TRIAL RUN FOR SAIA? INTERIM COACH WINS 2ND GAME USC 81, W. MICHIGAN 74.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

USC interim coach Jim Saia waved his arms in a frenzy. He yelled and spun around. He clapped incessantly more than any of the song girls. He held onto the basketball during a stop in play and gave it back when officials reversed a call in favor of USC.

After the game, Saia admitted people must think he looks like a wild guy.

Saia, USC's interim basketball coach, exuded such passion Saturday that you would've thought he was auditioning for the Trojans job. He might be after all.

Rick Majerus was introduced as USC's new coach on Wednesday. But ESPN reported Saturday that Majerus will resign Monday and return to the network as an analyst. ESPN reported that Majerus was overwhelmed by his return to coaching.

USC led wire to wire in an 81-74 victory over Western Michigan at the Sports Arena. That was a side note to what happened when Saia and his assistants went back to their offices and learned of Majerus' impending resignation.

``It's just absolute shock,'' Saia said. ``But the bottom line is that nothing changes for me. I've just got to keep coaching this team. I am shocked. I had dinner with him (Wednesday), and he was excited to be back.''

Saia may insist nothing is different for him, but the Trojans are 4-3 - 2-1 since Henry Bibby was fired - and, if Saia has a good season, he could make a case for the job. Pepperdine coach Paul Westphal, a USC alum, probably will be a candidate although he was never contacted after Bibby was dumped and before Majerus was hired.

Saia said he hopes to continue what he's started. He spoke Saturday about how comfortable he finally was and how he'd put in his offense, minus a few wrinkles.

``For me, this is an opportunity, regardless of whether Rick Majerus is going to be the head coach or not,'' Saia said. ``I have to take it day by day. I have to get this team on the right path because Pac-10 is coming up.

``I can't worry about my future. The future is now, and I have to coach this basketball team. I just need to stay the course, regardless of what happens.''

The Trojans did just that as they built a 17-point lead at 35-18 and led 43-28 at halftime. And that was without guard Errick Craven, who was suspended because of a lackluster attitude and lethargic practices, according to a source. Craven will travel today to Hawaii with the team, which plays Indiana State on Tuesday in the Rainbow Classic.

Lodrick Stewart scored 21 points and made 4-of-9 3-pointers. Taft High of Woodland Hills product Gregg Guenther scored a career-high 20 points and added eight rebounds and four assists.

Guenther, who has scored at least 10 points in the past three games, started the second half and scored a basket inside just eight seconds into the half. He had the assist on Gabe Pruitt's 3-pointer a minute later.

Western Michigan (6-3) rallied in the second half but couldn't extend its winning streak to seven games. The Broncos shot 52 percent from the field after halftime and pulled within nine points at 48-39. USC enabled the Broncos to hang around by making just 6 of 15 second-half free throws - Saia said he'll implement timed sprints in practice as punishment for the misses.

For now, Saia has an audition.

``I just have to coach,'' Saia said. ``If (athletic director) Mike Garrett likes the way the program is going, he'll consider me. I have a lot to prove.''

Jill Painter, [phone]

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com