The first tip-off will not be until Tuesday, but the madness has certainly already begun, and USC is right in the center of it all.
The 68-team NCAA tournament bracket was released Sunday, and USC was chosen as an 11 seed in the Southwest region. With the addition of three more teams in this year’s tournament, there will now be four play-in games, as opposed to just one. The Trojans will face off against fellow 11 seed VCU in a play-in game Wednesday night in Dayton. The winning team will move on to face the sixth seeded Georgetown Hoyas in Chicago.
The region is headed by the top seeded Kansas Jayhawks. Notre Dame was awarded with a two seed, with Purdue and Louisville earning the three and four seeds, respectively.
Head Coach Kevin O'Neill, Forward Nikola Vucevic and Gaurd Jio Fontan on the emotion of being selected for the NCAA tournament and their plans going forward. (Alex Wilk)
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi had USC listed as one of the last four teams in right before the teams were announced. USC’s most impressive selling points were its wins against top teams. The Trojans boasted a record of 5-5 against teams with RPI’s above 50. USC’s victories against No. 10 Texas, No. 15 Arizona, crosstown rival UCLA, and Tennessee were among its most impressive.
Kevin O’Neill discusses the feeling of watching his team lose to Arizona during his suspension and the tumultuous week for USC basketball. (Alex Wilk)
In another victory for the program, USC athletic director Pat Haden decided to reinstate USC basketball coach Kevin O’Neill, effective immediately. O’Neill was suspended for USC’s game against Arizona Friday in the Pac-10 Tournament after being involved in a verbal altercation with an Arizona booster Thursday night.
USC was among four Pac-10 teams to earn a spot in the Big Dance this year. Arizona, UCLA, and Washington will also participate. Arizona earned a five seed, while UCLA and Washington both earned seven seeds.
Wednesday’s game between USC and VCU starts at 6 p.m.
