SC NOTEBOOK: INJURY DOESN'T FAZE CLANCY.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

PHILADELPHIA - USC forward Sam Clancy sat out Tuesday's practice with a strained groin but said it will not keep him out of Thursday's East Regional semifinal game with Kentucky.

``If I'm sprinting, I feel it a little bit,'' Clancy said. ``After the Boston College game, I pulled it a little. I'm fine. I could have practiced, but coach (Henry) Bibby wanted me to sit out. I'm 100 percent right now.''

Bibby said Clancy would be ``ready'' and thought the day off could be beneficial.

``Sam can use the rest,'' Bibby said.

In addition, reserve forward Jarvis Turner suffered a sprained ankle in practice Monday but is expected to play.

--Civic booster: Forward Brian Scalabrine has enjoyed the Trojans' stay in Philadelphia.

``I like it out here, Philadelphia is great,'' he said. ``There are a lot old buildings. We don't really have that in L.A.''

--History lesson: USC practiced Tuesday in the Palestra at the University of Pennsylvania. It's considered a mecca of college basketball and once served as the site for Big Five games among Penn, Temple, Villanova, St. Joseph's and La Salle, all which have rich basketball histories.

``They tell me it's a big-time place,'' Clancy said.

Not that he was overly impressed.

``It's just an old building we practiced in,'' he added.

--New York, New York: The Trojans had a memorable visit to Manhattan on Sunday, among other things witnessing a fight between rival high school students outside Madison Square Garden during the New York state basketball championships.

Then there was this incident, courtesy of Scalabrine.

``I saw a guy get hit on a bike and the car kept going,'' Scalabrine said.

--Moving on up: Frustrated by the poor elevator service at their hotel, the Trojans moved to a different hotel Tuesday. Only two of three of the original hotel's elevators are working this week, causing delays of up to 10 minutes for players who had rooms on the top floors.

--Happy days: Bibby said he's never felt better as a coach than the past week, which is not surprising since USC has rarely gotten this far in the tournament. The last time USC won two tournament games was 1954.

``This is the best time I've had since 1981,'' he said, referring to his last year in the NBA. ``This is the most gratifying position I've been in as a coach. I feel very fulfilled at what I'm accomplishing.''

But Bibby said he hasn't gone easy on the players despite their success.

``I don't want them to think I've lightened up,'' Bibby said. ``I want them to think I'm still the old Henry.''

--Looking ahead: Every day, the Trojans are asked about the possibility of playing UCLA on Saturday if both teams win Thursday.

``I want them to win,'' Scalabrine said. ``I'm pulling for them to win. I want a matchup with them to go to the Final Four.''

--TV coverage: CBS will televise the USC-Kentucky game to 71 percent of the country.

CAPTION(S):

5 boxes

Box: (1) WEST REGION

(2) MIDWEST REGION

(3) SOUTH REGION

(4) EAST REGION

(5) ELSEWHERE