PAC-10 TOURNAMENT: TROJANS COME UP SHORT OF OPTIONS USC CAN'T MATCH CAL'S HEIGHT INSIDE.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

USC coach Tim Floyd was up until 4 a.m. one night this week watching game films of California, but that doesn't mean he discovered anything new about the Golden Bears.

``We knew who they were going into last weekend,'' Floyd said. ``We just haven't done much against them.''

That's the dilemma facing USC entering tonight's first-round Pacific-10 Conference Tournament game at Staples Center. The Golden Bears, with three players 6-feet-10 or bigger, swept USC this season and as Floyd is well aware, you can't coach players to get taller.

``We have the smallest team in the Pac-10,'' USC center Abdoulaye N'diaye said.

The Trojans (17-12) are low on options, although Floyd experimented by playing N'diaye and forward RouSean Cromwell together for spurts last week against Cal.

``That's something that maybe we should try,'' N'diaye said. ``But the coaches know better than anyone else.''

Floyd does have some experience with tournament upsets. His first season at Iowa State, he lost to Kansas twice in the regular season then upset the Jayhawks in the Big 12 Tournament.

``You hope your players play with intensity every night and not just in a tournament,'' Floyd said. ``But Cal probably still feels they need to win games to make the NCAA Tournament, so they have a lot to play for.''

So does USC. The Trojans could use another victory to improve their standing with the National Invitation Tournament. And, don't laugh, they believe they can win the Pac-10 Tournament and automatically qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

``I don't think it's impossible,'' USC guard Lodrick Stewart said. ``Our team is doing way better than last year and has a different attitude and even though most people say we're in the NIT, our goal is still the NCAA.''

``I'm real excited, we want to win the whole thing,'' N'diaye said.

Another reason N'diaye is happy is Cromwell's growing role since returning from a fractured foot.

``I have a lot more confidence because I can play harder and I don't have to worry about fatigue or getting into foul trouble,'' N'diaye said.

--Tough games ahead: USC will play road games at Duke and Kansas next season, with the teams agreeing to play the Trojans in Los Angeles the following year. The Kansas game will reunite Lodrick Stewart with his twin brother, Rodrick, who left USC last year and transferred to Kansas.

``The coaches asked Rodrick what team he wanted to play and he said USC,'' Lodrick Stewart said.

--Taking in practice: Davon Jefferson, a 6-foot-7 forward who attended Lynwood High, attended practice this week. Jefferson said he wanted to attend USC several weeks ago but has not officially been offered a scholarship.

Among the former players who showed up to watch practice were forwards Jarvis Turner and Tyler Murphy. Turner currently is the freshman boys' basketball coach at Harvard-Westlake. Some members of USC's 1954 team, which made the Final Four, also attended.

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

NCAA TOURNAMENT AUTOMATIC BIDS

- Associated Press