Cromwell could help in big way

RouSean Cromwell sometimes goes by the nickname “Goose” because, in the words of USC basketball Coach Tim Floyd, he “wakes up in a new world every day.”

For two of the next three days, it would be nice for the Trojans if the reserve junior forward awoke in a new world in which he could block shots, grab rebounds and generally make things difficult for the more heralded interior players USC will face in the Bay Area.

Trojans forwards Taj Gibson and Davon Jefferson won’t be able to play all 40 minutes, necessitating a step-up performance from the 6-foot-11 Cromwell to help neutralize the likes of California’s Ryan Anderson, DeVon Hardin and Stanford’s twin terrors, Brook and Robin Lopez.

“This is a trip where Cromwell has to help us,” Floyd said. “We need Sean to rebound. That’s where he’ll really help us and how he’ll score as well.”

Cromwell is averaging only 1.3 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.6 minutes but has shown flashes of potential. There was a rebound and authoritative dunk against Memphis and, last season, a two-block, three-rebound splurge against Stanford during a game in which he played 19 productive minutes.

No. 22 USC could use a similar performance tonight when it opens Pacific 10 Conference play against Cal at Haas Pavilion, where the 6-11 Hardin and 6-10 Anderson have ruled the interior. Anderson leads the conference in scoring with 22.2 points per game and ranks fifth in rebounding with 9.4 per game.

Hardin, fully recovered from a foot injury that forced him to miss most of last season, ranks second in the Pac-10 in blocked shots (two per game) and fourth in rebounds (9.9 per game).

“They’ve got a tremendous advantage in terms of size and rebounding numbers,” said Floyd, whose team is coming off a game in which it was outrebounded by smallish UC Riverside.

“I think the rebounding part of the game is going to be a critical factor.”

The Trojans will also seek help inside from 6-10 junior forward Keith Wilkinson but probably not so much from 7-foot freshman center Mamadou Diarra, who Floyd said “still has a ways to go” in his return from November hernia surgery.

USC can draw some confidence from its 66-55 victory over Oklahoma and the Sooners’ front line that included 6-11 Longar Longar and 6-10 Blake Griffin. The Trojans outrebounded Oklahoma, 38-28, and held Longar and Griffin to a combined seven points on three-for-10 shooting.

“It was an important test for us because of our league,” Floyd said. “We played well in that particular game and it was important for us because of this weekend.”

Freshman guard O.J. Mayo said he was looking forward to conference play because it would entail a lot of firsts. Of course, it will probably also involve many lasts for a player expected to declare for the NBA draft after the season.

“I’m excited to see new cities and new universities I’ve never seen,” said Mayo, who during Pac-10 media day in November acknowledged that he didn’t know what city Stanford was in.

The Trojans may explore the possibility of a second redshirt year for freshman forward Kasey Cunningham, whose season ended last month when he sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee for the second time in 23 months.

NCAA redshirt rules dictate that a player can play in only 30% of his team’s total regular-season games, and Cunningham played in nine of USC’s 30 games -- exactly 30%.

Cunningham had surgery Friday to repair his ligament and a torn meniscus. He is expected to be ready for the start of practice next fall.

TONIGHT

at California, 7:30

Site -- Haas Pavilion, Berkeley.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- USC 9-3, California 9-2.

Update -- The Golden Bears set a school record last week by making 16 three-point shots during a blowout victory over Long Beach State. Sophomore guard Patrick Christopher may be the Pac-10’s most improved player, averaging 17 points after averaging 5.2 points as a freshman. Duke transfer Jamal Boykin, a former Fairfax High standout, has played in three games for the Bears and had a double-double last week with 18 points and 10 rebounds against Long Beach State.

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ben.bolch@latimes.com