Thin Roster May Lose Stewart to Ankle Injury

Beating Arizona at the McKale Center, a challenge that Tim Floyd described as “unbelievable” even with a full complement of players, might have become almost inconceivable for USC in the wake of another injury to its threadbare roster.

Junior guard Lodrick Stewart, hobbled by a sprained right ankle suffered in the opening minutes of the Trojans’ 66-65 victory over Arizona State on Thursday, did not practice Friday and is questionable for USC’s game today against the No. 21 Wildcats.

“If it still feels like this [today], I’m not even going to chance it because I don’t want to go out there and really get hurt,” said Stewart, who played tentatively against the Sun Devils until making the winning three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left. “I know it’s a big game, but I’d rather miss one game than miss the rest of the season.”

The Trojans, who have not beaten Arizona in Tucson since a 64-63 victory in 1985, were already reeling from the loss of freshman forward RouSean Cromwell, who broke his right foot on Dec. 23. If Stewart is unable to play, guards Sead Odzic and Dwayne Shackleford will play larger roles than usual for USC, which is 11-3 overall, 2-1 in Pacific 10 Conference play.

The key matchup today could be USC freshman Ryan Francis and Arizona senior Hassan Adams, who is about seven inches taller and is plenty more experienced. The 5-foot-9 Francis helped limit Arizona State’s leading scorer, Kevin Kruger, to four shots Thursday and has made a habit of discombobulating opposing guards.

“He’s done it every game. He’ll take the challenge,” Floyd said.

Floyd said UCLA’s 85-79 victory over Arizona (9-4, 2-1) on Thursday didn’t necessarily make the Trojans’ upset bid any more probable.

“I don’t think it’s ever a good time to play them here because of the combination of the crowd, the coaching and the talent,” he said. “It was going to be difficult for us at best, we knew coming in, but that doesn’t mean that we’re not coming in expecting to win the basketball game. That’s going to be our mind-set regardless of whether Lodrick can go.”

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Cromwell said in a phone interview he hoped to return “three, maybe four weeks from now, but no one wants to rush it.”

The Trojans are thin up front without the 6-10, 215-pounder, who averaged 4.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in 10 games. Cromwell said he has resumed workouts to strengthen his upper body.

“If anything, [the injury] has made me work even harder now than I did in the preseason because I want to get back,” he said. “Playing college basketball is the most fun I’ve had in my life.”

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USC might want to consider switching the basketballs at the Sports Arena to the brand used at Arizona State and Loyola Marymount. In two games using those balls this season, USC sophomore guard Gabe Pruitt has averaged 33 points and shot 64.9% (24 of 37). “I love the feel of [those balls],” said Pruitt, who has shot 35.3% (49 of 139) using other brands.

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TODAY

at Arizona, 11 a.m. PST, FSN West 2

Site -- McKale Center, Tucson.

Radio -- 1540.

Records -- USC 11-3 overall, 2-1 Pac-10; Arizona 9-4, 2-1.

Update -- USC’s 3-0 start on the road is its best since the 1975-76 season.