CENTER OF THE DEBATE : CROUSE A SPORADIC FORCE FOR TROJANS.

Byline: Scott Wolf Daily News Staff Writer

Already carrying the title of tallest Trojan, David Crouse has also become the lightning rod of the USC men's basketball team.

Crouse, the 6-foot-11 senior, has shown flashes of brilliance, but equal stretches of inactivity this season have continually frustrated USC coach Henry Bibby.

Crouse can be dominating, as was evident when he scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds in USC's 75-62 upset of then No. 6-ranked Arizona last month.

But just three games later, Crouse had no points, no rebounds and only six minutes of action before being benched in a lopsided loss to Cincinnati.

These split-personality performances have led to some brutal assessments by Bibby. After Crouse finished with 20 points and nine rebounds last Saturday in a victory over California, Bibby again emphasized his center's inconsistency.

``When was the last time David Crouse played well? I don't know before the (Cal) game,'' Bibby said. ``He doesn't come to play night in and night out.''

Rather than resenting those remarks, Crouse says he appreciates Bibby's honesty and admits his efforts constantly swing back and forth.

``I don't think Coach Bibby is ripping me,'' Crouse said. ``He's right. He's going to say what's on his mind. I'd rather have that than for him to say `He's doing OK.' It's not anything personal. I know he still thinks I'm a good guy.''

Bibby said he is only treating the players the way he would want to be treated by coaches.

``I love it by telling the truth,'' Bibby said. ``I don't throw any curves to the kids. I never wanted a coach to lie to me.''

If Crouse didn't have such a strong influence on how the Trojans play, he might not draw such forceful comments. But even his teammates realize the importance of getting Crouse involved and contributing in each game.

``It makes us a totally different team. When we have David going, we can be as good as any team in the country,'' forward Rodrick Rhodes said.

When Crouse is on, he sometimes surprises himself.

``Some of the things I did (against Cal) I couldn't ever begin to think of doing as a freshman,'' Crouse said. ``Some of the things I do, I don't know I can do (them) before I do them.''

Crouse has also surprised himself this season, because there are fewer derogatory comments about his ability, something that had marked the majority of his USC career.

``There's always been the knock on me, `Crouse is not aggressive. Crouse disappears,' '' he said.

This season, despite some inconsistent games, Crouse is posting career numbers. He's averaging 8.5 points and 5.2 rebounds and is among the conference's top 10 in blocked shots.

``He gives us an extra dimension,'' Bibby said. ``With David, you have to understand, you have to help him . . . to get him going.''

Crouse has also become a symbol of perseverance at USC. He has played for three coaches (George Raveling, Charlie Parker, Bibby) in his five-year career and experienced all of the basketball program's recent troubles.

Crouse is one of only three players left on the USC team that went 0-18 in the second half of the Pacific-10 Conference season the previous two years.

It was his frustration over losing that prompted him to have a heart-to-heart talk with Rhodes immediately after last season.

``We were standing out in front of the Lyon Center,'' Rhodes said. ``And David said, `Rod, we need you. All I want you to do is help me get to the (NCAA) Tournament.' I can still remember him saying that.''

Rhodes and Crouse are two major reasons USC (13-7, 8-3) sits in a first-place tie with UCLA in the Pac-10.

``I was really upset (when I talked to Rhodes),'' Crouse said. ``We had had our final team meeting. I did not want us to go through that again. I only had one year left.''

In addition to the team turmoil, Crouse has had some reasons to be bitter about his individual career.

During his true sophomore season, Crouse chose to redshirt. That season, USC had freshman Avondre Jones playing center. Jones ended up transferring following a troubled freshman season, and it appeared the center position would finally open up for Crouse.

But Jones returned to USC last year and regained his starting role. Despite frequently breaking team rules, Jones remained a starter until he quit the team after Parker was fired.

Crouse said he did not resent taking a back seat to Jones. ``He was just fading in and out of the picture, but I don't stress,'' Crouse said. ``That's out of my hands. Not to be philosophical, but I believe in karma. We're doing well as a team and I'm doing OK individually.''

As USC tries to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1992, Crouse sees the program finally making progress and erasing some of the sting of his first four years.

``I wouldn't say it's making up, but it's helping,'' Crouse said.

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Photo: (color) ``Some of the things I did (against Cal) I couldn't ever begin to think of doing as a freshman. Some of the things I do, I don't know I can do (them) before I do them.''

David Crouse, USC's maddeningly erratic center

Evan Yee / Daily News