Barack Obama has USC basketball making a deep NCAA Tournament run

USC basketball has presidential approval in the NCAA Tournament this year after former President Barack Obama predicted a deep run for the Trojans in his bracket.

USC basketball is already a popular dark horse pick in this year's NCAA Tournament. Now they have the seal of approval from former President Barack Obama.

Obama dropped his tournament bracket on Thursday featuring a couple of upset victories for the Trojans over No. 3-seed Kansas and No. 2 seed-Iowa en route to the Elite Eight.

Barack Obama is betting on USC basketball

First off, Obama predicts USC's Round of 64 opponent will be Drake over Wichita State. The two face off on Thursday afternoon for the right to play the Trojans on Saturday.

Then, it's USC in an upset victory over Kansas. The Jayhawks got hot at the end of the regular season, but they had to sit out the Big 12 tournament because of COVID-19 and their roster will be piecemeal in Indianapolis. Obama isn't the only one projecting that one.

Next, Obama has the Trojans besting Luke Garza and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Sweet 16. USC hasn't made it to the Sweet 16 since 2007. They haven't won in that round since 2001 when Sam Clancy led the No. 6 seed to an Elite Eight matchup with No. 1-seed Duke.

Could history repeat itself with the next great USC star Evan Mobley leading a No. 6-seed USC team that didn't win the conference or Pac-10 tournament on a long tournament run?

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Unfortunately, that's the end of USC's run in Obama's estimation. The Trojans would face a matchup with Gonzaga, the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament, and fall in pursuit of a first Final Four berth since 1954.

Since most of Obama's bracket is chalk, USC should feel good about being the lowest seed to advance to the Elite Eight in his predictions. The other seven teams include No. 1 seed Gonzaga, No. 2-seed Michigan. No. 3-seed Texas, No. 1-seed Baylor, No. 2-seed Ohio State, No. 1 seed Illinois, and No. 2-seed Houston.