Hutchinson Is Out With Ankle Sprain

X-rays of Robert Hutchinson’s injured right ankle were negative, trainer Mark Pocinich said Sunday, and the USC senior point guard was diagnosed with a sprain.

The Trojans were off Sunday and no timetable has been set for his return, although he will not practice today. Hutchinson will have plenty of time to rest because the Trojans do not play again until opening Pacific 10 Conference play Jan. 2 at Washington State.

Hutchinson’s ankle was rolled over by a pile of players in a scrum for a loose ball in the first half of the Trojans’ 89-63 victory over La Salle on Saturday night, only 40 seconds after he checked into the game.

Hutchinson first sprained the ankle at UC Santa Barbara on Dec. 3 and had to sit out the Trojans’ loss to Missouri in the Wooden Classic four days later.

“We know Hutch has been through the trenches,” Coach Henry Bibby said of the experience USC lost when Hutchinson was helped off the court. “He’s played in the Elite Eight ... in front of 20-some thousand people so we know he’s going to be OK and he’s not going to get rattled.”

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Sophomore Derrick Craven, who started against La Salle, may have lost ground in the battle for the point guard spot. He was scoreless, had one assist, one turnover and one steal before fouling out in 15 minutes.... Junior guard Desmon Farmer, USC’s leading scorer, had eight points on three-for-12 shooting. It was the first time he was held to single digits in scoring this season.... USC has won 24 consecutive nonconference home games.

-- Paul Gutierrez