Hackett might miss rest of season
USC BASKETBALL
Stress fracture will keep the key guard out of Sunday's game against UCLA and possibly all others. Freshman Angelo Johnson will likely be his replacement.
USC Coach Tim Floyd said this morning that sophomore guard Daniel Hackett would "definitely" miss the Trojans' game against UCLA on Sunday, probably miss games next week against the Oregon schools and might be out for the rest of the season.
"We've struggled to win without him," Floyd said during the Pacific 10 teleconference of Hackett, who was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back Monday night. "We couldn't beat anybody early with he and [Davon] Jefferson gone, and got them back and started playing well."
Hackett's absence leaves the Trojans with only three available scholarship guards in sophomore Dwight Lewis and freshmen O.J. Mayo and Angelo Johnson, with Johnson likely being thrust into the starting lineup as Hackett's replacement.
USC's only perimeter subs will be seldom-used walk-ons Ryan Wetherell and Terence Green. Freshman guard Marcus Simmons is still recovering from a high ankle sprain that has limited him to nine games this season.
Floyd said Hackett's injury would present an opportunity for Wetherell to "earn a scholarship if he can come in and impress people," though Floyd cautioned that possibility would also hinge on recruiting obligations.
"We hope with the minutes he has he is productive," Floyd said of Wetherell, who has played in 11 games and is averaging 0.2 of a point and three minutes.
Hackett suffered the back injury when he fell less than two minutes into the Trojans' game against Arizona on Jan. 31. The injury was initially diagnosed as a bruised right pelvis, but Hackett went for further testing Monday after he continued to be plagued by back spasms.
Floyd called Hackett "our most passionate player, for starters," and one who didn't make mistakes.
"He's our best penetrator and finds guys off the dribble when he penetrates and doesn't finish," Floyd said.
Hackett is also one of the Trojans' better defenders and functioned as the "head" of the triangle-and-two defense that USC utilized during its 72-63 upset of then-No. 4 UCLA on Jan. 19.
Hackett returned two days after his fall against Arizona but was severely limited during the 18 minutes he played against Arizona State on Feb. 2. He compounded his injury woes last week when he sprained his right ankle against Washington and then played only 24 minutes during the blowout loss against Washington State.
After playing two of his best games of the season last month during victories over UCLA and Oregon, Hackett's production has dropped dramatically since the injury. He is averaging 2.3 points over his last three games.
Hackett is averaging 9.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and a team-high 3.6 assists on the season for USC, which is 15-8 overall and tied with Washington State for third in the Pac-10.
The pelvis and back problems are not the first serious injuries to befall Hackett this season. He missed six weeks of preseason practice and the Trojans' season opener against Mercer after sustaining a broken jaw during a pickup game in September.
ben.bolch@latimes.com
