Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Kevin O’Neill got his troops plenty of reps early, with 11 players getting time in the first half, including Omar Oraby, the Egyptian transfer from Rice. At 7-foot-2, Oraby brought his bulky interior game to Galen Center, as he tallied 16 points, six rebounds and three blocks in just 14 minutes.

Wearing No. 55, Oraby showed plenty of signs of being a potential fan favorite, as he played out every possession, fought hard for his rebounds and was perfect from the charity stripe.

With Dewayne Dedmon getting the majority of playing time at the five, Oraby could end up being the team’s most valuable option off the bench, given the foul struggles that have been known to bog Dedmon down. Dedmon had a solid night to start the season, highlighted by two dunks, including finishing off an alley-opp from Byron Wesley in the second half.

Incoming transfer J.T. Terrell had a dismal first half, going 0 for 7 from the floor, and the junior shooting guard didn’t score from the field until the opening minute of the second half on a layup, as part of a 12-0 run spanning both halves.

In the second half, Terrell showed the potential he flashed back at Wake Forest, hitting from distance and drawing fouls on jump shots. He finished the game tied with Wesley for the team lead with 17 points, and despite the strong play from Oraby, his performance in the second half could very well have earned him the game ball.

Wesley had 13 points in the first 20 minutes and was a big reason why the Trojans had a 40-30 lead at the half.

O’Neill played 12 players for the Trojans, with big man Renaldo Woolridge being the last player to see the floor in the game’s final two minutes.

For Coppin State, their zone defense held the Trojans in check at times, and it was their three-point shooting that kept USC from running away with the game in the second half. Guard Patrick Cole led the Eagles in scoring with 25 points, and he was 3 of 4 from distance.

The Trojans host Long Beach State on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m., before they head to Hawaii to participate in the bracketed rounds of the Maui Invitational. They’ll start with a first round game against Illinois, and get the opportunity to play a trio national powerhouses including Texas and North Carolina.

Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

Not only did the Trojans finish with an abysmal record last season, they could only muster one win in league play, which was the lowest total in USC history. Although this team was not that talented to begin with, the roster was completely decimated by injuries before the beginning of league play.

Players were getting injured left and right for the Trojans including returning players Jio Fontan, Dewayne Dedmon, Aaron Fuller, Evan Smith and Curtis Washington. Life was rough for the Trojans who battled issues with depth, scoring and athleticism all season long.

In come the Coppin State Eagles to kick off the 2012 season. Last season, the Trojans opened up the season with a 66-59 victory over Cal State Northridge and have shown over the years, whether under Tim Floyd or K.O., to play complacent basketball early in the season.

The key for the Trojans will be to not commit turnovers and sticking to their strengths on both sides of the ball. On defense, the Trojans are long and athletic which can make life miserable for opposing teams.

Coppin State flew out all the way from Maryland, and were selected to finish 10^th in their conference this season.  Head Coach Ron “Fang” Mitchell is beginning his 27^th season as head man for the Eagles. In his first 26 years, Mitchell has posted a .523 winning percentage, including a most recent trip to the NCAA tournament in 2008.

Mitchell’s bunch is decimated after losing five seniors from last season, and will be one of the most inexperienced teams the Trojans face all season.. They do return five letterwinners from 2011, most notably sophomore Taarig Cephas a 5-foot-10 guard, and junior 6-foot-5 forward Michael Murray; each of whom averaged five points off the bench last season.

The biggest loss for Coppin State is First Team All-MEAC Guard Tony Gallo, who averaged 17 points per game last season. This year’s ball club will add nine new players and will also be much bigger this season, with 6-foot-9 Charles Ieans and 6-foot-7 Zachary Burnham among the incoming class.

In 2012-2013, the Trojans will be the complete opposite of this team for many reasons but most notably, the Trojans can play 11 or 12 deep. Besides the six players previously mentioned, Byron Wesley, Eric Wise, James Blasczyk and Greg Allen all return.

This past offseason, the Trojans received some much needed help in the depth department, when ESPN top-100 forward Strahinja Gavrilovic was recruited to play in Los Angeles. Transfers Renaldo Woolridge of Tennessee and Ari Stewart of Wake Forest provide the Trojans proven pieces from the ACC.

The biggest chip added to coach Kevin O’Neil’s arsenal has to be JC-transfer, J.T. Terrell. Terrell has been announced in the starting lineup for the game, and will immediately provide the size, quickness and athleticism as a 6-foot-3 shooting guard for the Trojans.

Not to mention that Omar Araby, a 7-foot-2 center from Egypt, who has just been cleared to play by the NCAA could be the best pickup of the bunch.

The future is bright for Kevin O’Neil’s team as he now has the size, speed and depth to compete with any team in the conference.

That being said, this matchup presents the classic trap game opportunity that the Trojans must desperately avoid. With J.T. Terell just recently promoted to the stating lineup, the Trojans’ starting five will have multiple scoring options from all spots on the field.

If the Trojans want to leave Galen 1-0, they must intimidate the scrappy Eagles with their size and athleticism. Dewayne Dedmon and Renaldo Woolridge could have a field day for the Trojans down-low.

This game may not be the most balanced on paper, but do not underestimate the Eagles, as they have the leadership of a savvy veteran coach and will embrace the underdog mentality.

Game time is set for 8 p.m. at the Galen Center. Come witness the beginning of a new era in depth, size and power as the Trojans look to flip the script from an embarrassing 2011 campaign.