Farmer’s Workout Is Short-Lived

After hearing nothing but praise from his coach during USC’s dreary trip to Arizona State and No. 1-ranked Arizona, Desmon Farmer drew Henry Bibby’s scorn Monday and was kicked out of practice.

Farmer, a junior guard and the team’s leading scorer with a 17.8 average, was bounced early when he talked back during drills, Bibby said.

“It was just one play but I could tell by his body language that he was leading up to it all day,” Bibby said. “He was telling me where he was supposed to be during a certain play.

“It’s not acceptable to not be focused in practice, whether you’ve lost 10 straight or won 10 straight.”

Farmer, whose 20.5 scoring average in Pacific 10 games ranks second in the conference, was not available for comment.

Bibby, though, maintained that he does not have a “doghouse.” “I’m just trying to make the kid better,” Bibby said. “I’ve got no problem with Desmon.”

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At the behest of Bibby, the Trojans held a players-only meeting before practice.

“It’s real tough losing by 57 points combined [against the Sun Devils and Wildcats] so morale is down.” whispered Errick Craven, battling laryngitis. “I was kind of like the Godfather ... it was all positive. We know there’s a problem. We have to find the problem and fix it.”

-- Paul Gutierrez