Players Welcome Road Trip

Normally, a team on a four-game losing streak would dread a stretch of games on the road. But the Trojans, who travel to Washington and Washington State this week, don’t have many warm feelings for their home court.

“To tell you the truth, I don’t like the Sports Arena,” said senior Elias Ayuso, echoing an all-too-common sentiment among players this season.

So far in Pacific 10 Conference play, USC is 1-4 at home and 1-1 on the road. The Trojans have shot 30% from three-point range at home. That statistic jumps to 40% elsewhere. Ayuso thinks he knows why the team has performed well in arenas at Nevada Las Vegas and Oregon.

“Those places are small, packed-in,” he said. “The fans are packed on top of you. It’s fun to play in places like that.”

With seven of USC’s next 11 games on opponents’ courts, Coach Henry Bibby hopes a change of scenery will do his team good.

“I would like to establish wins any place,” Bibby said. “Doesn’t matter if it’s at home or away.”

Coming up: Thursday at Washington, Saturday at Washington State.