Good things might still come in threes

Like the Schoolhouse Rock song says, three is a magic number. Especially, from a USC perspective, as it pertains to Lodrick Stewart, Nick Young and Gabe Pruitt.

The trio combined to make 41% of their three-point attempts last season, which helped USC lead the Pacific 10 Conference in three-point shooting (39.6%). Stewart, Young and Pruitt combined to make 169 of the Trojans’ 207 three-pointers.

Their departure leaves the Trojans with a less accurate cast of returning players. Sophomore guard Dwight Lewis made 32.8% of his three-point attempts and fellow sophomore Daniel Hackett made 31.4%.

Still, Coach Tim Floyd expressed confidence in his team’s outside shooters, who will benefit from the addition of freshman guard O.J. Mayo.

“It’s a question, it’s just not a huge concern,” Floyd said. “We’ve still got some guys who can shoot the ball.”

Floyd noted that Lewis and Hackett shot well from three-point range after slow starts. After making only 20% through his first 15 games, Lewis shot 41.7% the rest of the season. Hackett made 38.1% in his last 18 games after shooting only 21.4% in his first 19 games.

“They both went through some freshman adjustments and shot it better later in the year,” Floyd said.

Mayo said he had confidence in nearly all of his teammates to make three-pointers, including forwards Kasey Cunningham, Keith Wilkinson, Kyle Austin and Taj Gibson. What about 7-foot center Mamadou Diarra?

“He’ll try,” Mayo said, breaking into a smile.

Hackett, who isn’t expected to play until late November because of a broken jaw, has been honing his touch every day by hoisting 280 shots in the morning and 280 after practice.

Yet Hackett said that three might be a number the coaching staff calls with less frequency this season.

“As of now, our game is going to come from the inside first and then we’ll work our way outside,” Hackett said. “We have a future first-team All-Pac 10 player in Taj, so I’m sure the coaches want to go inside first.”

Said Mayo: “We’re going to try to get as many layups and free throws as possible and if we get the opportunity to take a three, knock it down.”

The Trojans’ once-bare locker room and players’ lounge inside the Galen Center have come alive with colorful cutout pictures of former star players and text describing great moments in team history.

One wall inside the lounge features life-size action photos of former standouts, including Young. Another wall depicts milestone achievements such as the team’s run to the Elite Eight in 2001 and the Sweet 16 in 2007. Yet another includes pictures of Trojans in the NBA.

“I like them,” Lewis said of the decorations. “They’re tight. It’s better than that plain white stuff.”

The locker room has been adorned with a list of every USC All-American and NCAA tournament appearance. It also has been outfitted with a giant flat-screen television.

USC has two scholarships available this season, but Floyd said no decision had been made on whether to award them to walk-ons. Nine of the Trojans’ 11 scholarship players are either freshmen or sophomores.

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ben.bolch@latimes.com