USC basketball bubble watch: Trojans approach finale in place of strength

USC basketball’s sweep of the Arizona schools has the Trojans in a strong position to make the NCAA Tournament as the regular season finale approaches.

USC basketball desperately needed a win over Arizona on Thursday to give them a Quad 1 resume boost. Another victory over ASU on Saturday, 71-61, was a cherry on top.

The Trojans are now fifth in the Pac-12 standings with a 21-9 overall record. A date with UCLA on Saturday afternoon will officially end the regular season.

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While USC is out of the running for the Pac-12 crown, they can put a dent in the Bruins’ pursuit of the title with a victory over their rivals.

More importantly, it would give them an even more secure position in their hopes of nabbing an invite to the NCAA Tournament.

As it is, the Trojans appear to be in good shape.

Out of the 96 bracket projections on Bracket Matrix, USC missed out in just two of them. The Trojans have now improved into a 10-seed average.

Indeed, Jeff Borzello of ESPN projects USC as a 10-seed. In Borzello’s assessment, the Pac-12 would have seven teams make the tournament, including 4-seed Oregon, 5-seed Colorado, 7-seed Arizona, 11-seed Stanford, and 12-seed UCLA.

Jerry Palm of CBS Sports likes USC in an even more comfortable spot. He places the Trojans as an 8-seed. Palm also features 11-seed UCLA, 10-seed Stanford, 9-seed ASU, 8-seed Arizona, 7-seed Colorado, and 4-seed Oregon.

Joe Lunardi of ESPN sees an 11-seed future for USC in his bracket, landing in the Midwest bracket along with Colorado. His projections have UCLA in the East, Arizona in the South, and ASU and Stanford in the West.

Mike DeCourcy of Fox Sports went so far as to predict a near Pac-12 sweep of 11-seeds. USC is one of them, along with UCLA and Stanford. It’s another seven bid result for the Pac-12, including Oregon, Colorado, ASU and Arizona.

College Sports Madness also projects USC as the 11-seed with a fascinating first-round matchup against 6-seed Arizona. ASU, Colorado, Oregon, and Stanford also make the field.

Before they get to participate in March Madness, USC will have to make it through UCLA and the Pac-12 Tournament. Then thoughts of dancing will come around in full force.