PLAYING CATCH-UP; BIBBY WANTS TROJANS TO KNOW IMPORTANCE OF BRUINS RIVALRY.Byline: Scott Wolf Scott Richard Wolf (born June 4, 1968) is an American actor.Born in Boston, Massachusetts to Steven Wolf and Susan Enowitch, Wolf was raised in West Orange, New Jersey. He graduated in 1986 from West Orange High School. Daily News Staff Writer Henry Bibby Charles Henry Bibby (born November 24, 1949 in Franklinton, North Carolina) is a former professional basketball player and current assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). remembers his first taste of the USC-UCLA rivalry, when he was an underclassman guard for the Bruins nearly 30 years ago. Bibby went with UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX forwards Sidney Wicks Sidney Wicks (born September 19, 1949 in Los Angeles, California) is a retired American basketball player. He played professionally in the NBA from 1971 to 1981. He attended Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, California, but because of poor grades in high school, he and Curtis Rowe Curtis Rowe, Jr. (born July 2, 1949 in Bessemer, Alabama) is a retired American basketball player. A 6'7" forward from UCLA, Rowe played eight seasons (1971-1979) in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics. He averaged 11. to play a pickup game at Pauley Pavilion Edwin W. Pauley Pavilion, informally and commonly known as Pauley Pavilion, is an indoor arena located on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles, California. It is home to the UCLA Bruins men's and women's basketball teams. The men's and women's volleyball teams also play here. . They soon noticed another player on the court, USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. guard Mack Calvin Mack Calvin (born July 27, 1947 in Fort Worth, Texas) is an American former basketball player. Pro Career He played seven seasons (1969–1976) in the now-defunct American Basketball Association (ABA) and four seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). . ``Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe would talk about how they hated Mack Calvin,'' Bibby recounted. Then they showed him. ``Sidney Wicks choked Mack Calvin,'' Bibby said. From that point on, Bibby realized USC was probably an opponent he should take a little more seriously. ``I knew when I played at UCLA, I wanted to kill SC. They were like the enemy,'' said Bibby, who is now USC's coach. ``I knew nothing about SC. I just knew all my friends hated SC. I don't think it's to that point now.'' The worst it gets these days is some garden-variety trash talking. USC forward Jeff Trepagnier Jeffery (Jeff) Trepagnier (born July 11 1979 in Los Angeles, California) is an African American professional basketball player. Pro career He played collegiately at the University of Southern California and was a second round draft pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the remembers being approached by UCLA guard Baron Davis Baron Walter Louis Davis (born April 13 1979, in Los Angeles, California) is an American professional basketball player currently starting at point guard for the NBA's Golden State Warriors. He began playing basketball at the age of five. last summer during some pickup games, and Davis telling him that he would never lose to USC during his career. ``That's not going to be true. I'll make sure of that,'' Trepagnier said. ``I'm looking forward to getting them.'' Maybe Trepagnier should have choked Davis instead. The rivalry could certainly use a boost, at least from the Trojans' perspective. USC has lost eight straight games to the Bruins, and hasn't defeated its crosstown rival since 1994. It's not even close to being the longest winning streak Noun 1. winning streak - a streak of wins streak, run - an unbroken series of events; "had a streak of bad luck"; "Nicklaus had a run of birdies" in the series. UCLA defeated USC 18 straight times from 1971-79. And the Trojans defeated UCLA 41 consecutive games from 1933-43. But with today's shortened attention spans, this might feel like a 10-year drought, especially since most of USC's players can't even remember the Trojans' last victory over the Bruins. Actually, many of USC's players can't even remember last season's losses to the Bruins. With five new players on the team, including three from outside California, it's debatable how much the streak weighs on the Trojans. ``I was just made aware of it five minutes ago,'' center Brian Scalabrine Brian David Scalabrine (born March 18 1978 in Long Beach, California) is an American professional basketball player currently with the Boston Celtics of the NBA. A 6'9", 235 lbs. said Tuesday. ``I know it's a big thing. (Athletic director Athletic director (commonly, "athletics director") is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic ) Mike Garrett Michael Lockett Garrett (born April 12, 1944 in Los Angeles, California) is a former American football