The USC Trojans are almost certain to make the NCAA Tournament at this point. As Selection Sunday approaches, the main priority and hope for the Men of Troy is that they don’t have to play an extra game next week.
USC has received a lot of great bubble results, but on Saturday morning, there are still some teams which can complicate the Trojans’ plans.
Ohio State entered Saturday still alive in the Big Ten Tournament. The Buckeyes have won three straight games to reach the semifinals. Two more wins put them in the NCAA Tournament, displacing a bubble team and moving USC one spot lower on the list of at-large teams.
Vanderbilt can still play its way into the field. The Commodores are making a deep run at the SEC Tournament. If they win the SEC Tournament, that’s another at-large bid one team won’t get.
UAB, if it beats Florida Atlantic in the Conference USA Tournament final, would take away an at-large bid from one school.
The AAC has Cincinnati and Tulane left as potential surprise winners of an automatic bid.
Let’s say, just for the sake of discussion, that all four teams — Ohio State, Vanderbilt, UAB, and either Cincinnati or Tulane — make the NCAA Tournament. Then USC would have reason to worry about making the actual NCAA Tournament. However, the likelihood of all four teams getting in is slim to none. Realistically, Vanderbilt and UAB have a decent chance of getting in. Ohio State and either Cincinnati or Tulane are longshots. If only two of these potential threats make the NCAA Tournament, that won’t be enough to push USC out of the field. However, two added teams getting in could shove USC downward on the seed list, to the extent that the Trojans could have to play a First Four game in Dayton next Tuesday or Wednesday.
Given that USC big man Vince Iwuchukwu needs more time to rest and recover — he has missed the Trojans’ last two games — the last thing the Men of Troy need is an extra game in Dayton, just to qualify for the Round of 64 next Thursday or Friday. USC needs the added rest and a chance to recharge if it wants a reasonable chance of advancing in the NCAA Tournament.
Would making the First Four be better than missing the field entirely? Of course it would. However, USC hopes to see its name in a Thursday or Friday slot when the NCAA Tournament bracket is revealed on Sunday afternoon.
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