USC’s JuJu Watkins excited to meet UConn’s Paige Bueckers: ‘It’s going to be a great one’

Saturday night is anything resembling the continued progress of women’s college basketball: No. 4 UConn vs. no. 7 U.S.C. Prime time at 20 ET on FOX. A sold out XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut.

It’s a game between two great teams, two great coaches and yes, two great superstar players.

Paige Buecker vs. JuJu Watkins.

It’s a rematch from last year’s Elite Eight showdown, where the Huskies prevailed past the top-seeded Trojans and advanced to the Final Four. Watkins went for a game-high 29 points in that matchup, while Bueckers filled the stat sheet with 28 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.

Starting a home-and-home series with these two big-name programs and the superstar power they possess was an easier way for Hall of Famer Geno Auriemma and USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb. With a return game set to take place in Los Angeles next season, the lights will be bright in Hartford on Saturday night.

Both the Huskies and Trojans are off to 10-1 starts on the season. Bueckers, who is in her fifth season with the program after a career that has seen her battle multiple injuries, is averaging 20.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting an eye-popping 58% from the floor and 44% from 3-point land. The question is: How much will the Huskies get over the Bueckers? Auriemma told the press Friday that star senior Azzi Fudd, who has missed the last three games with a minor knee sprain, could play Saturday, which would be a huge boost for the Huskies.

As for Watkins, who set the NCAA’s all-time freshman scoring record with 920 points last year en route to winning National Freshman of the Year honors, her totals may be slightly lower this season, but that has come with an increase in efficiency. The 6-foot-2 guard from Los Angeles is averaging 24.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. game while shooting 45% from the floor (up from 40%) and 34% from beyond the arc (up from 32%).

Watkins has the advantage of playing alongside a fellow superstar in Stanford transfer Kiki Iriafen, who is averaging 18.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. game while shooting 54% from the field and 40% from downtown. The matchup between Iriafen and UConn freshman standout Sarah Strong (17.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.6 APG) may not be the headliner of Watkins vs. Bueckers, but it could end up deciding the game if the two superstars bounce back each other.

FOX Sports caught up with Watkins ahead of Saturday’s top-10 showdown on FOX.

How excited are you to play in primetime Saturday night in a sold out building against Paige Bueckers and UConn?

“I’m so excited. To get a top-10 matchup, it’s always a great opportunity. And for us to really show what we’ve been working on and our progress since the beginning of the season, we’re really excited about it , and you just know it’s going to be a great one.”

How much does last year’s Elite Eight loss to UConn drive you and your team, and what is your mindset going into this game?

“I would say we’re a completely different team than last year, so I wouldn’t say that’s been the most prominent motivator for us to get better, but I would say that for me and some of the returning players is there an aspect. They ended our season last year, so obviously it’s in our nature to make that one of the reasons we go out there to play so hard.”

You have a global reach with your stardom on and off the floor, and what we’re seeing right now in women’s sports is truly a movement. What does it mean to be a shining light to young women who look up to you?

“It’s such an amazing thing and I’m so blessed to be in this position. I can’t believe I’m that for young women. So I’m always grateful for the platform I’ve been given and I want to inspire others to be themselves.”

How special a time is it to be in women’s basketball?

“It’s super special. Statistics show that there’s just been so much attention around this sport and women’s sports in general. I’m so happy to be a part of that movement, but it’s also about paying tribute. It’s about paying tribute the women who came before us, so many of them who made our sport what it is today, I’m super grateful for that and to be in this room right now.”

What is the identity of this USC team and in what ways have you evolved the most as a player?

“It’s hard to put it into words, but I would say that everyone on our team is super talented. Now it’s just a matter of coming together and finding out each other’s strengths in order to get better together. But in ultimately , everyone in this program has the same goal: to win Whatever we have to do to make sure that happens at USC, we will.

How would you define coach Gottlieb?

“Intelligent. She’s super smart. And she’s been such a mentor to me both on and off the court. She’s a great figure to have in your life.”

Your favorite Christmas carol?

“Last Christmas by WHAM! It’s my favorite.”

John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers the sport in a variety of capacities, from calling games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Network to providing commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him at @John_Fanta.

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