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Despite Big Ten Tournament title game loss, USC Trojans still on track for NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed

Erik-McKinneyby:Erik McKinney•03/10/25•

ErikTMcKinney

USC Trojans head coach Lindsay Gottlieb and her players celebrate
USC Trojans head coach Lindsay Gottlieb and her players celebrate. (Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images)

The USC Trojans won’t be happy heading into the NCAA Tournament after blowing a double-digit second-half lead against the UCLA Bruins in a Big Ten Tournament title game loss. But Lindsay Gottlieb’s program should still have a fairly clear shot to advance deep into March Madness as the Trojans still look like a sure-thing No. 1 seed.

According to ESPN’s bracketology, the loss settled the Trojans in as the No. 1 seed in Region 3 rather than the overall No. 1 seed. ESPN has South Carolina ascending back to the overall No. 1 spot after running through the SEC Conference Tournament. UCLA jumps to No. 2 with the win over USC despite the Trojans beating the Bruins twice during the regular season. USC is No. 3 and Texas drops to the fourth No. 1 seed after a lopsided defeat to South Carolina in the SEC final.

ESPN’s bracketology isn’t official by any means, but the projections in recent years are typically close to what the Selection Committee unveils. According to ESPN, USC would open against Hawaii as the No. 16 seed and then play the winner of No. 8 Cal and No. 9 Mississippi State should the Trojans move on. The Warriors still have work to do this week but they are the No. 1 seed in the Big West Tournament. USC would host both of those games as a top-16 seed in the tournament.

The other top seeds ESPN has slated for Region 3 Spokane are No. 2 North Carolina State, No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 4 Ole Miss and No. 5 Kansas State. That would put USC and Ole Miss on track for a rematch in the Sweet 16. The Trojans beat the Rebels 68-66 in the season opener held in Paris. The Trojans were sloppy in that game and committed 27 turnovers as the transfers and true freshmen played their first game together.

Important dates for the Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament

Selection Sunday: 8 p.m. ET Sunday, March 16 on ESPN

First Four: March 19-20

First round: March 21-22

Second round: March 23-24

Sweet 16: March 28-29

Elite Eight: March 30-31

Final Four: Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m. with the second semifinal starting 30 minutes after the first game ends. Both will be at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida

NCAA championship game: Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC, hosted at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida

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Garry Paskwietz (1966-2019)

Garry Paskwietz was a pioneer in bringing team-specific sports coverage to the internet. He founded WeAreSC in 1998 and was an Emmy winner for his work with Fox Sports West. Always generous with his time, knowledge, and compassion, he touched the lives of countless USC and high school football fans.

Garry Paskwietz