Bruins ready to face mixed-up Trojans

Wednesday, January 21, 1998

Bruins ready to face mixed-up Trojans

M.HOOPS USC turns its lineup upside down as UCLA hopes to stay
out of foul trouble

By Emmanuelle Ejercito

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

The No. 9 UCLA men’s basketball team doesn’t know which USC team
to prepare for.

The starting lineup at Troy has changed more times this season
than Dennis Rodman has changed his hair color. Last year, the
Trojans were a top contender in the conference, finishing second to
the Bruins. But with the graduation of its four top players, this
season USC is trying to find its groove and utilizing different
formulas.

However, even UCLA’s starting lineup is in the air. Freshman
starter Baron Davis suffered a sprained big toe on his left foot at
Monday’s practice. He sat out yesterday’s practice and lists
himself as "questionable" for today’s game.

"It depends how I feel (Wednesday) morning," Davis said. "I have
yet to try to walk on it."

But when UCLA (13-3 overall, 4-2 Pac-10) hosts the Trojans
tonight at Pauley Pavilion, one thing is certain – contrary to
rumors, junior center Jelani McCoy will be suiting up for the
game.

"There is no reason why I’m not going to play," McCoy said. "I
don’t understand (where the rumors are coming from). It kind of
sucks that people drag your name through the mud anytime they want.
I wish I could put an end to the rumors."

Likewise, the only concrete thing for USC (6-10, 2-4) is that
senior guard Gary Johnson and sophomore center Jarvis Turner will
start. The other three starters are still anyone’s guess.

"They have a lot of people, they are throwing a lot of different
things out there," coach Steve Lavin said. "It’s a dangerous team,
a team that in the second half of conference will probably make
some noise and beat some people."

The Trojans are hoping to cause a raucous against the
Bruins.

"We don’t want to be just the other school in L.A.," USC head
coach Henry Bibby said. "We want to be the basketball school in
L.A. and I think the way that we’re going we can do that."

Part of Bibby’s plan includes trying to get the UCLA starters
into foul trouble. This strategy worked well for Stanford, where
starters J.R. Henderson and Davis fouled out of the game with over
five minutes left and UCLA within striking range. Stanford won the
game 93-80.

"We’ve got to have (J.R. and Baron) in the game in the last
seven minutes," Lavin said. "We’re undefeated in close games
because we’ve got players that can make plays, and if those people
foul out, then we can’t win the game coming down the wire."

The Trojans have lost their last six road games.