USC’s Leonard Washington likes to be a bully in the block

Growing up, Leonard Washington hated it when people talked trash to him on the basketball court.

But Washington, who became academically eligible for USC on Dec. 22, doesn’t much abide by the Golden Rule. The USC sophomore forward loves to run his mouth and openly acknowledges he’s a “bully� on the hardwood who loves to bang his 6-foot-7, 230-pound frame into opponents.

“I’ll admit that,� he said, smiling.

It showed in USC’s 56-50 win over Arizona, as Washington, who finished with seven points off the bench in 22 minutes, hit the floor on seemingly every possession.

His style of verbal and physical intimidation gained notoriety last season when he threw a below-the-belt elbow into Oklahoma All-American forward Blake Griffin. Washington was ejected, and the highlights rolled for days.

“I try to intimidate, in the right way,� he said.

Which is?

“Um . . . just not getting any technical fouls,� he said.

Having Washington, whom Coach Kevin O’Neill calls one of his “playmakers,� gives the Trojans a third option in the post beyond Alex Stepheson and Nikola Vucevic.

“He’s a different big man than the other two, because he can guard guys on the floor,� O’Neill said. “He’s more mobile. He handles better. He shoots better. He gives us a different look.�

Washington is averaging 8.7 points and four rebounds in three games -- all wins -- and O’Neill said he’s not yet in prime “game condition.�

“I bring the defensive style,� Washington said. “I never really worry about scoring. I figure, if you can stop the other team from scoring, you can win.�

Stepheson said he’s glad to have Washington there for his defense, rebounding and effort.

“He’s aggressive,� Stepheson said.

Fatigue factor

The Trojans had a 27-10 lead against Arizona on Thursday, then blew it almost as quickly as they built it.

The Wildcats’ offense had something to do with it, but O’Neill said the Dec. 19 upset of then-No. 9 Tennessee and then the quick turnaround to the three-games-in-four-days Diamond Head Classic tournament in Hawaii wore down his squad.

“Our guys beat three top-30 teams in a six-day period,� he said, mentioning Tennessee, St. Mary’s and Nevada Las Vegas, “and I think it really took a little out of us. We looked a little sluggish after the first 15 to 18 minutes.

“That was probably my fault. I probably should have subbed a little bit more. I’m not a good subber sometimes.�

Four of USC’s five starters -- Mike Gerrity, Dwight Lewis, Vucevic and Marcus Johnson -- are averaging at least 32 minutes in the last five games. Stepheson, the other starter, has been hampered by foul trouble, so he has been rotating with Washington.

Lewis said the team is fine: “We’re all right. We had a tough off-season to get us in shape.�

In defense

Chances are, whoever is working the scoreboard at the Galen Center tonight won’t be working that hard.

USC and Arizona State are tied for the third-best scoring defense in the nation -- 55.8 points per game.

One reason is that both teams are rebuilt from last year. USC lost three players to the pros while Arizona State lost Jeff Pendergraph and James Harden, the Pacific 10 Conference player.

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