USC starting pitcher Caden Aoki talks on TV about Trojans' NCAA Tournament position
Following Friday's walk-off victory over Washington at the Big Ten Tournament, USC baseball's 2025 regular season is now complete. The Trojans' postseason fate now rests in the hands of the NCAA Tournament selection committee. Some people think USC solidified its place in the postseason with this victory, and that avoiding one more loss could prove to be decisive. Yet, after remembering how USC was shockingly snubbed in 2023, it's hard to feel completely confident that the Trojans will be in. We need to see that name in a bracket on Monday before thinking this is a done deal.
During Friday's game, USC starting pitcher Caden Aoki was interviewed by Big Ten Network. During his interview, Aoki made a case for the Trojans' postseason inclusion.
'If you look at our scope of work, it's really undeniable that we belong in this tournament," Aoki said. "If you look at it without recency bias, I think we're in," a reference to USC losing six of its last nine games.
Aoki mentioned USC having 17 Quad 1 or 2 wins plus 17 road wins. Aoki also mentioned that USC wasn't even playing home games at its regular home stadium, Dedeaux Field, this season. Aoki added that USC lost only three series the whole season. He certainly came prepared with facts and numbers and made a strong case for the Trojans.
However, this is not about what Caden Aoki thinks. It's about what the selection committee thinks.
The NCAA Tournament Selection Show will take place on Monday at 9 a.m. Pacific time. USC is looking to make its first appearance in the tournament since 2015.
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