USC men to open season Nov. 9

USC will open its men’s basketball season Nov. 9 at the Galen Center against Coppin State — but the going gets considerably tougher from there.

The Trojans, coming off an injury-plagued 6-26 season, play 18 games against teams that won 20 or more games last season.

USC’s home schedule includes nonconference games against Long Beach State (Nov. 13), San Diego State (Nov. 25), Minnesota (Dec. 8), UC Riverside (Dec. 15), UC Irvine (Dec. 20) and Dayton (Dec. 30).

The Trojans will participate in the Maui Invitational and also have nonconference games at Nebraska (Dec. 3), New Mexico (Dec. 5) and Georgia (Dec. 22).

Kevin O’Neill said this USC team should be the deepest and most talented in his four seasons as coach.

Among returning players are five who have started for the Trojans: guards Jio Fontan and Maurice Jones, swingman Byron Wesley, forward Aaron Fuller and center Dewayne Dedmon. Injuries kept Fontan sidelined all of last season and Fuller missed the end of the season. Dedmon also suffered multiple injuries.

Transfers Ari Stewart (Wake Forest), J.T. Terrell (Peninsula College, Wake Forest), Eric Wise (UC Irvine) and Renaldo Woolridge (Tennessee) all are expected to contend for starting positions or major playing time. Stewart, Wise and Woolridge are all forwards; Terrell is a guard.