Trepagnier, USC Groomed to Win

USC’s 82-59 victory against Washington State, before 3,369 at the Sports Arena, would have been just another Pacific 10 Conference opener except for one thing:

Jeff Trepagnier was back.

The Trojans’ senior guard, suspended by the school since Dec. 1 while being investigated by the NCAA, was cleared Thursday to resume his USC career.

According to sources close to the investigation, a car loan was holding up Trepagnier’s reinstatement. The loan had come from Warren Edmonson, father of USC track star Malika Edmonson, who was also Trepagnier’s girlfriend. Warren’s wife Barbara is the former USC women’s track coach who has also served as a volunteer assistant, and that was the reason for the conflict.

Trepagnier had been trying to find another qualified co-signer without success. So on Wednesday Trepagnier and Malika Edmonson, who have been dating since they were freshmen, went to Las Vegas and were married.

The necessary paperwork was faxed to NCAA investigators Thursday morning and Trepagnier was cleared Thursday afternoon.

Trepagnier, who entered the game to a loud ovation at the 13:46 mark of the first half, almost made an immediate impact on an alley-oop pass from Brandon Granville but mistimed his jump and missed the shot. He would also miss a layup and a pair of free throws before making his only shot, a three-pointer with 1:22 left in the first half that gave the Trojans a 34-30 lead.

No. 20 USC (11-2) finished the first half leading 38-33. But the Trojans outscored Washington State (6-4) 26-17 in the first 12 minutes of the second half to go ahead 64-50, and then steadily pulled away.

USC Coach Henry Bibby would not let Trepagnier, who made one of four shots, scored three points and played 15 minutes before turning his left ankle, speak with reporters after the game.

Other Trojans spoke for him.

“He gave us an emotional lift and got the crowd into it,” said freshman Desmon Farmer, who, although he scored a career-high 24 points, will eventually lose his place in the starting lineup to Trepagnier.

“He came out kind of rusty, but we understand that. We’re not asking a lot from him today. We know it will take time, and we’ll wait until the old Jeff comes back.’

Added David Bluthenthal, who had 14 points and a team-high nine rebounds, “He was a little off, but what could you expect from a guy who hasn’t played in a few months. And if he comes back into the starting lineup, with Desmon it will be like having two starters at that [shooting guard] spot. Besides, Desmon knows he has four years and Jeff’s the senior. If he comes off the bench I think he’ll be fine.”

Farmer said he had no problem going to the bench, “just whatever I can do to help the team,” he said.

Bibby--who collected his third technical this season when referee Deron White rang him up in the second half--said he didn’t know how long he would keep Trepagnier coming off the bench.

“You see how rusty he is,” Bibby said. “We’ve been fortunate to keep playing well without him contributing a lot. But my whole thing tonight was to get him back on the floor and let him get a feel for the game. Just to get him back on the floor was something I was happy to see.

“He’s not going to come back and be great; he hasn’t been in competition. He hasn’t been in the starting lineup up this year, and right now there are other people who are deserving. But down the road he’s going to make us a better basketball team once he gets going.”

Mike Bush led Washington State with 14 points, 10 in the first half.

Before the loan issue, investigators had looked into a September trip to Las Vegas that Trepagnier took with friend and former high school teammate Tito Maddox, who plays at Fresno State.

Maddox wound up serving an eight-game suspension and has resumed playing. Trepagnier was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Also activated Thursday was guard Gennaro Busterna, who has not played this season because of a toe injury. He did not play.

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