Is bounce-back factor still in play?

PALO ALTO -- Contrary to what the statistics showed, USC rebounded extraordinarily well last season in Pacific 10 Conference play.

The Trojans went 5-1 in games following Pac-10 losses and didn’t lose consecutive conference games until their final two games of the regular season.

“We try to bounce back,” sophomore guard Dwight Lewis said. “We try to see what we did wrong in the previous game and come into the next game and improve on it.”

Resiliency will again be a desired trait for No. 22 USC today at Maples Pavilion when it faces No. 24 Stanford in a battle of teams that desperately want to avoid an 0-2 start in conference play. The Trojans would like to secure a victory before embarking on an even tougher stretch that includes games against No. 4 Washington State and No. 5 UCLA.

Nevertheless, USC Coach Tim Floyd said he did not feel as if his team needed to play with a sense of urgency one game into its conference schedule.

“We’re going to play to win like we do every game,” Floyd said. “There’s nine road games, and we’ve got eight more opportunities to get road wins.”

The Trojans will face a challenge similar to the one they couldn’t conquer against California: a potent inside-outside combination. Seven-foot twins Brook and Robin Lopez are complemented by a host of quality perimeter players who could continually find themselves with open three-point looks if USC concentrates too much on its interior defense.

“They’re a team that forces you to think about how you’re going to guard inside, and when you do, they present problems for you outside,” said Floyd, whose team yielded a season-high 11 three-pointers Thursday during a 92-82 loss to Cal.

Floyd said Cal forward Harper Kamp should have been called for an intentional foul midway through the second half after he undercut USC guard Angelo Johnson on a fastbreak layup. Johnson fell awkwardly on his right wrist and had to temporarily leave the game, with Daniel Hackett shooting the free throw that Johnson was awarded on the play.

Officials called a technical foul on Trojans forward Davon Jefferson after he shoved Kamp in the aftermath.

“[Jefferson] felt that the guy taunted, stood over Angelo after he went down, and the film did reflect that,” said Floyd, whose request that officials review the foul on Kamp was denied. “There’s still no reason to get a technical foul on our part. He should have had better judgment.”

Johnson said Kamp apologized to him after the game “so I don’t think he purposefully” fouled him. Johnson practiced Friday and said his wrist felt better but his back remained sore, making it difficult for him to maintain a defensive stance.

Floyd used only seven players against Cal but did not think his team wore down in the second half.

“I think Hackett’s not being right affected our depth as much as anything,” said Floyd, referring to the sinus infection that made the sophomore guard sluggish.

Johnson played 24 minutes off the bench and forward RouSean Cromwell played 13. Cal’s bench players outscored their USC counterparts, 22-4.

Johnson, for one, said reinforcements could help against Stanford.

“I think we do need to play a lot more guys,” Johnson said. “I think we’ll see a lot more guys play tonight.”

Floyd on the Trojans’ apparent lack of offensive rhythm against Cal: “We shot 50% and scored 82 points,” he said. “That should be enough to win. That wasn’t our problem.”

TODAY

at Stanford, 5 p.m., FSN Prime Ticket

Site -- Maples Pavilion, Palo Alto.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Stanford 11-2, 0-1 Pac-10; USC 9-4, 0-1.

Update -- Floyd said Hackett practiced Friday but was still coughing from the sinus infection that caused him to vomit several times during the game against Cal. Hackett finished the game with seven points and three rebounds in 32 minutes.

ben.bolch@latimes.com