Pruitt limps off court, but it’s a false alarm

All the talk of national rankings seemed secondary with 3 minutes 1 second left Saturday night, when Gabe Pruitt landed awkwardly on his left ankle and crumpled to the court.

USC went into a tailspin late last season without its second-leading scorer after he broke a bone in his knee, and when the junior guard limped off the Galen Center court Saturday and did not return during the Trojans’ 58-49 victory over Arizona State, there was widespread concern.

But Pruitt said “it wasn’t that bad” and he expected to play Thursday when the Trojans face Stanford at Maples Pavilion. Pruitt said he was also bothered by tightness in his back and cramping in his calf, though he didn’t expect the ailments to linger into this week.

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Arizona State freshman point guard Derek Glasser, who reneged on a commitment to USC to sign with the Sun Devils, scored 10 points, including five consecutive points to cut the Arizona State deficit to 47-39 with 4:49 to play.

“He was coming off screens and making good plays,” USC junior swingman Nick Young said of Glasser, who switched his allegiance because the Sun Devils offered a four-year scholarship and Trojans Coach Tim Floyd had said that he would be on scholarship “at some point.” “He was supposed to come in and play behind Ryan [Francis]. It would have been a good position for him, but I guess he chose otherwise.”

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USC held a halftime ceremony to honor former two-time All-American John Rudometkin, whose name is on an award the coaching staff presents annually for “110% effort.” Last season’s recipient was Francis.... Floyd said USC could retire the jersey of Harold Miner, although it is not expected to happen Feb. 24 when the Trojans’ all-time leading scorer is honored at halftime against California. Floyd said the school wanted to retire the jerseys of its older former standouts first.... Because USC started the academic year with a full complement of 13 scholarship players, it can’t award scholarships to walk-ons for the second semester per NCAA rules even though three players transferred.

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