Layoff Used for Preparation

The 24th-ranked Trojans have not played since last Thursday’s loss to UCLA. Normally, a long break between games can get teams out of rhythm, but Coach Henry Bibby welcomed the break.

“The reason we don’t schedule another game [after UCLA] is the Pac-10 schedule is so important,” Bibby said.

“We give the guys some time off, then we go at things we want to work on. We really break things down, see what we need to focus on, and we have more time to prepare for the next two games because you don’t have a lot of time between Thursday and Saturday.”

For 17th-ranked Arizona, Bibby said the Trojans had to improve their focus and their discipline. “We worked on little things; talking on defense, keeping the hands up, being active around the basketball. And minimizing our mistakes. We can’t have unforced turnovers like we did against UCLA.”

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Arizona will be the third ranked team USC has played this season. The Trojans are 1-1 against ranked opponents, having beaten then-No. 18 Utah in the Wooden Classic, and losing to then-No. 24 Mississippi in the Yahoo! Sports Invitational Tournament in Hawaii. Last season the Trojans were 2-5 against ranked teams.

TONIGHT

at No. 17 Arizona,

7:30 PST, Fox Sports Net

* Site--McKale Center, Tucson.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--No. 24 USC 12-3 overall, 2-1 in Pacific 10 Conference; No. 17 Arizona 10-5, 3-1.

* Update--If there is a tougher place for USC to play, the Trojans don’t want to know it. USC has not won here since Ronald Reagan was president, a span of 15 games. The Trojans also want to end their six-game Pac-10 road losing streak. Bibby casually mentioned that Jeff Trepagnier might return to the starting lineup. Perhaps he wants to prod freshman Desmon Farmer, who scored only two points and looked overwhelmed at times against UCLA. Besides the return of Coach Lute Olson, the Wildcats welcome back burly reserve forward Eugene Edgerson, who sat out two games after a dispute with the coaching staff over playing time. All five Wildcat starters are averaging in double figures, led by forward Michael Wright (17.7).