Hackett is not expected to play

Even though USC sophomore Daniel Hackett was relieved to learn that he had not seriously injured his pelvis during a fall Thursday night, Coach Tim Floyd said Friday that he “just can’t imagine it at this point” that the point guard would play tonight against Arizona State.

Hackett said he was diagnosed with a deep pelvis bruise after diving in an attempt to keep the ball from going out of bounds along the baseline in the first two minutes of the Trojans’ 80-69 loss to Arizona.

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Hackett said he was already moving better and was no longer suffering from the spasms that plagued him Thursday, but he didn’t know if he would be able to play against the Sun Devils at the Galen Center.

“It’s a day-by-day thing and I’m working with the doctors and the team trainer,” said Hackett, who averages 10.5 points and a team-high 3.8 assists. “They’re going to decide when to get me on the court.”

Said Floyd: “It can loosen up, I guess, after a while, but it depends on how he receives treatment and how it responds to treatment as to whether the back spasms stop and he gets more mobility… . We’re going to hope for his recovery and I don’t know that it will be [tonight].”

Hackett said he initially feared that he had suffered an injury similar to a broken vertebra that kept him off the court for nearly two months during his junior year at Bellflower St. John Bosco High. He couldn’t breathe because he had the wind knocked out of him and experienced spasms every time he tried to run.

“Obviously it was tough because you want to go out there and do whatever it takes to help the team win,” said Hackett, who watched the rest of the game from behind the team bench. “But I couldn’t go. The doctors tried everything.”

If Hackett cannot play, the Trojans would likely use freshman guard Angelo Johnson as a starter and bring sophomore walk-on Ryan Wetherell off the bench. Beyond that, there don’t appear to be any alternatives.

“We don’t have real options in terms of creating new people,” Floyd said. “I’m sure there’s going to be some unconventional looks as this thing proceeds until Daniel’s return.”

Freshman guard Marcus Simmons aggravated his sprained left ankle earlier this week and had his foot placed in a walking boot. He could be sidelined for the remainder of the season.

Could Floyd move 6-10 junior Keith Wilkinson to small forward to help on the perimeter?

“I don’t think Keith’s going to go chase [Arizona’s Chase] Budinger off those screens,” Floyd said. “That’s probably not his deal.”

Floyd said Hackett’s absence affected his team in more ways than depth.

“I think everybody is impacted because of his defensive ability, his ability to penetrate and kick and create plays for everybody else and make shots for everybody else,” Floyd said.

TONIGHT

vs. Arizona State, 7:30, FSN Prime

Site – Galen Center.

Radio – 710.

Records – Arizona State 14-6 overall, 4-4 Pacific 10 Conference; USC 13-7, 4-4.

Update – The Sun Devils have lost four consecutive games and are coming off an 84-51 drubbing at UCLA. Arizona State freshman guard James Harden scored only nine points, ending a streak of 13 consecutive games in double figures.

ben.bolch@latimes.com