It’s not too early to refer to “much improved” Trojans

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LOS ANGELES, CA – Does the most improved basketball team in the Pac 12 Conference call the Galen Center home?

Two games into the season, it’s still too early to make that call.

But the USC Trojans, following 14- and 18-point wins over Coppin State and Long Beach State, respectively, over the first five days of the season will be making as strong case for that suggestion going into conference play.

The going will get a bit tougher shortly – there’s a Maui Invitational game with Illinois scheduled for Monday in Lahaina – but Kevin O’Neill’s squad bares almost zero resemblance to the squad that won just six games, overall, and finished last in the conference during 2011-12.

After scraping by much of last season with just six healthy scholarship players and being in led by a 5-foot-5 guard (Maurice Jones, who has since transferred to Iowa State) who shot 34 percent from the field

And here are the ways in which the Trojans have sported a complete makeover:

*There are 13 healthy scholarship bodies on the roster now, including a walk-on freshman, Chass Bryan, who has been something beyond a “pleasant surprise” – he is serving as the team’s back up to starting point guard Jio Fontan. He delivered in a big way in the win over LBSU Tuesday night, delivering a jump shot, a steal, and then another jump shot with Fontan on the bench midway through the second half to break open what had been a tight contest.

*There are three posts listed at 7-foot or taller on the roster, and each played Tuesday night.

And Dewayne Dedmon (who appears a bit closer to 6-10ish than 7-footish) and 7-2 Omar Oraby (the recently eligible transfer from Rice who appears to be all of what he’s listed) are ultimately going to be on the floor a lot together – all but negating any idea of opponents throwing the ball into the post and doing much scoring.

They’ve combined for 34 points, 34 rebounds and six blocked shots.

Their size and shot block abilities enable the Trojans to “push up” on jump shooters or drivers more than otherwise would be the case, as was demonstrated Tuesday night when they were able to put an extreme amount of pressure on the 49ers’ perimeter attack.

*And, thanks to an influx of transfers, there are a variety of ways in which O’Neill’s club can attack from the perimeter if opponents attempt to sag or double up on the Trojans’ big posts.

Eric Wise (UC Irvine), J.T. Terrell and Ari Stewart (Wake Forest) and Renaldo Woolridge (Tennessee), along with sophomore Byron Wesley, are each capable of scoring 20 or more points on a given night.

NCAA bids are doled out in March, not November, of course.

But this is a team that seemed to have all the ingredients needed to cook up a return appearance in the NCAA Tournament.