HARTFORD, Conn. — As USC’s bench emptied onto the XL Middle ground, with the No. 7 Trojans having defeated the No. 4 UConn Huskies 72-70, JuJu Watkins’ palms shot to the sky. Basking in her 25-point efficiency that lifted USC previous UConn for the primary time at school historical past, Watkins turned to the small part of supporters decked out in crimson and yellow contained in the sold-out area and acknowledged their help.
“It hit a bit completely different realizing the historical past from final yr and the way they despatched us house,” Watkins mentioned.
The stakes had been completely different this time. In April, within the Elite Eight, the Huskies knocked the top-seeded Trojans out of the NCAA Event. However Saturday night time’s 2-point victory was significant nonetheless. Not just for Watkins and USC senior switch Kiki Iriafen, however for his or her coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, who has lengthy admired this system UConn coach Geno Auriemma has constructed.
“This can be a actually vital win, and it’s a very vital win due to the stature of UConn’s program and what Geno Auriemma has finished for our sport,” Gottlieb mentioned. “For my complete highschool (profession) on, that is what basketball excellence was. That is what we noticed, and it’s challenged all of us to need to be higher, to search out gamers who need to be higher and be that elite. And I don’t suppose that’s gone away.”
Gottlieb is in her fourth season with the Trojans, and he or she aspires to construct a sustained program just like the Huskies. A season in the past, USC gained its second Pac-12 event title in program historical past and made consecutive NCAA Event appearances for the primary time in practically 20 years. Over her temporary tenure, she has reminded onlookers not solely of USC’s historical past of success — two nationwide titles and three Last 4 appearances within the Eighties, Corridor of Fame gamers akin to Lisa Leslie, Cynthia Cooper, Cheryl Miller and Tina Thompson — however of what it may be within the current. Watkins, final yr’s nationwide freshman of the yr and a first-team All-American, is on the middle of the newest chapter. Victories like Saturday’s assist make lofty aspirations really feel extra attainable.
USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb desires to emulate what Geno Auriemma has in-built Connecticut. (David Butler II / Imagn Photos)
Gottlieb grew up simply outdoors New York Metropolis, however she wasn’t recruited by Auriemma in highschool. Nonetheless, when she was 15 or 16, she accompanied one in all her pals to one in all his camps. UConn was all the time the native draw, and following Saturday’s win, she recalled a visit she made throughout her senior yr at Brown College, in close by Windfall, Rhode Island, when she and her father drove to Storrs to see UConn tackle Tennessee.
“It was offered out,” Gottlieb mentioned, “and I used to be in that constructing and noticed this ambiance.”
Saturday was raucous, too. And Watkins, USC’s star guard, mentioned it might need been the most important crowd she has performed in entrance of. Almost 16,000 individuals packed inside XL Middle, nearly all of whom wore navy and white.
Nonetheless, Watkins added, “simply to see my household right here, all of the SC followers, it meant the world.”
If anybody wanted reminding, the Trojans’ victory strengthened their standing as one in all this season’s nationwide title contenders. At 11-1, their lone defeat got here at house to Notre Dame by 13 factors. It could have been simple, Gottlieb mentioned, for these inside this system guilty one another after that November loss — for the Trojans to fracture.
“So long as we stick collectively, this could make us higher,” she mentioned she informed them afterward. “And (the loss) has in each manner.”
Getting into Saturday’s victory, the Trojans sported the nation’s third-best protection and No. 15 offense. They convert in transition (practically 20 p.c of their factors are available in transition) and off turnovers (averaging 28.7 factors per sport), essential measurables that might serve them effectively sooner or later. Their victory over the Huskies strengthened that they may come on the street, in one of many most-anticipated video games of the season, and punch first. It proved they may give up a 13-point halftime lead, path by some extent with just below 5 minutes to play and nonetheless recuperate.
“Nobody acquired off the treadmill,” Gottlieb mentioned.
In fact, having a transcendent star like Watkins helps calm any nerves. Not solely did she lead the sport in scoring, she added six rebounds, 5 assists and three blocks, together with one simply earlier than halftime on UConn star Paige Bueckers. Bueckers was prolific within the second half and completed with 22 factors, however she additionally guarded Watkins because the USC star acquired off to a quick begin within the first quarter.
“Each scouting report that you just put collectively or each movie that you just watch, it’s very evident that one participant can’t guard (Watkins),” Auriemma mentioned. “When she will get into a bit little bit of a rhythm, it’s a must to hope she misses.”
With the rating inside one possession with solely 4:30 to play, Watkins recorded 6 of USC’s 8 factors and assisted ahead Rayah Marshall on the lone basket she didn’t rating.
“Loads of the issues she does is tremendous onerous, however she makes it look really easy,” Iriafen mentioned. “Everyone knows she is a famous person, so enjoying together with her undoubtedly relieves strain on all people else.”
Any remnants of strain dissipated even additional within the postgame locker room. Gamers doused Gottlieb with water as she entered. They leaped collectively in celebration.
“For me now to convey a group right here, to know we may do it, after which to truly do it’s extremely significant,” Gottlieb mentioned. “Actually happy with the massive win.”
(Prime picture of JuJu Watkins driving between Paige Bueckers, left, and Kaitlyn Chen: Joe Buglewicz / Getty Photos)
