Swillis Holding Own in Middle

The Trojans are thought to be too small to compete inside with some of the bigger Pacific 10 teams. With USC’s Jan. 3 conference opener against Arizona State less than a month away, the Trojans, with no player taller than 6 feet 8, are proving they can rebound.

Shannon Swillis, averaging 8.3 rebounds a game, is third in the Pac-10 behind Washington’s Todd MacCulloch (9.2) and Arizona’s A.J. Bramlett (8.7).

At 6-6, Swillis gives up a lot of height to MacCulloch (7-0) and Bramlett (6-11), but he compensated by bulking up over the summer. He’s also an explosive jumper who anticipates where the ball is falling.

The area the Trojans need to work on is turnover ratio. They are ninth in the Pac-10.