Players Miss Trepagnier

Jeff Trepagnier may still be in trouble with Coach Henry Bibby, but his teammates are ready for him to return.

Trepagnier, who sat out the Trojans’ first three games recovering from a stress fracture in his left foot, was suspended Friday by Bibby for what the coach termed “a violation of departmental policy.” The 6-4 senior guard was at the Arrowhead Pond on Saturday, and watched the game from the stands.

“I don’t know the full situation, just that we have to do without him for now,” Sam Clancy said. “We need him, it will be easier when we get him back.”

“We kind of joked around with him today,” Brandon Granville added. “We’re not mad at him, we’re just eager to get him back and keep the wins going until he comes back. He definitely brings another dimension to our team. He will allow us to play a more fastbreak game.”

Even though USC has won four games without Trepagnier, the tightrope they’re walking without him continues to get stretched.

“Right now we have no choice but to play without him,” Brian Scalabrine said. “Our choice is to go out and play. Another choice is to go out and complain about it. We choose to go out and try and win games.

“When Jeff comes back he will bring to this team something we don’t have. He’ll bring what we have already and then bring something extra.”

When Trepagnier will return, only Bibby knows. When asked about it Saturday, he replied, “I haven’t decided yet.”

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During USC’s practice session at the Pond on Friday, the Trojans got a visit from an unexpected guest--former UCLA Coach John Wooden.

“He talked to us about what a simple game this is,” Scalabrine said. “If you’re open, shoot. If you’re not, pass. Those words . . . made the game seem a lot easier because players tend to think too much.

“I know I was inspired yesterday. I had a really good practice and I think it carried over today.”

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Add Scalabrine: He was proud of his three blocked shots--especially the one on Utah center Nate Althoff with 32 seconds left that helped save the victory.

“Just call me the big shot-blocker,” said Scalabrine, grinning.

The three gave him 55 for his USC career, putting him 10th on the Trojans’ all-time list.

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Ute guard Kevin Bradley, who played at Crenshaw High and Compton Junior College before transferring to Utah, found the rumors are true.

Life in Salt Lake City is a lot different than Los Angeles.

“There aren’t too many [African-Americans] there,” Bradley said. “And it’s very slow. But there are some nice people there. I like it. I hope I can stay out here unless I go overseas [to play basketball].”

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UCLA, Arizona and Purdue have agreed to play in next year’s Wooden Classic, scheduled for Dec. 8. The fourth team and the game matchups are still being decided.

UP NEXT

* Tuesday vs. Cal State Northridge, Sports Arena, 7:30 p.m., XTRA (690)--The Trojans say there will be no letdown against the Matadors, not after Northridge’s upset of UCLA on Nov. 21.