USC Basketball Bracketology: Trojans Projected at No. 5 Seed

Bracketology experts are in agreement that USC basketball projects as a No. 5 seed for the 2016 NCAA Tournament after last week’s victory over UCLA.

The latest bracket predictions for Week 11 from ESPN, Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports have USC basketball’s projected seed rising as their winning ways continue.

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi listed the Trojans at the No. 5 seed in the Midwest with a first round match up against No. 12 seed Hawaii.

Over at Sports Illustrated, USC is the No. 5 seed in the East in Michael Beller’s projections, due to face either UConn or Clemson.

Meanwhile, CBS Sports predicts USC as the No. 5 seed in the West against VCU.

All three brackets expect the Pac-12 to add Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Oregon State and Oregon to the field in 2016. UCLA and Cal also make appearances in the brackets.

Last week, the Trojans were a No. 6 seed in the ESPN bracket and a No. 8 seed in Beller’s Sports Illustrated bracket.

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Their improved forecast comes in the wake of a statement victory over UCLA at Pauley Pavilion last Thursday. Fresh off a quadruple-overtime thriller against Arizona at the Galen Center, the men of Troy hopped on the freeway and ended the Bruins’ nine-game home winning streak. Though UCLA attempted to make the game close in the end, USC was in control from start to finish and came away with the 89-75 win, their 15th on the season.

Thanks to Washington’s loss to Arizona that same night, the Trojans are now atop the Pac-12 basketball standings. They also achieved their first ranking in the AP Top 25 since 2008 as the No. 21 team in the country.

On Thursday, USC will look to break yet another home winning streak in Eugene against Oregon, who have gone 11-0 on their home floor this season. The Trojans have not beaten the Ducks since 2009.