SC NOTEBOOK: USC NOT COMPLACENT.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

PULLMAN, Wash. - Overconfidence was hardly a worry for USC on Friday, even though the Trojans appear on their way to the NCAA Tournament.

``We're SC,'' forward David Bluthenthal said. ``I don't think anything is a lock. I'm not complacent.''

Even forward Brian Scalabrine, who believes the Trojans (20-9, 10-7) will make the tournament, sounded cautiously optimistic.

``You just never know about the tournament committee,'' Scalabrine said. ``A Seton Hall might get in and mess everything up. I would say (defeating Washington on Thursday) gets us one step closer.''

What really could be at stake in today's game against Washington State is USC's tournament seeding. If the Trojans defeat the Cougars and Arizona defeats California (20-9, 11-6) today, USC and Cal would tie for fourth place in the Pacific-10 Conference. But USC would be considered the conference's fourth-place team because it swept the Golden Bears.

``If we win, we could get a sixth or seventh seed,'' Scalabrine said.

``It's important to beat Washington State,'' Bluthenthal added. ``When you're in fifth place, you're on the bubble.''

The Trojans moved up a spot in the RPI rankings Friday and are 20th, well within the range required to make the tournament. The highest-rated team in the RPI not to make the tournament was Oklahoma, which was 33rd in 1994.

USC is projected between a seventh and ninth seed in most mock brackets.

``We'll worry about the seeding after (today),'' Bluthenthal said.

--Big win: Thursday's 85-56 victory over Washington takes a heavy burden off the Trojans for today's game against Washington State. If USC had lost, defeating the Cougars would have been considered a must.

``We didn't have a lot of pressure, but that win took a lot of pressure off,'' Bluthenthal said. ``It felt good. We're closer.''

--Talk time: USC players were allowed to speak to the media Friday after a one-day gag order from Trojans coach Henry Bibby. Shooting guard Jeff Trepagnier checked if it was OK with Bibby before answering any questions.

``You shouldn't, but go ahead,'' Bibby said.

Trepagnier then answered questions from reporters.

--Simple plan: Trepagnier did not have any sophisticated reason for his season-high 22-point performance against the Huskies, when he made 10 of 15 shots.

``I was more aggressive,'' Trepagnier said. ``Coach (Bibby) was pushing me to play good, so I did that.''

--Rare basket: Sophomore center Kostas Charissis had a dunk against Washington, his first points since the Oregon State game Jan. 27.

UCLA vs. WASHINGTON

Tipoff: Bank of America Arena, 3 p.m.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net/Fox Sports Radio 1150-AM.

UCLA update (21-7, 14-3): With Iowa State's loss on Friday, the Bruins have a solid shot at a No. 2 seed if they can put away Washington. Losses by Arizona or Florida would also help. As a No. 2 or 3 seed, they'll likely be sent to Kansas City (Midwest), New Orleans (South) or Uniondale, N.Y. (East), for the first round. The Bruins haven't won in Seattle in four years and a victory will give them their best Pac-10 record since 1997. Jason Kapono, who tied a career high with 28 points against Washington State, now has 1,016 points in his career, making him the 41st player in school history to pass that milestone. Earl Watson, who will make his 126th career start, will be one shy of the school record held by Don MacLean.

Washington update (9-20, 3-14): The Huskies have packed it in, losing eight in a row - none of them closer than 12 points. They also lost center Marlon Shelton, who tore an ACL against USC on Thursday. Talk about a bad combination: UW is last in the Pac-10 in shooting (41.8 percent) and field-goal defense (46.6), and has allowed the most turnovers (17.5 per game). Freshman C.J. Massingale scored 25 points, a Husky season-high, in a Pac-10 opening loss, 86-64 to UCLA.

- Billy Witz

USC vs. WASHINGTON STATE

Tipoff: 1 p.m., Friel Court.

TV/Radio: No TV; 690-AM.

Washington State (12-15, 5-12) update: The Cougars have little to play for, since their chance for a winning season evaporated after Thursday's loss to UCLA. Washington State does not start any seniors and is led by three Southern Californians, guard Mike Bush of Riverside (16.0 points per game), guard Marcus Moore of Inglewood (10.3) and guard Jerry McNair of Torrance (9.7). Former Chatsworth star Eddie Miller was dismissed from the team Jan. 22 for a team-rules violation.

USC (20-9, 10-7) update: The Trojans would like to win this game to propel them into the NCAA Tournament with some momentum and enhance their seeding. Even though Washington State's season is ending, USC expects the Cougars to be stronger than they were in an 82-59 loss at the Sports Arena on Jan. 4. ``Now they have an identity,'' USC forward Brian Scalabrine said. ``They know who gets the ball; it goes to their guards.''

- Scott Wolf

CAPTION(S):

2 boxes

Box: (1) UCLA vs. WASHINGTON (see text)

(2) USC vs. WASHINGTON STATE (see text)