Bibby Tries to Get Players’ Attention

With eight games left in the Pacific 10 Conference, USC’s Henry Bibby is pushing all the psychological buttons he can.

This week, the coach has in no uncertain terms questioned his team’s desire to make the NCAA tournament.

“I know I want to go, personally,” Sam Clancy said. “But we all say that. But only each player knows how bad he wants it.

“He challenged us to play harder than we have been playing. I’m going to try and pick up my game, just so we have a better chance of making it.”

Clancy also said another one of Bibby’s ploys has been to accuse the Trojans of being “soft.”

“He’s the one I always hear saying it,” Clancy said. “He’s trying to get our blood boiling. But because we don’t always retaliate on fouls doesn’t mean we’re soft.”

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The Trojans know they need to close a hole in their defense if they want to make a successful push toward a postseason berth.

“It seems when teams want to beat us, they just drive down the middle,” Brian Scalabrine said. “We have a lot of dribble penetration. That’s what we have to stop.”

He was referring to opposing guards who dribble past the Trojans’ perimeter defense, drive to the basket and then pass out to a teammate for an open shot.

The Trojans have been good at discouraging teams from thriving close to their basket; they are second in the conference in blocked shots at four a game.

But the Trojans are only fifth best in opponent’s field-goal percentage (44.2%). Worse, they are ninth in opponent three-point shooting percentage (36%). And too many of those shots have been open looks by opponents after USC defenders are forced to react to guards penetrating the heart of the defense.

TONIGHT

vs. Arizona State, 7:30

Fox Sports Net 2

* Site--Sports Arena.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--USC 16-6, 6-4 in Pac-10; Arizona State 11-11, 3-8.

* Update--What’s left for the Sun Devils, who are tied for sixth in the Pacific 10 Conference? “This late in the season, we’re trying to make sure our young guys continue to improve,” Sun Devil Coach Rob Evans said. “The wins will take care of themselves if we continue to improve.” Along with faint NIT hopes, Arizona State can start spoiling other teams’ seasons, starting with USC’s. The Trojans can’t afford many more losses and still make the NCAA tournament field. They will face a better Arizona State team than the one they beat by 19 points last month. A sprained ankle that kept Chad Prewitt, a 6-foot-9 forward, out of the first game between the teams, has healed. He can score inside and outside the key. Sophomore forward Tommy Smith, also 6-9, is coming off his best game, making all 11 of his shots and scoring 24 points against Washington. “He’s a good player,” USC Coach Henry Bibby said. “But we’re ready to defend him if he plays like that.” The Sun Devils lead the Pac-10 in rebounding (40.3), including an impressive 15.2 offensive rebounds a game.

* Tickets--(213) 740-4672.