8 Must-Watch Conference Tournament Games For Thursday

Mar 4, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Trojans guard

(30) and UCLA Bruins forward

(23) battle for a rebound in the second half of the game at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA won 85-74. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

5. USC vs. UCLA, 5:30 PM, Pac-12 Network

You know what’s more fun than conference tournament time? Rivalry games in conference tournament time. After upsetting fifth-seeded Arizona State yesterday, the Trojans from Southern California get a chance to ruin the tournament hopes of UCLA.

UCLA Bruins

The Bruins are just barely clinging to the idea of the NCAA tournament. Lunardi has them among the next four out, meaning a lot has to fall in their favor in order for them to go dancing. That includes the Bruins needing another big win of their own, and with Arizona likely to be waiting on them in the next round, the moment will present itself.

But first, they’ll need to dispatch of a USC team they handled easily in the regular season on two occasions. However, as the old saying goes, it’s always hard to beat the same team three times in one season (you’re right, that really only applies to the NFL, but work with me here). The Trojans are upset-minded, loving nothing more than to kill their tournament chances of their rivals to help forget their own dismal season.

And you know what, there needs to be a good upset today.

Winner: USC

Next: Duke vs. NC State