JuJu David Butler II-Imagn Images
Four weeks ago, USC women’s basketball got punched in the mouth by Notre Dame on national television. The Trojans lost by 13 points, and it felt like the decisive loss it was. JuJu Watkins, Lindsay Gottlieb, Kiki Iriafen, and the rest of the Trojans were not at their best. Notre Dame outclassed them for 40 minutes, and it felt like it. USC was reacting to what the Fighting Irish did. The Trojans didn’t attack; they were under fire the whole game. USC needed a completely different mindset, accompanied by different tactics and a dramatically improved level of play when it took on UConn this Saturday night in Hartford.
USC entered this game 10-1. To be sure, the Trojans — who have dished out 85-point wins and 50-plus-point wins so far this season — have shown they can crush vastly inferior teams, which offers a glimpse into the measure of their talents. Yet, no one gets a prize for beating tomato cans by 60. What matters is beating the very best. Geno Auriemma. Paige Bueckers. On the road. On national television. USC women’s basketball pulled it off, winning 72-70 on Hartford. JuJu Watkins, Kiki Iriafen, and Lindsay Gottlieb were all up to the challenge. Let’s say more about how they and the rest of the USC team got the job done and took a big step forward on The Road To The Final Four:
REVENGE
Gottlieb, Geno David Butler II-Imagn Images
UConn denied USC the program’s first Final Four since 1986. The Trojans lost to the Huskies in the 2024 Elite Eight. Revenge wasn’t the most important part of this game, but it nevertheless represented a source of motivation for USC to try harder to establish and build its reputation. Standing up to UConn helps any college basketball program which can beat the former dynastic power and one of the unquestioned heavyweights of the sport. Doing it on the road? Even better.
EARLY OFFENSE
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USC scored 45 points in three quarters against Notre Dame. It scored 42 points in the first half against UConn. The Trojans’ offense slowed down in the second half, but that 42-point first half gave USC a 13-point halftime lead and enabled the Trojans to withstand 13 bad minutes in the second half. JuJu Watkins established a rhythm in the first half before UConn and Geno threw more bodies at her in the second half. USC didn’t win the game in the first half, but it certainly put itself in a good position and gave itself a margin for error.
KIKI IRIAFEN PASSING
Dec 10, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans forward Kiki Iriafen (44) shoots the ball against Fresno State Bulldogs forward Mia Jacobs (23) in the second half at Galen Center. USC defeated Fresno State 89-40. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Many people will focus on the 16 points, and that mattered against UConn, but Kiki Iriafen’s biggest contribution might have been her 6 assists. She created angles and openings on the floor which exposed UConn’s defense. This might be the biggest team development to come from this game. Iriafen passing for baskets instead of shooting could make it that much harder for opponents to guard USC in the future. Iriafen working with Rayah Marshall, throwing passes over the top of a defense, could be devastatingly effective if done more regularly for USC.
OTHER PLAYERS
Juju Paige David Butler II-Imagn Images
JuJu Watkins versus Paige Bueckers rightly got the headlines in USC versus UConn, and JuJu made big-time plays for the Trojans. However, USC would not have won this game without contributions from the bench and the supporting cast. JuJu (25) and Kiki (16) combined for 41 points, but everyone else provided 31. It wasn’t a 2-on-5 game. USC got contributions from seven players who all made a difference.
LINDSAY GOTTLIEB BOUNCES BACK
Dec 10, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lindsay Gottlieb reacts in the first half against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Galen Center. USC defeated Fresno State 89-40. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Lindsay Gottlieb did not coach well versus Ole Miss and Notre Dame. She, not just her players, needed a big game against Geno Auriemma and UConn. Gottlieb delivered. USC played with more intensity and focus than UConn in the first half. The Trojans’ defense was lights-out in the first half, holding UConn to 29 points. UConn rallied in the second half, but in the final minutes, USC ran good sets, got the ball into the paint, and specifically attacked UConn high-low, rather than from the wings. Using the high post — near the elbow areas of the court — was a smart move which did not go unnoticed.
IMPACT OF THE WIN, PART ONE
Dec 21, 2024; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) runs onto the court before the start of the game against the UConn Huskies at XL Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
USC just got an elite win, the kind of win which helps a team get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Trojans also matched UCLA’s big win over South Carolina with a top-tier win of their own. This puts USC and UCLA on even footing heading into the heart of the Big Ten regular season on the other side of Christmas Day.
IMPACT OF THE WIN, PART TWO
JuJu, Paige David Butler II-Imagn Images
USC took a big step toward a No. 1 seed, but beyond that, recruits across the country saw this game on Fox Sports right after a big NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. This game got a lot of eyeballs, especially since the College Football Playoff game between Tennessee and Ohio State was a blowout. A lot of recruits watched this contest. Winning it gives USC fresh recruiting momentum for the future. As they say, “USC is the place to be.”
JUJU WATKINS IS THE TRUTH
JuJu Paige David Butler II-Imagn Images
Kiki Iriafen played well. Lindsay Gottlieb coached well. The supporting cast made contributions. The bench provided real value. Yet, all those realities are secondary to USC’s best player. JuJu Watkins scored big late buckets and hit three foul shots in the final minute to bring home this win for the Trojans. She handled double-teams and blitzes and made the smart pass to set up a teammate. Watkins’ command of the game and its biggest moments carried USC over the top against a worthy opponent on the road. This is what a superstar player looks like.
The stars performed like stars. USC’s best players were worthy of the moment.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: JuJu Watkins, Lindsay Gottlieb, Kiki Iriafen all rise to the occasion for USC
