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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

The USC Trojans have marched into the Elite Eight of the 2021 March Madness tournament. They beat the Oregon Ducks tonight in a convincing 82-68 victory to reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 2001.

Their freshman star Evan Mobley had a decent game with just 10 points and eight rebounds. While his stat sheet might not look too impressive, his highlight reel had a new addition. Despite being a 7 footer, Mobley is one of the most athletic players in the country.

Tonight, he used this athleticism to unleash hell on the Ducks, with a phenomenal poster during the game. After receiving the ball in the high post, Mobley charged to the rim. His finishing inside is his strongest attribute on offense so he chose to go for a dunk over an open midrange.

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Ducks’ Frank Kepnang made the mistake of going for a block and instead got dunked all over by Mobley. He hung onto the rim for a few extra seconds to rub it in after his two-handed dunk. That extended their lead to 14 and spelled an exit for the Ducks in a brutal manner.

Can the USC Trojans pull off an upset in the next round of March Madness?

The Trojans entered the tournament ranked as a #6 seed. They finished second in the Pac 12 conference with a 15-5 record, just behind the Ducks who won it with a 14-4 record. So with a win tonight, they have avenged their Conference Tournament loss. The Trojans were also under pressure to prove themselves after a poor defeat in the conference tournament.

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So far, they have been excellent and have shown that they are a force to be reckoned with. Their 34-point demolition win against the Kansas Jayhawks was a statement of what they can achieve at their best.

And now, they will have to play at their best in the next game, as they go up against the Gonzaga Bulldogs. The WCC champions are the favorites to win the tournament and have lived up to all expectations so far. Despite multiple upsets, they have stayed strong, so the Trojans have a huge challenge ahead.

USA Today via Reuters

The battle between Mobley and Jalen Suggs, two of the hottest 2021 NBA Draft prospects, will be one to watch. Gonzaga will be the favorites but Mobley and co will be eager to ruin their party and pull off a historic upset.

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ALSO READ – NCAA Analyst Predicts Surprise Team To Stun Gonzaga Bulldogs in March Madness