Washington State Has Say in Trojans’ Fate

The biggest Washington State fans this side of the Palouse?

Try USC.

The Trojans’ flickering hopes for a bid into next week’s eight-team Pacific 10 Conference tournament rest with the Cougars’ winning at least one game on their season-ending trip to Stanford and California.

Of course, a USC sweep of Oregon and Oregon State would bolster the Trojans’ prospects as well. Although USC fell at Oregon, 90-83, and at Oregon State, 74-64, the Ducks and Beavers are a combined 1-13 on the road in league play.

A loss to the Ducks on Thursday, though, eliminates the last-place Trojans, who have not been higher than ninth in Pac-10 play since the conference season began on New Year’s Eve. Losses by Washington State to the Cardinal and Golden Bears also eliminates USC.

“We have to beat Oregon and figure out the rest from there,” said USC interim Coach Jim Saia.

But given the helter-skelter nature of this year’s team, can the Trojans win two games this weekend?

After a lengthy pause, Saia said, “We can. I think we can. Sure. You’re always concerned at this time of year if your team is prepared to play.”

With USC at the bottom of the conference with a record of 4-12, Cal and Oregon at 5-11 and Washington State at 6-10, any potential tie with the Cougars would eliminate the Trojans.

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Saia does not expect senior guard Errick Craven to play in either game this week. Craven has been nursing a bone bruise in his right ankle since twisting it in practice Dec. 27.

Craven, second on USC’s steal list with 218, has not played since the Trojans’ game against Arizona on Feb. 10.