COLLEGE BASKETBALL 1994-95 : USC : Raveling’s Absence Is Early Hurdle

For the last eight years, USC basketball Coach George Raveling could be counted on to arrive first at the Trojans’ first practice at 6 a.m.

He was always there to greet his team with a basketball and a generous dose of optimism.

That wasn’t the case today, though, when the Trojans hit the floor of the North gym on campus. Raveling wasn’t there.

Because of injuries he suffered in auto accident on Sept. 25, Raveling couldn’t be at the start of fall practice for the first time in his 22 years as a college coach.

“It’s really an unfortunate situation,” said Charlie Parker, who along with fellow assistants Jack Fertig and Adrian Walters will direct the team until Raveling’s return.

“But we feel that we’re well prepared. The one thing Raveling has taught us is to always expect the unexpected.”

The unexpected happened when Raveling suffered nine broken ribs, a broken pelvis and collarbone and a collapsed lung in a traffic accident when he was on his way to a breakfast meeting with recruits and his staff.

Raveling, 57, has been in USC University Hospital since the accident. He was released from intensive care on Wednesday but is not expected to be released from the hospital for at least another week.

“As far as we’re concerned, this is still Coach Raveling’s team,” said Parker, who has been an assistant to Raveling for seven seasons. “Raveling is so committed to the program that the minute he arrived in the emergency room following the accident, he had someone call us to tell us that he wouldn’t be (at the breakfast).

“Since he’s been in the hospital, while he was in intensive care, he’s even tried to call recruits. It’s just amazing how focused he’s been with the team since the accident. The thing that we all fear is that he may try to come back too early. But he’s that type of person.”

With a tough nonconference schedule that includes New Mexico State, Temple and Utah--teams picked to finish first or second in their conferences--USC already had its work cut out after a 16-12 season.

Four starters return from last season’s team, which finished seventh in the Pacific 10 with a 9-9 record and lost to Fresno State in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

Senior Lorenzo Orr, an All-Pac-10 forward, averaged 13.4 points and 6.6 rebounds last season. Senior forward Tremayne Anchrum averaged 6.3 rebounds. Junior point guard Burt Harris, a three-year starter who averaged 10 points last season, has recovered from a broken foot he suffered during the spring. Junior Brandon Martin, who averaged 12.4 points, will be USC’s top outside scoring threat.

Sophomore forward Jaha Wilson, who started seven games as a freshman, and guard Claude Green are expected to battle for playing time. Freshman guard Cameron Murray, younger brother of former UCLA standout Tracy, and junior college transfer Tyson Reuter will give the Trojans added outside shooting.

The bad news for USC is that Avondre Jones, a 6-foot-11 former prep All-American, has transferred to a junior college after hardly playing as a freshman last season, and sophomore Stais Boseman, who led the team in steals a year ago, will not join the team until late December because of academic problems.

“Without (Raveling) being there, the key for the team is to stay strong mentally,” Martin said. “It will be different, but the team has the same respect for the other coaches as we do for Coach Raveling.”

The Trojans have one advantage. They were able to play together during a 15-day trip to Asia in August, playing against experienced teams from Hong Kong, Taipei, Taiwan and Seoul.

“That trip really has helped us,” Parker said. “We were able to do a great deal of coaching on that trip and the kids got a lot of playing in. I don’t think (starting without Raveling) will affect the team too much because no one has lost a game yet, the enthusiasm is still there.”