Turner Healing on Schedule

Jarvis Turner’s broken left foot is mending on schedule, and he could be back practicing lightly next week. But the senior swingman is not expected back in uniform until Pacific 10 Conference play starts Jan. 6.

“His injury is probably not as bad as everyone said it was,” USC Coach Henry Bibby said. “But we don’t want him to get set back any further.”

Turner suffered the injury in November during the team’s first exhibition game. He underwent a couple of MRI exams before the broken bone was found Dec. 3.

Bibby said he and the coaching staff were hoping to put Turner through regular workouts after the Dec. 29 game against Northwestern.

Health is an issue with several other Trojans. Jeff Trepagnier and David Bluthenthal were battling flu, and Kostas Charissis had a case of pink eye. All are expected to be able to play tonight.

TONIGHT

at Long Beach State

9, ESPN

* Site--The Pyramid.

* Radio--KCTD (1540).

* Records--USC 5-4, Long Beach State 3-3.

* Update--The Trojans did not like their previous visit to the Pyramid, losing, 81-71, in 1997. But USC has won two of the last three meetings, including last season’s 74-48 contest at the Sports Arena. Long Beach State has a strong inside threat in 6-foot-11 center Mate Milisa, who is averaging 18 points a game. But Milisa might not have much fun chasing the Trojans’ Brian Scalabrine outside the key. The 6-9 junior center has discovered a three-point touch, having made 14 of 25 attempts this season.