UCLA and USC, two rivals from different parts of town, find themselves on opposite sides of the NCAA Tournament bubble.
UCLA’s basketball squad had a last-minute layup that not only stopped a significant comeback but also helped secure their position for the moment.
On the other hand, USC faces a precarious situation after losing a six-point lead in the final moments to, well, one of the less formidable teams in the Big Ten.
But, you know, things can shift rapidly in this season.
If the Trojans beat the Bruins in their Tuesday night matchup at Pauley Pavilion, their fortunes might just flip.
According to the latest standings from Monday, ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi has UCLA (18-9 overall, 10-6 in the Big Ten) listed as one of the final four teams set to receive a bye, thus avoiding that dreaded play-in game.
As for USC? Lunardi cites them (18-9, 7-9) as one of the four teams most likely to be ousted from the bracket—no surprise there, considering they are on a three-game losing streak after a tough home loss to Oregon.
“Our locker room is devastated,” said Trojans coach Eric Musselman to reporters post-game. “They really understood what this game meant. Win, and we’d be in a solid position; lose, and it becomes quite tough. We have to somehow regroup.”
I mean, perhaps the Trojans will find their rhythm away from home. Five of their nine losses have occurred at the Galen Center, with defeats against ranked teams like Oregon and Northwestern included.
But they’ve also shown some resilience on the road, having triumphed over Wisconsin last month and narrowly beating Ohio State a few weeks back, which ranks among the best road victories in conference history.
“We’ve been really focused when we travel,” Musselman noted.
In a potentially positive turn, guard Chad Baker-Mazara’s return has noticeably bolstered the Trojans’ offensive strategy. After missing nearly three weeks due to a mild knee injury, Baker-Mazara scored 21 points against the Ducks in his first game back.
The Trojans aren’t likely to receive much sympathy from their rivals, who are experiencing a surge.
Donovan Dent’s stunning layup, made in just 4.9 seconds, didn’t just secure a 95-94 overtime win against Illinois but also quelled some rising tensions around head coach Mick Cronin. The players felt relieved, especially considering they were on the brink of a third straight loss after trailing by 23 points, a turnaround that could be marked as one of the biggest in the school’s history.
Cronin made adjustments to the starting lineup, incorporating Skye Clark in a three-guard setup alongside Dent and Trent Perry, while Tyler Bilodeau returned to center, replacing Xavier Booker. This not only energized the strategy but also seemed to boost Booker, who went 7-for-8 from the field, scoring 16 points off the bench.
Standing in a corner of Pauley Pavilion, Dent conveyed to the California Post that the Bruins have figured out what they need to do moving forward.
“We aim to be a team that hustles on defense, protects the ball, and takes quality shots. That’s what makes us dangerous,” Dent explained. “The trip to Michigan highlighted when we lacked confidence in each other as players. Now, we’re laser-focused on working together.”
As both teams head into what’s effectively a high-stakes finish, they’ll meet twice over the next 12 days to wrap up the regular season. Each team will play at home against Nebraska and have one more road game: UCLA takes on Minnesota, while USC will face off against Washington State.
“Our season is on the line right now,” Dent remarked, acknowledging the importance of the upcoming games. “We need to play like there’s no tomorrow. We’re in a desperate situation.”
This urgency includes efforts to fill the stands at home games.
Before wrapping up a positive discussion with reporters on Saturday night, UCLA forward Eric Daley Jr. took a moment to urge fans to support a team that’s yet to play a full home game this season.
“We know it’s a rivalry game, so we’re all going to show up regardless,” Daly said. “But let’s make sure everyone is there.”
