Hutchinson Is Getting His Shot

How fierce was Coach Henry Bibby’s loyalty to four-season starting point guard Brandon Granville?

Ardent enough to keep Robert Hutchinson buried on the bench, even though research showed that the Trojans had better results when Hutchinson was on the floor. But with Granville graduated, Hutchinson has stepped to the fore this season and is shooting his way into Bibby’s heart.

“I always knew Hutch could shoot the basketball,” Bibby said. “It’s just that there wasn’t playing time with Brandon Granville here. We took statistics and 90% of the games, when Hutch was in last year, we were better.

“We made big jumps on the floor offensively and defensively, percentage-wise and statistic-wise, with Hutch in the game. A lot of our guys wanted to play him more last year, but I was a big Brandon Granville fan and I kind of stick with guys that have done it for me before.”

Besides, Hutchinson relished his role of spot relief. Now he’s savoring his shot as a senior while putting distance between himself and sophomores Brandon Brooks and Derrick Craven in the battle for the point.

“Getting a lot of reps, that helps,” Hutchinson said. “But it’s confidence too. [Bibby] gave me a lot of confidence and told me to shoot the ball. He told me if I don’t shoot, I’m coming out. So I have to put it up.”

Hutchinson, who transferred to USC from Okaloosa-Walton Community College in Niceville, Fla., for his sophomore season, started this season averaging 1.5 points in 9.5 minutes and had three starts for the Trojans while shooting 35.6%, a shaky 25.5% from three-point territory.

This season, he’s averaging 9.8 points, shooting 59.4%, and has made 55% -- 11 of 20 -- of his three-point attempts. Hutchinson has twice scored a career-high 17 points and has started four of the five games in which he has played while averaging 28.2 minutes.

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Junior forward Jerry Dupree, awaiting the posting of grades Tuesday to see if he’s eligible for the spring semester, got in a conditioning workout alongside the Trojans while they practiced Friday morning and took part in a quick team film session. He will not dress for today’s game.... Junior center Jonathan Oliver, who has a sprained left ankle, is questionable for today’s game.

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

TONIGHT

vs. La Salle

5, Fox Sports Net 2

Site -- Sports Arena.

Radio -- KMPC (1540), KPLS (830).

Records -- USC 3-3, La Salle 3-3.

Update -- La Salle will be without starting point guard Mike Cleaves, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Wednesday to remove torn cartilage. Freshman guards Gary Neal (18.8) and Jermaine Thomas (14.8) account for 48% of the Explorers’ scoring. USC has won 23 consecutive nonconference home games. A mistake in the USC media guide credited the Trojans with a 66-65 victory over La Salle in 1968 when, in fact, the Explorers lead the all-time series, 3-0.

Tickets -- (213) 740-4672.