USC rocks UCLA with second-half surge, takes huge step toward 2023 NCAA Tournament
In the first of two games this season between USC and UCLA, the Trojans fell behind by 16 points before uncorking a furious second-half rally for a two-point lead in the final minute. They let that late 58-56 lead slip away and allowed the Bruins to snatch a victory from their grasp in the last 15 seconds.
The smart money suggested that if USC was going to figure out UCLA this season, the Trojans would need to get off to a decent if not great start. Surely they weren’t going to have much of a chance if they fell behind UCLA by 12 points at halftime. Surely UCLA, with its elite defense, was going to keep this game — and the Trojans — under wraps if they got another big lead.
UCLA promptly forged a 37-25 halftime advantage. USC couldn’t shoot. The Trojans attempted only two free throws, so they couldn’t find ways to get cheap points when jump shots weren’t falling.
They looked dead in the water against a UCLA team which was angry after a loss to Arizona on Saturday, January 21.
Surely, USC wasn’t going to be able to complete a massive comeback and fight all the way back, right? UCLA has been locking down opponents late in second halves all season long. Even when losing to Arizona, UCLA held the Wildcats under 60 points.
USC was toast, right?
Boogie Ellis had something to say about that. So did Drew Peterson. So did Vince Iwuchukwu and Kobe Johnson. They all contributed significantly to a shocking 52-27 second-half tsunami. USC didn’t just come back against UCLA; it ran the Bruins out of the Galen Center for a 77-64 thrashing.
Beating UCLA matters. Beating UCLA by 13 points will send USC’s metrics and overall profile soaring past lots of bubble teams. The Trojans not only beat their rival; they took an enormous step toward the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
We can debate whether USC is “off” the bubble or still on it, but we can agree that USC is clearly in the field right now, several spots inside the cut line. There’s a lot of work left to do, but the Trojans’ task is now less about gaining ground, and more about keeping their position. As long as they don’t suffer resume-killing losses which decrease their profile, they will be in good shape.
They get a week to rest up before hosting the Washington schools in the Galen Center. If they can just take care of the teams they are supposed to beat, they will be in the bracket on Selection Sunday, March 12.
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