to go. I’m just trying to finish the season.”

Said Rodrick: “After the season, we’ll talk to my dad and see what’s best for us.”

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The Trojans, picked to finish fifth in the preseason media poll, can finish anywhere from fourth (which would take two USC wins this weekend and two California losses) to ninth place and out of next week’s Pac-10 tournament. Any Trojan win or Oregon State loss clinches a berth for USC.

USC’s season, though, would end Saturday night at Corvallis in an epic collapse consisting of the Trojans being swept by the Oregon schools, Oregon State also beating UCLA, the Bruins defeating Oregon, and Washington State winning at least one game against either Cal or No. 1 Stanford.

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USC is in negotiations with Southern University for the Jaguars to play the Trojans in a nonconference game at the Sports Arena next season, which would leave USC with one game to fill in its schedule.

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TODAY

at Oregon, 5:30 p.m.

Site -- McArthur Court.

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

Records -- USC 12-13 overall, 7-9 in Pac 10; Oregon 12-11, 7-9.

Update -- Bibby, who was recruiting and planned on taking a different flight than the team to Oregon from a different airport, had his flight canceled and missed Wednesday night’s light practice at an area gym. Assistant Mike Johnson ran the scrimmage. The Ducks, who have lost three of their last four at home, have not dropped five in a row since the 1998-99 season. The Trojans, meanwhile, have won three of four and have yet to win three straight this season.