SC NOTEBOOK: TROJANS LOOKING FOR 5TH IN A ROW.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

USC might be in last place in the Pacific-10 Conference, but the Trojans are going for their fifth consecutive victory today over UCLA. That hasn't happened since 1943.

``I'm sure there's going to be some motivation for UCLA to break the streak,'' USC interim coach Jim Saia said. ``It's different now. UCLA's been down the past couple years.''

One of the few bright spots for USC's inconsistent seniors is their record against their crosstown rivals (5-1). Saia knows firsthand about USC's success because he was a UCLA assistant for three of the past five Bruins losses.

``USC's played well against UCLA,'' Saia said. ``Whatever the Craven twins have done, I hope they continue doing it.''

Guard Errick Craven still is nursing a sore ankle that he reinjured against California, but will be available today. His brother, Derrick, said the Trojans are confidant heading into today's game at the Sports Arena despite their record (9-10, 2-6).

``Why not beat them again?'' Derrick Craven said. ``We might as well, right? We know we can do it. It's just a matter of playing like we're capable of. We don't always do that.''

Today's game features plenty of rivalries: the Cravens frequently played against UCLA forward Dijon Thompson in high school, and USC freshman swingman Nick Young played club basketball with UCLA point guard Jordan Farmar (and played against him when Young was at Cleveland of Reseda and Farmar at Taft of Woodland Hills).

Young said he and Farmar are close friends and spoke this week about the game.

``Jordan talked trash, but he always talks trash,'' Young said. ``He's got heart and believes in himself.''

--Close-game blues: Saia has been frustrated by USC's inability to win close games.

``We haven't won tight games down the stretch,'' he said. ``We just don't have the killer instinct. It's very frustrating and disappointing as a coach. For whatever reasons, we need people to take accountability and quit putting blame on other people.''

Saia said he has stressed to players to stop worry about playing time and worry more about producing when they are on the court.

--Freshmen fever: UCLA starts three highly regarded freshmen, but Saia touted his own first-year players, Young and point guard Gabe Pruitt, who are the Trojans' second- and third-leading scorers. Pruitt averages 11.4 points per game, and Young is scoring 10.5 points.

``In this town, UCLA gets the attention,'' Saia said. ``But Gabe Pruitt has a chance to go to the next level. He's a special player. There aren't a lot better around than Gabe or Nick. They're as good as any freshmen in this city. In the country, for that matter.''

--Whatever works: UCLA made just five of its 27 3-point shots against California's zone defense last weekend. USC guard Lodrick Stewart said it might be in the Trojans' interest to employ a similar strategy.

``I was surprised Cal beat them. They zoned them up,'' Stewart said. ``We really don't play a zone much. Maybe we need to do what everybody else does and zone them.''

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Trojans guard Lodrick Stewart, left, thinks USC could benefit from playing zone defense today against UCLA.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer