MARCH 16
Update 9:35 p.m. “Our guys have a lot to be proud of. We’re not proud of our performance tonight,” USC coach Kevin O’Neill said in a postgame press conference after losing to VCU.
Update 8:49 p.m. : Maurice Jones runs the clock down. VCU wins 59-46.
Update 8:48 p.m.: More people file out of the arena. VCU up 57-46 with 29 seconds left. Nikola Vucevic fouls out of the game.
Update 8:44 p.m.: People have started filing out of the arena. USC down 55-46 with 1:47 left.
Update 8:43 p.m.: “V-C-U” chants fill the arena. The Trojans are down 55-46 with 1:58 left after a basket by Maurice Jones.
Update 8:40 p.m.: USC is shooting 40 percent from the field but has made only 15 out of 25 free throws.
Update 8:36 p.m.: USC down 53-44 with 4:10 left in the game.
Update 8:34 p.m.: VCU fans erupt in anger after DJ Haley gets called for the foul. Rams fans thought it should have been an offensive foul on USC.
Update 8:29 p.m.: Vucevic hearing “Air ball” chants after badly missing a 3-point attempt.
Update 8:24 p.m.: The USC fans stand up and cheer after VCU gets called for an intentional foul.
Update 8:18 p.m.: It seemed like both Nikola Vucevic and Alex Stepheson had a chance to knock the ball away, but somehow VCU maintained possession and drew the foul.
Update 8:10 p.m.: Some Trojan fans are on their feet during the timeout, trying to help USC cut down the deficit. The Trojans are now down six, after being down 10 moments ago.
Update 8:06 p.m.: Forward Nikola Vucevic has been pretty absent so far on the offensive end. The Trojans are really going to need to get him involved if they want to get back into this game.
Update 8:01 p.m.: VCU starting to find some offensive rhythm. The Rams now lead 34-27 with about 14 and a half minutes to go.
Update 7:58 p.m.: Rams fans chanting “V-C-U” during the timeout.
Update 7:56 p.m.: The momentum has definitely shifted in VCU’s favor, and the Rams fans have a lot more to cheer about right now than the Trojan fans. VCU has taken a four point lead.
Update 7:51 p.m.: Both teams getting very physical, fighting for every possession. VCU up 25-24 with just more than two minutes gone in the second half.
Update 7:47 p.m.: The second half is underway.
Update 7:44 p.m.: Both teams are back on the court, hoping the second half brings a little more offense.
Update 7:27 p.m.: Very close game here in Dayton, with the score tied 22-22 at halftime. Both teams are really playing with a lot of energy. The faster tempo seems to be favoring VCU.
Update 7:24 p.m.: Extremely loud cheers heard around the arena after VCU sinks a three. It appears there may be a lot more VCU fans here than it originally seemed.
Update 7:20 p.m.: VCU has already committed nine fouls, but the Trojans are not helping themselves much, as USC has made just four out of eight free throws.
Update 7:16 p.m.: Arena starting to get louder, as fans from both sides are getting more into this close game. A group of Trojan fans behind the USC bench have become increasingly loud.
Update 7:13 p.m.: Turnovers are really hurting the Trojans.
Update 7:09 p.m.: Loud boos in the arena, after some fans get upset about a foul called on VCU.
Update 7:07 p.m.: The low score seems a bit surprising, considering USC is shooting 46 percent from the field. VCU’s defense is keeping the Trojans from getting some shots up.
Update 7:02 p.m.: Both teams doing well on the defensive end. A number of contested shots so far in a very low scoring game.
Update 6:55 p.m.: Both teams are fighting for the loose balls, as the Trojans have taken a 9-6 lead.
Update 6:52 p.m.: USC continues to suffer offensively. The pace of the game seems to be pretty fast, which is not at all what head coach Kevin O’Neill wants, as the Trojans prefer a slow tempo game.
Update 6:49 p.m.: Freshman guard Maurice Jones in the game for USC.
Update 6:46 p.m.: USC is severely struggling on the offensive end. The Trojans have only made one basket so far, with 15:28 left to go in the first half.
Update 6:42 p.m.: Defense pretty solid for both teams so far.
Update 6:37 p.m.: Both teams missing their shots early. Each team has already turned the ball over due to traveling violations.
Update 6:35 p.m.: The game is under way! USC wins the tip.
Update 6:32 p.m.: Fans for both teams getting fairly loud as the starting lineups are announced. No clear advantage for either team in terms of fan attendance.
Update 6:27 p.m.: Game set to start in just more than three minutes. Battle between the VCU and USC bands, as the two groups alternate playing songs.
Update 6:22 p.m.: USC vs. VCU game will start in just under nine minutes. Small groups of USC fans scattered throughout the arena.
Update 6:04 p.m.: UT-San Antonio defeats Alabama State 70-61. USC and VCU supposed to start at about 6:31. USC and VCU have taken the court. A small number of fans are here for both teams.
Update 5:30 p.m.: Less than an hour before tip-off between USC and VCU. Will likely start a little after the scheduled start time of 6 p.m. since there are still more than six minutes left in the UT-San Antonio vs. Alabama State game here at University of Dayton Arena.
Update 3:20 p.m.: Less than three hours until tip-off for USC-VCU. ATVN’s Eleni Press spoke with Coach Kevin O’Neill after this morning’s practice. USC will take the court shortly after the UT-San Antonio vs Alabama State game finishes in Dayton. We’ll have full coverage of USC’s game right here on this page.
MARCH 15
Update 3:30 p.m.: We kick off our NCAA Tournament coverage today as Trojan fans get ready for tomorrow’s matchup between USC and Virginia Commonwealth.
ATVN caught up with head coach Kevin O’Neill before USC’s practice today in Dayton. Read the full story here and keep checking this blog throughout USC’s chase for a national title for news, analysis, and reports.
ATVN’s Eleni Press is in Dayton and will be blogging live before, during, and after tomorrow’s game at 6pm PT.
