SC MEN'S BASKETBALL: RANKED USC IS EXPECTING ITS DOUBTERS BUT TROJANS ALSO EXPECT TO PROVE SELVES ON COURT.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

Expectations are certainly higher for the USC men's basketball team, with nine different basketball publications listing the Trojans in their preseason top-25 rankings.

But it's a little premature to say the Trojans have completely convinced the college basketball world they are one of the nation's better teams.

``I still think people will overlook us. We're still USC,'' forward Brian Scalabrine said Tuesday. ``A couple of us went to the Michael Jordan camp this summer and everyone there thinks we'll be terrible. People from Arizona and Cal. They still think we're just USC.''

Not everyone shares that opinion, however, since USC is ranked as high as 14th in some polls. It's based on the fact USC returns all five starters and its top eight players from last season. That group was 4-0 and in first place in the Pacific-10 Conference when star forward Sam Clancy broke his foot and reserve forward Jarvis Turner broke his ankle in the same game against Arizona State.

USC never recovered from those injuries, but the Trojans should be a much deeper team this season. Three newcomers are expected to find time in the rotation: freshman shooting guard Desmon Farmer (6-foot-4) of Flint, Mich., sophomore point guard Robert Hutchinson (6-1) of Albany, Ga., and junior shooting guard Gennaro Busterna (6-3) of Denver.

Another addition is 7-3 freshman center Luke Minor, who redshirted last year.

But even with these new players, USC coach Henry Bibby isn't ready to say the Trojans are vastly improved on the bench.

``I don't know that,'' Bibby said. ``We brought in these guys to give us a breather now and then. It's a matter of time to see what they bring to the table.''

Bibby is also reluctant to alter his playing rotation, since he depended so much on his five starters last year. The Trojans return 97.2 percent of their scoring and 86.4 percent of their rebounding.

``How do you take Brian Scalabrine out of a game? How do you take Sam Clancy out of a game?'' Bibby said. ``That's a dilemma.''

That said, USC should no longer have four players averaging more than 34 minutes a game, which happened last season.

``We're not going to get tired,'' Scalabrine said. ``None of you guys will hear us mention that.''

Farmer should eventually find a way onto the court, considering he might be USC's most highly touted backcourt prospect since Harold Miner enrolled in 1989.

Bibby believes another difference will be the Trojans' maturity, with seven players on the roster either juniors or seniors.

``You see a tendency we didn't see last year, that guys are confident and believe in each other,'' Bibby said. ``That's something we've been waiting for three or four years.''

USC opens its season Nov. 18 against Bradley at the Sports Arena.

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Photo: USC's Brian Scalabrine (24) expects Trojans to be overlooked again despite five returning starters and high preseason ranking.

John Gress/Associated Press