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NCAA Basketball: How the games this weekend will affect March Madness

By Jonathan Goehring

AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 3: The Texas Longhorns bench reacts as the Texas Longhorns defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers 87-79 in overtime at the Frank Erwin Center on March 3, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 3: The Texas Longhorns bench reacts as the Texas Longhorns defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers 87-79 in overtime at the Frank Erwin Center on March 3, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 03: Derryck Thornton
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 03: Derryck Thornton /

USC Trojans/UCLA Bruins

The late matchup on ESPN on Saturday night was much more than a Southern California rivalry, as it had the feel of an NCAA tournament play-in game. Both USC and UCLA are right there on the bubble, and with the Trojans winning four games in a row prior to Saturday, they were trending upwards.

But it was a good night for the Bruins, who took the game 83-72 at USC’s home arena. With the win, UCLA moves into a favorable position, while USC’s future is in question when it comes to a potential at large bid.

UCLA’s win certainly helps their tournament hopes and hurts USC’s, but it by no means determines the fate of either. They could both make it, or neither could make it. USC is the second seed in the Pac 12 tournament and will face either Washington or Oregon State in the second round. UCLA is the fourth seed and will face either California or Stanford.

Next: Projected field for the NCAA Tournament (March 5)

This coming week, conference tournament action finishes up and the final field of 68 comes into focus. So much is on the line for bubble teams as they make one last desperate (in some cases) push for an at large bid.

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