GROWING PAINS CONTINUE.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

They say that growing up is hard to do, so imagine if you're supposed to be the greatest in the land with your first step.

The USC Trojans are not expected to just be very good, but Super Team. Tacklers and bullets are to bounce off their chests. Their Heisman quarterback rain the air with TD passes. The scores lopsided victories.

They are not supposed to find themselves in a scoreless game in the second quarter at home against one of the worst teams in the country.

Seems this coming-of-age thing is an ongoing process - ongoing while ranked the No. 1 team in the nation.

No. 1s are not allowed miscues or unimpressive performances, but there's something very odd about USC blanking Washington 38-0 Saturday and people complaining it was a listless victory because the Trojans led only 10-0 at the half.

The bar has been set at a world-record level, and the Trojans are expected to clear it easily.

The Trojans under Pete Carroll have made it a habit of developing from a very good to a great, or even spectacular, team during the second half of the season.

And evolve they did Saturday, and it was impressive in its own fashion, if somewhat more difficult to identify.

Defensively, it was clear - the Trojans dominated. They kept it simple and still swamped the Huskies. Held them to just six first downs and 113 total yards.

Beat them so badly, Washington was shut out for the first time in 272 games. It had been so long since its last shutout (Nov. 18, 1981), not a single Huskies starter had been born yet.

``Obviously, we're getting it going on defense,'' Carroll said. ``You can feel us growing.''

If the defense is approaching national-championship caliber, it was the offense that raised some early concern.

On its eight first-half possessions, the Trojans managed a field goal and one touchdown.

There was also a missed 49-yard field goal, had a pass tipped for an interception, a fumble, two punts and turned the ball over on downs.

``I was not worried at all,'' quarterback Matt Leinart said. ``I was just a little frustrated things weren't going better. We weren't able to sustain drives.

``But we have so much talent everywhere, we're going to get going.''

Which is just what they did. They kept their cool, weathered the unexpected storm, and then had their way with the Huskies in the second half.

They scored TDs on three of their first four possessions. Built a 31-0 lead and sent in the subs.

``That was a good game for us, after not performing very well in the first half, to keep out of the frustration mode,'' Carroll said. ``We had to regroup and put it together.

``We just waited it out.''

They might be less vocal about it than their excitable boosters, but the Trojans expect just as much greatness out of themselves as anyone.

They've won 16 consecutive games. They're the defending national champions. They were coming off consecutive victories against ranked teams.

And here 1-6 Washington was hanging with the mighty Trojans at the Coliseum.

``We expect to win every game and realize things are not always going to go smoothly,'' Leinart said. ``This was good for us. We haven't had that happen to us much.''

This was a victory for patience. For perhaps not coming with your best, but recognizing it and doing something about it.

``It's sort of frustrating to know we were not helping ourselves,'' tailback LenDale White said. ``When you get into the red zone, you have to score points.

``But when it's time to get things done, we get it done. We're the best team in the nation.''

Yep, that's what most people say. That's what most expect.

``We realize everyone has high expectations, but we also realize you don't win a game in the first half,'' Leinart said.

As good as the Trojans obviously are right now, they are not soup yet. They are far from a finished product.

They will improve. The offense will evolve as its revamped offensive line and young receivers gain experience. And the defense could be on the verge of becoming absolutely dominant.

Along the way, as great expectations do battle with development, it's good for them to realize when things are not going effortlessly, to hold the course.

For USC, it's part of growing up under the spotlight.