JuJu Watkins, Lindsay Gottlieb, Kiki Iriafen all line up for USC

Four weeks ago, USC women’s basketball got punched in the mouth by Notre Dame on national television. The Trojan horses 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 responded to what they Fighting Irish did. The Trojans did not 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 posted 85-point wins and 50-plus-point wins so far this season — have shown they can crush far inferior teams, which gives a glimpse into their talents. Still, nobody gets a prize for beating tomato cans by 60. What matters is beating the very best. Geno Auriemma. Paige Buecker. On the road. On national television. USC women’s basketball pulled it off, winning 72-70 at Hartford. JuJu Watkins, Kiki Iriafen and Lindsay Gottlieb were all up for the challenge. Let’s talk 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

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 nonetheless represented a source of motivation for USC to try harder to establish and build its reputation. Going up against UConn helps any college basketball program that can beat the former dynastic power and one of the sport’s undisputed heavyweights. Do you do it on the road? Even better.

EARLY CRIME

USC scored 45 points in three quarters against Notre Dame. It scored 42 points in the first half against UConn. The Trojans’ offense slowed in the second half, but the 42-point first half gave USC a 13-point halftime lead and allowed 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 good position and gave itself a margin for error.

KIKI IRIAF PASSES

A lot of people will focus on the 16 points and that meant something against UConn, but Kiki Iriafen’s biggest contribution might have been her 6 assists. She created angles and openings on the floor that exposed UConn’s defense. This might be the biggest team development to come out of this game. Iriafen’s passing after the basket instead of shooting could make it that much more difficult for opponents to guard USC in the future. Working with Rayah Marshall and throwing passes over the top of a defense, Iriafen could be devastatingly effective if done more regularly for USC.

OTHER PLAYERS

JuJu Watkins vs. Paige Bueckers rightfully grabbed the headlines in USC vs. UConn, and JuJu made big plays for the Trojans. However, USC would not have won this game without the contributions of the bench and supporting cast. JuJu (25) and Kiki (16) combined for 41 points, but everyone else gave 31. It wasn’t a 2-on-5 game. USC got contributions from seven players, all of whom made a difference.

LINDSAY GOTTLIEB STRIPS BACK

Lindsay Gottlieb didn’t practice well against 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 in the paint and specifically attacked UConn high-low instead of from the wings. Using the high post — near the pitch’s elbow areas — was a smart move that didn’t go unnoticed.

EFFECT OF THE VICTORY, PART 1

USC just got an elite win, the kind of win that 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 win of their own. This puts USC and UCLA on equal footing heading into the heart of the Big Ten regular season on the other side of Christmas Day.

EFFECT OF THE VICTORY, PART TWO

USC took a big step toward a No. 1 seed, but beyond that, recruits across the country watched 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. Many recruits watched this competition. Winning it gives USC fresh recruiting momentum for the future. As they say, “USC is the place to be.”

JUJU WATKINS IS THE TRUTH

Kiki Iriafen played well. Lindsay Gottlieb trained well. The supporting cast contributed. The bench provided real value. Yet all of 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 put USC over the top against a worthy opponent on the road. This is what a superstar player looks like.

The stars acted 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 line up for USC