Point Guard’s Absence Was Felt

Distracted senior Robert Hutchinson left the Trojans in a lurch by taking the week off to clear his mind as USC had only one point guard on its trip to Oregon.

And that playmaker, sophomore Derrick Craven, fouled out of both games, hastening the Trojans dropping both games and extending their losing streak to six games.

So how much difference would a second true point guard have made for the Trojans?

“It would have helped,” said Craven, who lasted 18 minutes of USC’s 79-66 loss to the Ducks before fouling out in 27 minutes of its 61-60 loss to the Beavers, a game in which he was disqualified with the Trojans holding a seven-point lead.

“I think we ... could have pulled both of these off [with another point guard].”

Hutchinson, who blamed an uncertain future with his college career ending for his being unfocused, is expected to rejoin the Trojans today.

Washington’s loss at Washington State late Saturday gave the Trojans breathing room in their effort to avoid being eliminated from getting a berth in Pacific 10 Conference tournament.

USC can still finish anywhere from sixth to ninth place and the only two scenarios in which the Trojans miss the eight-team tournament involve them being swept at home this weekend by the Huskies and Cougars, who are a combined 1-19 on the road.

-- PAUL GUTIERREZ