USC Men, Women Eye NCAA Tournament Berths

There are only five games remaining in the regular season for the USC men’s basketball team. They are currently 18-7 overall and 7-5 in the Pac-12 conference. All of their seven losses have come on the road but the men of Troy are unbeaten at home at press time. The results of their late game last Wednesday did not make this edition.

Their five remaining games are against Utah on Sunday at home in the Galen Center at 3 p.m., they travel to the bay area to play Stanford on Thursday February 25 at 8 p.m. and California on Sunday February 28. On Wednesday March 2, they return home to face Oregon at 6 p.m. and Oregon State on Saturday, March 5.

If the Trojans expect to get a top four seed in the Pac-12 Tournament they have to win four out of their five remaining games. That means they would have to beat Utah, break even in the bay area and sweep the Oregon schools at home. If they win all of their remaining home games and lose one in the bay area their final regular season record would be 23-8 and 12-6 in the Pac-12. That record would be good enough to place high in the Pac-12.

All five of the USC starters are averaging over 10 points per game. Freshman Bennie Boatwright, junior Julian Jacobs, junior Nikola Jovanovic, sophomore Jordan McLaughlin and junior Katin Reinhardt are all averaging in double figures.

The women of Troy are in the same position as the men. They need to win their remaining four regular season games if they expect to get a high seeding in the Pac-12 Tournament and make the NCAA Tournament. They are currently 18-8 overall and 6-8 in the Pac-12.

They are on the road this weekend starting on Friday at 8 p.m. against the number one team in the league, Oregon State. The Beavers are currently 22-3 and 13-1 and are ranked No. 7 in the nation. On Sunday the face Oregon at 2 p.m. before they return home to battle Arizona State, which is tied with Oregon State for the Pac-12 lead. The No. 9 Sun Devils are 22-4 and 13-1. Their last regular season game is against Arizona on Sunday February 28, at 2 p.m.