Trojans Have Look of a Rudderless Ship

USC hasn’t won a Pacific 10 Conference game during the Jim Saia era, which won’t last much longer.

The Trojans are off to their worst conference start in 14 years under their interim coach, dropping to 0-3 after an 84-59 loss Thursday to Washington at the Sports Arena. Meanwhile, USC has moved forward with Tim Floyd, hoping to introduce him as the team’s next coach early next week.

Although upbeat while the Trojans have lost four of five and three in a row in the Pac-10, Saia said things must change soon.

“You can’t say every game is a must-win game, but we need to get a win somewhere down the road,” he said.

“We need to get the team playing well and playing confident.”

Time is running out.

Saia is expected to finish the season even if Floyd is introduced soon, but the Trojans (8-7) are in dangerous territory.

“The thing about it is that we have to change the culture. ... I’m trying to change the culture of a program that has lost two years in a row,” he said. “My fear is that I don’t want the team to get down.

“We still do have a good team, and I’m by no means down and out. We can win a lot of Pac-10 games.”

USC played in the NCAA tournament in 1991 after having opened 0-4 in the Pac-10, but qualifying for the Pac-10 tournament would be a major accomplishment under the current circumstances.

Saia, the assistant coaches and players said the unsettled coaching situation hasn’t been a factor in the Trojans’ recent poor play after a five-game winning streak. Privately, however, some in the program acknowledged that the roller-coaster ride has been emotionally draining.

If everything goes as expected, Floyd would succeed Saia, who succeeded Henry Bibby, who was fired four games into his ninth season. Rick Majerus was hired for the job but resigned five days later. USC is eager to bring closure to the situation and Floyd apparently is as well, prompting the sides to recently resume talks they had postponed until after the football team completed its season Tuesday in the Orange Bowl.

Closure might help the players too.

“Kids internalize things a lot,” Washington Coach Lorenzo Romar said.

“There’s a lot going on in those minds that sometimes can weigh them down, especially with guys. Not to get all psychological, but guys want to internalize everything and say, ‘I’m all right. I’m cool.’

“Sometimes that manifests and comes out in different ways. Sometimes it comes out in ways we would prefer them not to come out.

“But something like this is difficult and you know it’s on kids’ minds. They may not always express that and voice their opinions, but there’s no question things like that will bother you.”

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TODAY

vs. Washington State, 5, FSNW2

Site -- Sports Arena.

Radio -- KMPC (1540).

Records -- Trojans 8-7, 0-3 in Pacific 10 Conference; Cougars 6-6, 1-2.

Update -- The Trojans, reeling in conference play, seek positive reinforcement against the Cougars. Washington State’s methodical offense caused fits for UCLA, which won, 80-77, Thursday in double overtime. The Trojans could face similar problems against Coach Dick Bennett’s team, which lacks talent but not discipline. Cougar swingman Thomas Kelati, who scored 18 points against the Bruins, averages a team-high 12.4 points. Guard Lodrick Stewart tops the Trojans at 14.8 points.