INDIANAPOLIS — The hopes of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights for NCAA Tournament glory were dashed on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, as they fell to the USC Trojans 97-89 in the first round of the Big Ten tournament. This outcome not only ended their postseason aspirations but highlighted the stark reality of what could have been for the Scarlet Knights, who began the season with high expectations bolstered by the arrival of two five-star recruits, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey.
The game, highly anticipated and streamed live on Peacock, featured intense gameplay at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where both teams struggled under the pressures of the postseason. Rutgers finished the season with a disappointing overall record of 15-17, including 8-12 in Big Ten play. Despite showing flashes of brilliance throughout the year, particularly against formidable opponents, the Scarlet Knights went 4-13 against Quad 1 opponents.
While USC entered the game as the No. 14 seed with similarly lackluster stats of 15-16 (7-13 Big Ten), they were able to rally through adversity, continuing on after overcoming multiple challenges this season. New coach Eric Musselman took the reins amid injuries and setbacks, guiding the team to this point against all odds.
Despite leading by 15 points earlier, USC faced tense moments as they trailed by four with just over one minute left on the clock. But it was freshman standout Wesley Yates III who eventually sparked the Trojans’ comeback. He played all 50 minutes of the game, scoring 24 points, shooting impressively at 70%.
"We keep winning, and everything is forgotten. We’re just playing for our lives right now. No one wants this to end," said guard Chibuzo Agbo, emphasizing the urgency and desperation to stay alive in the tournament.
Rutgers was equally determined with Dylan Harper leading the charge, finishing the night with 27 points. Both teams fought tenaciously, but with 19 seconds left, the game shifted dramatically; Rutgers' Jeremiah Williams missed two free throws, giving USC life at the expense of Rutgers' dwindling hope.
Desmond Claude, the Trojans' own hero, sank the tying basket, finishing the contest with 28 points. "We wanted this game. The tournament, we thought we came in 0-0. We wanted to keep winning," he reflected afterward, encapsulating the fighting spirit of his team.
The game continued through two overtime periods, now defined by increasingly frantic play and dramatic turnovers. USC team turned their fortunes around, clinching one of the biggest wins of their season and another day to fight another battle.
Overall, this season will be remembered for Rutgers as one of lost opportunities. With Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey being two of the top recruits ever for the program at No. 2 and No. 3 respectively, they were expected to guide Rutgers to NCAA Tournament contention. Instead, they faced the grim reality of high expectations not being met, with USC serving as the final nail to their coffin.
Looking back historically, teams with two high-profile recruits seldom miss out on the NCAA Tournament. Recently, the likes of LSU, Washington, and Georgia have found themselves similarly left behind, creating skepticism about the future recruitment and development at Rutgers. Can they leverage the promise of Harper and Bailey moving forward?
Meanwhile, from USC’s perspective, this victory could mark the beginning of something greater. Their focus now shifts to the next challenge against Purdue, who waits as the No. 5 seed, and whom they’ll meet on Thursday night, March 13, 2025.
Despite the lows both teams have experienced this season, there’s still plenty of excitement left as fans watch how this story continues to play out, showing those emotional highs and lows are what makes March Madness the thrilling spectacle it is.