Trojans use the past to prepare for UCLA

There is nothing better than having a week to prepare for the nation’s 10th-ranked team. USC has that perk as it readies for Sunday’s game against UCLA at the Galen Center.

Then again, there is nothing worse than having to stew for a week about losing to one of the Pacific 10 Conference’s worst teams.

The Trojans are still mulling that over, having blown a 15-point lead Sunday in a 62-58 loss to Oregon State.

“The hard part is having a whole week to remember we didn’t play well, knowing that we dropped the ball,” Trojans center Taj Gibson said. “We know we messed up. But what are we going to do, sit around and pout about it?”

Hardly. There was a two-day refresher course on what happened, with the rest of the week devoted to not letting it happen again against the Bruins.

The Trojans can expect to see some type of half-court pressure, given the difficulties they had against Oregon State’s 1-3-1 defense. The Trojans, who appeared timid throughout that game, also got a reminder about work ethic Wednesday with a long practice after an off-day Monday and a light workout Tuesday

“The problem with a game like that is the recovery,” Coach Tim Floyd said. “In the NBA, if you play a game like that you get to play the next night. We have to sit here and live with that game for a week.”

So the week was carefully planned.

“You want that game to bother them,” Floyd said of his players. “You want to use it as a teaching tool.

“The really disturbing thing was we had veteran guys turning the ball over in the last 1 1/2 minutes. That’s unacceptable.”

USC gave UCLA one of its two conference losses last season, 72-63, at Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins won the second game, 56-46, then beat the Trojans, 57-53, in a conference tournament semifinal.

“It’s UCLA. If you can’t get up for this game, you have no business being on a basketball court,” Gibson said.

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Washington update

Power forward Leonard Washington, out the last three games because of a high ankle sprain, is “doubtful” for Sunday’s game, Floyd said.

Washington injured his left ankle against Georgia Tech on Dec. 22.

“He just got the [ankle] boot off [Tuesday] and has not been cleared to practice,” Floyd said. “He hasn’t even been cleared to jog. We want to be careful with this type of injury.”

Washington, a 6-foot-7 freshman, is averaging 6.0 rebounds a game.

The Trojans did receive some good news: Floyd said forward Marcus Simmons (sprained ankle) should be able to play Sunday.

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New face

Jordan Cameron, a wide receiver on the USC football team, joined the basketball team Wednesday.

Cameron, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound sophomore, played basketball at Brigham Young in 2006-07 before transferring to USC. He averaged 21 points and seven rebounds as a senior at Newbury Park.

Cameron’s sister, Brynn, plays on the USC women’s basketball team.

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chris.foster@latimes.com