Reserves get scant playing time

If current trends persist, the Fresno Pacific game could qualify as the good old days for USC’s bench.

That was before sophomore forward Kyle Austin transferred, redshirt freshman forward Kasey Cunningham was lost for the season because of a torn knee ligament and freshman guard Marcus Simmons had to take yet another step back because of a nagging ankle injury.

The Trojans reserves lost to the NAIA Sunbirds, 65-44, in the Dec. 8 exhibition, but at least they played every minute.

In games that count, USC’s seven active reserves are playing scant minutes and averaging a combined 10.4 points.

“The other guys are playing significant minutes,” Coach Tim Floyd said of his starters. “That probably has more to do with it than anything.”

The five Trojans who participated off the bench Saturday against UC Riverside combined for only 43 minutes and were outscored, 13-10, by the Highlanders reserves.

Not counting the Southern Illinois game, in which regular starters O.J. Mayo and Taj Gibson came off the bench, the Trojans reserves have been outscored, 142-107, this season.

“Everybody that’s been in our starting five has played 30-plus minutes,” Floyd said, “so there’s not as many opportunities and those guys are playing a role more than coming in to try to score.”

The bench’s production has been limited in part by injuries. Simmons was just starting to play again after a long injury layoff when he aggravated an ankle injury, and freshman center Mamadou Diarra is still playing limited minutes after November hernia surgery.

Floyd has established what amounts to an eight-man rotation, with freshman guard Angelo Johnson typically the first man off the bench and junior forwards Keith Wilkinson and RouSean Cromwell playing spot minutes depending on matchups.

With the Trojans on the brink of Pac-10 play, Floyd said he didn’t believe he had fully tapped his reserves’ potential.

“We’ll get better,” he said. “We’ll continue to try to develop them.”

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ben.bolch@latimes.com