Will Simonds

Destiny Littleton sank a massive three to force an extra period, but the Trojans didn’t have enough offense late to keep up with South Dakota State.

Lindsay Gottlieb had a daunting task ahead entering this past offseason, but she’s come out of it with an NCAA tournament bid and a program trending in the right direction.

In their first March Madness appearance in almost a decade, here’s what lies ahead for the Trojans.

Courtney Ramey’s go-ahead three with 18 seconds to go proved to be enough for the Wildcats to take down the Bruins for the second year in a row.

The Wildcat-heavy crowd in Las Vegas bolstered their team on a late surge to take down their in-state rivals.

The Trojans battled early adversity on their way to a season and program-defining win over the Ducks.

After a massive first half by the Utes’ offense, the Trojans’ exceptional defense eventually settled in, but it wasn’t soon enough to knock off a top-10 opponent on the road.

After trailing by 12 at halftime, Boogie Ellis balled out with 27 points in the latter period, matching the Bruins’ second-half output.

Free throws helped the Trojans early on but hurt them late, as the Bruins used a 21-8 fourth quarter to sweep this season’s Crosstown Rivalry.

The Trojans’ defense showed out with 13 steals and held the Spartans to 27% shooting from the field.

After dominating High Point in three sets in Friday’s first round, the Trojans were swept by Ohio State on Saturday to end their season.

Juju Watkins, a point guard from Sierra Canyon High School, chose to stay home in Southern California over South Carolina and Stanford.

Returner Rayah Marshall starred with a double-double, while each of the Trojans’ seven new transfers helped in a big win over CSU Bakersfield.

The Trojans keep winning games, but there’s a shared sense of dissatisfaction among the team with its performances.

On a team with more new faces than old, the Trojans have talent and experience, but how will these pieces fit together?