UCLA Basketball: What’s on the line versus the USC Trojans

After a disappointing road trip where the UCLA basketball team fell to Colorado and Utah, the Bruins head across town to take on their rivals the USC Trojans, a game that could determine how much longer the Bruin keep playing.

The UCLA basketball team never needs extra motivation to want to crush USC, but the outcome of this game could be critical in deciding whether or not the Bruins play later this month.  Currently, the Bruins bracket situation is precarious at best.

RELATED: UCLA vs. USC Game Day Info

ESPN has UCLA out of the NCAA tournament brackets,  CBS Sports puts UCLA as an 11th seed, and Sports Illustrated has the Bruins as one of the last four teams selected for the tournament.

The evidence seems pretty clear. UCLA needs to win this game to have a chance of playing in March Madness as an at-large bid. To make matters worse USC is a bubble team on the fringe and beating the Bruins could be what the Trojans need to make the post season.  SC getting in at our expense? No thanks. 

More from UCLA Bruins Basketball

• UCLA Basketball: The case for the No. 1 2023 Recruiting Class
• UCLA Bruins News: Going to play in Spain, preseason honors and more
• College Basketball: Top Five 2023 Recruiting class rankings
• UCLA Basketball and Football: Westwood is the place to be for recruits
• UCLA Basketball: The Bruins arguably has the No. 1 2023 Recruiting Class

Plan B 

A victory over the Trojans is critical in UCLA securing a first round bye for the PAC-12 tournament (byes are  given to the top four seeds). Currently UCLA sits in a four team tie for 3rd place in the conference, which makes a win tomorrow a must to get favorable seeding.

If UCLA  is unable to get an at-large bid the Bruins can still careen into the Big Dance by winning the PAC-12 tournament.  Normally this is considered last possible resort; if you’re not good enough to secure an at-large bid to the NCAA’s you’re probably not good enough win the PAC-12 tournament.

But this year the PAC-12 has been the “Conference of Cannibals” and for better or worse there’s a lot of parity in the conference this season, and UCLA could realistically win the PAC-12 Tournament, which would be made a lot easier with a to- 4 seed.

No matter how you slice it, UCLA needs to win tomorrow to have a good chance of making March Madness.

Next: UCLA Women's Basketball: 2018 Pac-12 Tournament preview

Getting to the NCAA’s will be tough, but its still doable.  Watch UCLA take on USC Tomorrow March 3rd  at 7:15 PM on ESPN