The USC women’s basketball team is almost there. The Women of Troy, fueled by their remarkably strong and consistent defense, are on the doorstep of returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014.
This week, the Trojans returned to the top 25 in the Associated Press Poll for the first time since 2016. This is what it looks like when a long-dormant program is finally revived. It took just two seasons for Lindsay Gottlieb to turn this ship around, confirming her excellence and the brilliance of Mike Bohn to pull off that particular splash hire two years ago.
In the latest ESPN bracketology forecast from Charlie Creme, the Trojans are a projected No. 8 seed. This means they can lose a few games and still be safely in the field of 68. They probably can’t afford to lose all five of their remaining games — two at the Bay Area schools, two at home against the Washington schools, then the first game in the Pac-12 Tournament — but if they merely go 1-4, they are probably in. If they win two more games, they’re an absolute lock, no questions asked.
Keep in mind that USC’s next game is at Stanford. The Trojans already beat the Cardinal, who might be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. A loss there doesn’t hurt USC at all. Being realistic, the Trojans definitely need to win the road game at California in Berkeley on Sunday. If they lose there, a little pressure will return for the Washington-Washington State homestand one week later. Neither of those games will be easy; USC had a tough time against both of those opponents a few weeks ago.
If USC does beat Cal, losing to Washington State and Washington — if it happens — probably won’t be able to drop the Trojans far enough to miss the cut for the NCAA Tournament. Any combination of two wins in these remaining games will eliminate all doubt or uncertainty.
The Trojans are almost there. Time to finish the job.
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