Defense Isn’t What It Used to Be

USC Coach Henry Bibby is imploring his team for the last time to make a defensive stand this weekend against Washington and Washington State.

The Trojans have been giving up 88 points a game over the last seven contests, a far cry from the 65 points a game Bibby set as a goal. Even if you throw out the 111 points Stanford had last week, the average is still 84.2 points.

“I think it’s a lack of focus,” Bibby said. “When we want to play defense, we can. We have stopped people. Why we haven’t done it consistently at times I don’t know.

“We just haven’t been smart playing defense. In the Cal game, for example, we’re down by one and making a run, and we do something silly defensively; fouling a three-point shooter who makes the shot and foul shot. We’re spending more time on defense this week, on staying focused.”

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David Bluthenthal takes a streak of 31 consecutive free throws made into tonight’s game. He is six shy of the school record, set by John Block in 1966.

TONIGHT

vs. Washington, 7

* Site--Sports Arena.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--USC 14-14, 7-9; Washington 10-18, 5-11.

* Update--The Huskies are playing out the season. The Trojans, who have lost nine of 11, hope that isn’t true for them. But USC, which had its NCAA hopes vanishin losses to Stanford and California, will have to beat Washington tonight and probably Washington State as well Saturday to have a shot at the National Invitation Tournament.

* Tickets--(213) 480-3232 or 740-4672. Tickets also can be purchased at the Sports Arena box office.