They need drive for this stretch

And now, for their next series of death-defying acts, the USC Trojans will attempt to scale K2 blindfolded before swimming the English Channel handcuffed and then crossing the Sahara Desert barefoot.

At least that’s how a punishing three-game stretch that begins today might feel to the Trojans.

First up is No. 9 Oregon this afternoon at the Galen Center; USC hasn’t defeated the Ducks at home since 2003 and hasn’t swept them in a season since 2001. Next comes No. 5 UCLA on Wednesday at Pauley Pavilion, where only senior guard Lodrick Stewart, among Trojans scholarship players, has experienced a victory. And finally there’s the not-so-grand finale: No. 20 Arizona on Feb. 15 at McKale Center, where USC hasn’t won since 1985.

“What [other] league could provide that kind of challenge?” Trojans Coach Tim Floyd asked after practice Friday. “I don’t know who it would be. We’ve got our hands full. We could play well and go 0-3, but hopefully we’ll steal our share.”

Junior guard Gabe Pruitt said these are the kind of opponents that should sharpen focus instead of fray nerves.

“These are three good ranked teams in a row, and that’s what you live for, to play ranked teams and have the opportunity to beat them,” Pruitt said. “I’m looking forward to these three games.”

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USC seeks its fifth victory over a ranked team today against Oregon, which had a season-opening streak of 13 consecutive victories stopped last month when the Trojans eked out an 84-82 win in Eugene.

Ducks senior guard Aaron Brooks scored 31 points in the teams’ first meeting, but USC faces an additional worry today in Malik Hairston. The junior forward who was sidelined last month with a heel injury is averaging 12.6 points and shooting 57.7% from the field.

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Oregon has a secret weapon in seldom-used 7-foot senior center Ray Schafer, who scored 13 points on six-for-eight shooting in the teams’ second meeting last season after barely playing in the first. Schafer did not play against the Trojans last month, and they can only hope he remains on the bench today.

As it is, USC will have enough trouble with a guard-heavy Ducks team that is coming off a 69-57 loss to UCLA on Thursday and doesn’t want to contemplate falling further in the Pacific 10 Conference standings. Oregon, USC and Washington State are tied for second place.

“We’re going out there with the mind-set that we’ve got to get a win,” said junior swingman Nick Young, whose late fadeaway jumper lifted the Trojans over the Ducks last month. “... We’ve got to protect our home court.”

TODAY

12:30 p.m., FSN Prime Ticket

Site -- Galen Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- USC 17-6 overall, 7-3 Pac-10, Oregon 19-3, 7-3.

Update -- This will mark the end of a four-game trip for Oregon, which has mostly thrived outside of Eugene. In fact, three of the Ducks’ four wins over ranked opponents have come on the road. It’s the first time in school history that Oregon has defeated three ranked opponents on the road in the same season.

ben.bolch@latimes.com