Young starts slowly, but Floyd patient

Nick Young hasn’t exactly looked like the first-round NBA draft pick he has been projected to be in USC’s first two games.

The junior swingman is averaging 13 points and 8.5 rebounds -- decent numbers, but nothing that would lure NBA general managers to the Galen Center. Even more troubling, Young is making only 38.5% of his shots and has been careless with the ball at times.

Coach Tim Floyd said he wasn’t particularly crazy about what he described as a “behind-the-back circus move” that resulted in a momentum-shifting turnover in the second half against South Carolina on Thursday. USC had a five-point lead at the time and ended up losing in overtime.

Nonetheless, Floyd said he thought Young rebounded with a strong effort against St. Mary’s on Saturday despite scoring only one of his 11 points after halftime. Floyd said it was unfair to judge a player’s performance strictly by his scoring.

“He rebounded the ball, shot for a decent percentage,” Floyd said. “I thought he did a good job of defending. ... You can play very, very well and not score a lot of points. There are so many factors that go into it.”

Young left for class immediately after practice Monday and could not be reached for comment.

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Freshman forward Taj Gibson sat out the majority of practice Monday because of soreness from a mild left groin strain suffered a couple of weeks ago. Trainer Mark Pocinich said the area flared up a bit after the Trojans played two games in three days, but he expected Gibson to play tonight against The Citadel.

TONIGHT

vs. The Citadel, 7:30

Site -- Galen Center.

Radio -- 1110.

Records -- USC 1-1, The Citadel 1-4.

Update -- The Bulldogs have lost four in a row after opening the season with a 79-58 victory over Division II Ohio Valley. Senior guard Donny McClendon averages a team-high 10 points. Floyd says he expects the Bulldogs to be patient on offense and test the Trojans with zone defenses.

ben.bolch@latimes.com