player who won the 1965 Heisman Trophy as a tailback for the University of Southern California Trojans. wants us to win this game. I just play. It's not any different than other games. My teammates say it's pretty important.'' Even Trepagnier, who grew up in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , isn't consumed by the eight-game skid against the archrival arch·ri·val n. A principal rival. . ``We haven't talked about the losing streak, but I've heard about it,'' Trepagnier said. ``It's not any extra pressure because it's UCLA. It's just another game.'' Perhaps the only person who truly appreciates the rivalry is Bibby, who has seen it from both sides. Although he is 0-5 as a coach against his alma mater, he has come close to major upsets twice. The Trojans lost to UCLA 61-59 at the Sports Arena in 1996 when Charles O'Bannon hit a 12-foot jump shot with 0.4 seconds remaining. Last year, USC forced the game into overtime before the Bruins pulled away for an 82-75 victory. Bibby believes the Bruins' recent success in the series stems from their confidence, something he hopes the Trojans will have for tonight's matchup at the Sports Arena. ``When you're winning, you kind of find a way to win,'' Bibby said. ``UCLA is winning and never thought they were going to lose those games. I don't think we're snakebitten.'' So aside from the fact UCLA has confidence and has had more-talented teams, what can USC do to change its fortunes? ``We need to play basketball and not worry about it being UCLA,'' Bibby said. ``Make them worry about playing USC. I would like to win a game once in awhile. ``This game has more incentive. Hopefully, these guys will know they have to dig a little deeper. It doesn't help you to have so many first-year guys. (Freshman forward) Sam Clancy is from Ohio. He has no idea about the rivalry.'' Bibby will spend some part of today reminding his players of the significance of the rivalry, and hoping he can finally turn the tables on the Bruins. ``I want to make (UCLA) aware of SC,'' Bibby said. ``And show that we're not the stepping stone. We're not the stepchildren in town.'' So far, his message is sinking in slowly. But some players understand. Senior Adam Spanich, who is from Iowa, didn't completely appreciate the rivalry until playing in his first game last year. ``I didn't really understand it, coming from Iowa,'' Spanich said. ``I liked UCLA. They recruited me. I had a UCLA hat.'' Spanich feels differently today, after playing two games against the Bruins. He had a chance to win last season's game at the Sports Arena but missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer. ``This game is the most important of the season, our lives and all year,'' Spanich said. ``It means a lot to play UCLA. I definitely want to improve on my performance.'' If the Trojans don't, they will have a nine-game losing streak heading into next month's rematch at Pauley Pavilion. BRUINS ON A ROLL UCLA leads its series with USC 113-92, and the Bruins have dominated the rivalry since the mid-'40s. Here are the results of the last 10 meetings between the schools: Year Site Score 1998 USC UCLA 82, USC 75 (OT) 1998 UCLA UCLA 101, USC 84 1997 UCLA UCLA 82, USC 60 1997 USC UCLA 96, USC 87 1996 USC UCLA 61, USC 59 1996 UCLA UCLA 99, USC 72 1995 UCLA UCLA 85, USC 66 1995 USC UCLA 73, USC 69 1994 USC USC 85, UCLA 79 1994 UCLA UCLA 101, USC 72 UCLA VS. USC Time: 7:30 p.m., Sports Arena. TV/Radio: Fox Sports West; 1150-AM and 690-AM. UCLA (12-4, 4-2) update: Bruins have won 10 of last 12 overall and eight straight against USC. Bruins need a victory to maintain the distance between themselves and the pack of teams with three and four league losses. UCLA is last in the Pac-10 in free-throw shooting and 3-point shooting. Watch for Ryan Bailey and Ray Young to play extended minutes if USC uses its three-guard alignment. If the Trojans go big, Bruins will counter off the bench with 6-foot-6 Travis Reed and 6-8 Matt Barnes. USC (10-5, 2-4) update: The Trojans are in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of a three-game losing streak, including two straight at home, and might need a victory to retain any hopes of reaching the upper half of the Pac-10. ``I think we need a win because we lost our last three games,'' center Brian Scalabrine said. Teammate Jeff Trepagnier added, ``That's a lot more important (than beating UCLA). We've got to win a game because we've lost three in a row.'' Although USC is in a slump, the Trojans are still off to their best start since 1993-94. Freshman Sam Clancy leads the Pac-10 in blocks, averaging 1.8 per game. - Jon Wilner and Scott Wolf CAPTION(S): Photo, 2 Boxes PHOTO (Color) USC coach Henry Bibby is hoping to end the Trojans' eight-game losing streak against the Bruins tonight. Ben Margot/Associated Press BOX: (1) BRUINS ON A ROLL (see text) (2) UCLA vs. USC (see text) |
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