Freshman center Mamadou Diarra may have sustained a hernia during Monday’s practice, the Times reports today. Doctors will examine the 7-footer tomorrow and determine if the injury requires surgery, which would sideline Diarra for at least a month. If surgery is necessary and rehabilitation drags on for much longer than that, the Trojans could choose to redshirt him this season.

As for some of the other injured Trojans, coach Tim Floyd indicated that F Taj Gibson and G Marcus Simmons could be held out of practice until next week to allow their sprained ankles to fully heal. USC has a scrimmage against Cal State Fullerton scheduled for Saturday (it is closed to the public), and opens the season a week from Saturday at home against Mercer.

Center Diarra sidelined by a hernia (LA Times)