Rhodes Gets the Point, Trojans Win

USC needed something, a kick, a jolt, something to change its fortunes and remind seniors Rodrick Rhodes and Stais Boseman how they and the Trojans are capable of playing.

So Thursday night in the Trojans’ Pacific 10 Conference opener against Washington, Coach Henry Bibby sent out the starting lineup with small forward Rhodes at the point guard spot and moved Boseman to small forward.

“I wanted to put [Rhodes] in a position where he could be successful,” Bibby said after the Trojans routed the Huskies, 77-58, before an announced 2,139 at the Sports Arena.

“We’ve been practicing it the last four days, and got a taste of it at Tennessee and I thought about it more against UNLV. He’s our best passer and he’s so big that he can see over guys, and I wanted to put the ball in his hands and make him feel more involved.”

Rhodes was certainly involved Thursday, repeatedly breaking down the Huskies’ defense and either dishing out one of his five assists or scoring his game-high 17 points. Boseman also flourished with less responsibility, scoring 14 points. He was six of six from the free-throw line and had four assists.

“Coach brought it up [Monday] and I was totally shocked,” Rhodes said of the switch. “But I liked it. I had more control over the team and was able to get the ball to people at the right times.”

And Bibby has wanted his team, and particularly the two seniors, to play as it did Thursday, but because of poor performances or suspensions, it has not.

“I think [we have played poorly] because we have not been concentrating,” Boseman said. “Doing that nonsense off the court, breaking curfew, not cooperating with team rules, that has effected us on the court, and we needed to correct those things.”

The Trojans were most effective toward the end of the first half with Washington ahead, 27-20, with 6:39 to play before the break. Boseman made a short jump shot from the baseline and followed that with a steal and dunk. He then stole the ball again and passed to Rhodes who pulled the Trojans within one at 6:09.

“That got me going,” Boseman said. “I have not been playing so well and those steals got my confidence up.”

The Huskies, 7-2 overall, 0-1 in the Pac-10, recovered to go ahead, 30-28, but then consecutive three-point baskets by Rhodes and another by Ken Sims in a matter of 51 seconds put USC ahead by seven. Rhode and Boseman either scored or assisted on USC’s first seven points to open the second half as the Trojans pushed the lead to 12 and never led by fewer than 10 the rest of the game.

The USC offense helped its defense. High screens for Rhodes by center David Crouse kept Washington 7-footers Todd MacCulloch (nine points) and Patrick Femerling (no points) away from the basket, allowing Rhodes and Boseman to drive or pass outside to the likes of Elias Ayuso, who scored 11 points.

It also prevented Washington from rebounding quickly and starting the break, which it did in building the early lead.

“We wanted to keep their big guys away from the basket and in the second half we sent less guys to the offensive boards,” Bibby said. “We also tried to limit them to one shot because they are so big.”

USC (6-3, 1-0) had lost its last three to Washington before Thursday night, and forward Mark Sanford had a lot to do with it. Last season, he scored 60 points in two victories. Thursday he scored 16, and only four in the second half. It was Washington’s worst defeat in 43 games.

“USC is better than a year ago,” Washington Coach Bob Bender said. “Rodrick Rhodes was just great. We wanted to force him to be a jump shooter and he just wouldn’t accept it.”

Rhodes is willing to accept more time at the point, but Bibby said he has yet to decide how much time he will get. And Rhodes was more than willing to accept some praise after being criticized the past few games. “It’s nice to get out of that funk,” he said.