 "Photo: Michael Sugarman | Daily Trojan")
USC men's basketball has experienced perhaps the most offseason buzz in program history. Delivering on lofty expectations, however, might be a difficult task in the early going.
Injuries have plagued the Trojans during preseason workouts, with nearly half the team missing time because of various ailments.
"The good thing about [the injuries] is the walk-ons are getting better," joked USC coach Tim Floyd on Thursday.
Guards Daniel Hackett, Dwight Lewis and Marcus Simmons, forwards Davon Jefferson and Taj Gibson and center Mamadou Diarra have all missed significant practice time.
All six were projected to receive playing time if healthy.
USC's first game is Saturday, Nov. 10 against Mercer at the Galen Center; Floyd said the team he fields for that game and perhaps the following two or three games will struggle with unfamiliarity.
"It may look like we're playing street ball out there in November," he said.
Diarra's injury is potentially the most serious, as he might miss six weeks or more due to a sports hernia.
Floyd said the team would know if the hernia needs to be operated on by Thursday night.
Hackett suffered a broken jaw after teammate O.J. Mayo's elbow struck him in the face following a rebound in practice. Floyd said Hackett has already lost 20 pounds and will likely lose at least five more pounds before his jaw is completely rehabilitated.
Even if Hackett's jaw is healthy come the season opener, he will not see playing time.
"He will not be in any type of shape or physical condition to play," Floyd said.
The rest of USC's injured players are expected to play once the season commences, but none will likely be at 100 percent, Floyd said.
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Mayo, a 6-foot-5 guard from Huntington, W. Va., is one of the few Trojans who proclaims himself "completely healthy."
Thursday, Floyd addressed the popular questions regarding the longevity of Mayo's career at USC.
"The question I always get about him is, 'Do you think you can have him for more than one year?'" Floyd said. "And I think [the answer is] yes because of the decision we made yesterday. We're going to redshirt O.J. this year."
After the laughter died down, Floyd spoke about Mayo's situation more seriously, saying the decision will primarily be a financial one.
"I do think he can be an outstanding professional when that opportunity presents itself," he said. "All decisions [to stay in college or go pro] are based on risk and reward. With the dollars that are available at a high, high level, I would encourage him to go because of the things that can happen to a young person."
Floyd went on to mention former Duke players Jason "Jay" Williams and Shaun Livingston, who both left college early for the NBA and shortly thereafter suffered debilitating season-ending (Livingston) and career-ending (Williams) injuries.
He said the money they earned from their first NBA contracts allowed them to still support their families for an extended period of time.
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USC was picked to finish sixth in the Pac-10 preseason media poll.
UCLA, fresh off its second consecutive final four appearance, grabbed 33 of the 34 first-place votes. Washington State, which returns four starters, was picked second and earned the other first-place vote. Oregon (third), Arizona (fourth) and Stanford (fifth), along with USC, are all ranked in the preseason Coaches Poll.
