Granville Gets Green Light

Usually, a vote of confidence is the last thing someone in sports wants when things are not going well.

But the vote of confidence he got from Coach Henry Bibby was probably something Brandon Granville needed going into tonight’s game against Hawaii.

The Trojan sophomore point guard is struggling, having made only 30.4% of his shots in USC’s seven games.

He is the only USC starter not scoring in double figures, averaging 8.6 points a game.

Bibby said Tuesday he’d made a point to tell Granville during a team meeting to keep firing away.

“We all know he’s shooting 30% but he still has the green light to shoot,” Bibby said. “I believe in Brandon Granville. I think he can make shots.

“I think he has to focus a little more. But we’re asking him to do more this year than last year. He’s running the ball club--he’s a coach on the floor--he’s taking the quickest guy on defense. That takes a little bit out of you. Brandon has to dig a little deeper but he’s trying to do his best and that’s all we can ask.”

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Knowing he won’t have sixth man Jarvis Turner (broken foot) for at least a month, Bibby said he will not look for any one of his freshman reserves to play the minutes Turner would play.

“Over the last few days, I’ve seen spots of play from Malachi Thurston and Nate Hair,” Bibby said. “They can give us some minutes here and there, as can Kostas [Charissis]. I’m OK with that.

“We didn’t bring those guys in here this season [to play many minutes]. We brought them in to get better as the season progresses. To throw them in the fire now is different for them. But we weren’t counting on them to carry the team. You still go with your guys who have the experience. That’s what I’ve been doing.”

TONIGHT

vs. Hawaii, 7

* Site--Sports Arena.

* Radio--KCTD (1540).

* Records--Hawaii 5-1; USC 3-4.

* Update--This is the Rainbows’ first game on the mainland. Senior Marquette Alexander is their big gun, averaging 14 points and 8.2 rebounds a game. The Trojans welcome back guard Jeff Trepagnier (15-point average), who sat out the St. Bonaventure game last Saturday because of a family funeral.