Stopping Arizona is quite a chore

Go ahead, align your defense to contain Arizona standout forward Marcus Williams with double teams.

That will only prompt Wildcats point guard Mustafa Shakur to deftly find the open man.

Go ahead, put a nimble post player on Arizona forward Ivan Radenovic to keep him from finding open outside shots.

That will only cause Radenovic to showcase his passing skills or his improved ability to take it to the basket.

Go ahead, use a zone defense to deter three-point threats Chase Budinger and Jawann McClellan.

That will only force them to look inside for higher-percentage options.

There are no easy answers when it comes to stopping No. 11-ranked Arizona, which features five starters averaging double figures in scoring heading into a Pacific 10 Conference game against USC tonight at the Galen Center.

“Arizona’s a very difficult matchup team because they’re playing four perimeter players at one time, which makes it difficult to go to your option of two bigs,” Trojans Coach Tim Floyd said. “Teams that have, have struggled in the matchup with Williams.”

USC will probably go with a small lineup of four guards and forward Taj Gibson, who is expected to defend the versatile Radenovic. Swingman Nick Young could be matched against Williams, the Pac-10’s leading scorer at 18.4 points a game who is coming off a career-high 34-point performance in a loss to Oregon.

“They’re playing like a Phoenix Suns-type team,” Young said of the Wildcats, who average 85.7 points and prefer a quick pace.

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Although sophomore forward Keith Wilkinson averaged 28.5 minutes against Arizona last season, it’s unlikely that he will log as much playing time against the Wildcats tonight.

Last season, Wilkinson was considered the Trojans’ best option to defend Radenovic, a responsibility that has now shifted to Gibson. But should Gibson tire or get into foul trouble, Floyd said he wouldn’t hesitate to turn to Wilkinson.

TONIGHT

vs. Arizona, 7:30, FSN West

Site -- Galen Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- USC 13-5, 3-2 Pacific 10; Arizona 13-3, 4-2.

Update -- Arizona has made 51.2% of its shots -- sixth best in the country -- and the Trojans are limiting opponents to 35.2% shooting, tied with Connecticut for the second-best percentage in the country.

ben.bolch@latimes.com