Trojans finally have something in reserve, much to Floyd’s relief

For Tim Floyd, it was like peering into the refrigerator and finding only moldy cheese and about-to-expire milk.

The USC coach’s options off the bench heading into Pacific 10 Conference play last season were unlikely to provide him any real sustenance.

Now the shelves are fully stocked with a cast of reserves that includes Gabe Pruitt, a former All-Pac-10 first-team selection; Dwight Lewis, a freshman guard who possesses the swagger of an upperclassman; and RouSean Cromwell, a sophomore forward who is essentially interchangeable with starting center Abdoulaye N’diaye.

Floyd had such confidence in his reserves that he started three of them Saturday against then-No. 8 Wichita State, with sophomore forward Keith Wilkinson playing a season-high 22 minutes and scoring four key second-half points in USC’s 60-56 upset win.

A deeper roster is a big reason the Trojans (10-3) say they can improve on last season’s sixth-place conference finish beginning tonight with their Pac-10 opener against No. 14 Washington (10-1) at the Galen Center.

“I’m very confident in every player on our team all the way down to the last man,” senior guard Lodrick Stewart said. “It’s been different people stepping up every game.”

TONIGHT

vs. Washington, 7:30, FSN West

Site -- Galen Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- USC 10-3, Washington 10-1.

Update -- Washington lost its only road game, 97-77 to Gonzaga, but is coming off a stretch in which 7-foot freshman center Spencer Hawes averaged 23 points and 10.5 rebounds in victories over Louisiana State and Weber State. USC freshman guard Kevin Galloway won’t play after Floyd suspended him two games for returning late from Christmas break and missing practice Monday and Tuesday.

ben.bolch@latimes.com