Hackett practices, could play soon

Daniel Hackett’s first meal after having the wire removed from his broken jaw was somewhat predictable for an Italian native.

“Pizza and pasta,” the USC sophomore guard said. “It tasted like heaven.”

Hackett is also hoping for a blissful return on the court, which could come as soon as Thursday when the Trojans play The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. Hackett participated in a full practice for the first time Monday and expressed optimism that he could help his team rebound from its season-opening 96-81 loss to Mercer on Saturday.

“It’s going to be coach’s decision, but I’ll make the trip and hopefully I’ll be ready to help my team be ready to win the next game,” said Hackett, who was fitted with a multicolored mouthpiece bearing the red, green and white of his native country.

Coach Tim Floyd said he was “shocked” by Hackett’s ability to make it through an entire practice after being out six weeks but declined to project a return date, saying, “We’re just going to go on feel right now and see where he is [today] and the next day and make sure he has the strength to sustain.”

Freshmen Davon Jefferson and Marcus Simmons said they agreed with Floyd’s decision to keep them on the bench Saturday against Mercer. Floyd said the freshmen did not play because “they’ve got no idea what we’re doing” after missing significant practice time with injuries.

“If that’s how he feels, I understand that,” said Jefferson, who was expected to be one of the team’s top scorers. “I can’t do anything but hurt the team if I’m going in there and don’t know the plays.”

Said Simmons: “I had no clue about the plays, so I didn’t know what we were trying to do on offense. It was the best thing for me to sit out.”

Both players said they hoped to be caught up by the Trojans’ next game.

As expected, USC fell out of the rankings in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today coaches’ polls, though the Trojans did receive a handful of votes. Mercer also received at least one vote in each poll. . . . Freshman guard Angelo Johnson played 36 minutes against Mercer instead of the 21 listed in the box score. Sophomore forward Kyle Austin played three minutes instead of the 18 listed.

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