SPOKANE, Wash. — It was by no means a query of perception. Even within the throes of a nightmare situation, compelled to forge forward with out USC’s largest, brightest star, Lindsay Gottlieb had accomplished all she might to maintain doubt from creeping in, all whereas the faculty basketball world crossed the Trojans off.
All week her crew echoed the coach’s confidence, kindly reassuring the skeptics that they by no means would waver, with or with out JuJu Watkins.
What number of really had been satisfied, the world could by no means know. Few outdoors of their locker room knew what the Trojans had been able to with out Watkins, whose season-ending knee harm loomed giant over the crew and the NCAA match. Fewer nonetheless would consider two freshmen, two novices to March’s insanity, can be those to step valiantly into that void Saturday.
However within the closing minutes in opposition to Kansas State, on the tail finish of a back-and-forth battle, it was probably the most unproven among the many Trojans who helped raise them to the Elite Eight with a 67-61 win, organising a rematch with Connecticut on Monday.
“What can I say about our freshmen class?” a smiling Gottlieb declared from the rostrum. “They’re winners above everything else.”
Kennedy Smith and Avery Howell signed on with the nation’s high recruiting class understanding full nicely their roles would look completely different from the starring ones that they had in highschool. Each had been McDonald’s All-People, becoming a member of a roster ready-made for a deep match run. Each accepted way back that taking part in alongside Watkins, a star with unparalleled gravitational pull, meant typically merely lingering in her orbit, ready for the second to return.
Nonetheless, Gottlieb made clear her expectations for USC’s seven freshmen in a Zoom with their households final summer time. She instructed them then, after USC’s first Elite Eight run, that the bar had been raised. It was as much as them to fulfill it.
“I knew coming in we were going to have some tough games,” Smith stated. “So I’m ready for the moment. Even in high school, just the balance with that, I think I was prepared to be in the position I am right now.”
That a lot was clear Saturday, on the most important juncture within the Trojans’ season. After a season spent in supporting roles, filling in wherever they might, each Smith and Howell stepped seamlessly into the highlight of the Candy 16, carrying USC with a mixed 37 factors.
“It falls back on our preparation that we’ve done all season,” Howell stated. “It just carries over to these moments, and I think that we’re so deep on this team and everyone plays such a valuable role, that if someone’s not hitting, we have someone else to rely on.”
There was no actual strategy to put together for the situation that USC confronted, down one star, whereas one other had been neutralized. For Gottlieb it meant going “deeper in the bag” of what USC’s offense might do.
The expectation all week had been that Kiki Iriafen, the Trojans’ third-team All-American, would step into the highlight vacated by Watkins, following the senior’s 36-point efficiency within the final spherical. However any makes an attempt to get the ball inside to her or heart Rayah Marshall early had been swallowed up by Kansas State’s protection and its stalwart heart, 6-foot-6 Ayoka Lee. The USC pair mixed to overlook their first 9 pictures within the paint, whereas Iriafen didn’t rating till virtually two minutes earlier than halftime.
Iriafen fought by means of relentless double groups simply to cobble collectively seven factors and eight rebounds.
“I have to figure out how I can play out of those double teams,” Iriafen stated after. “How do I keep impacting the game, even though they’re double-teaming me?
Turns out, the answer was to find the freshmen. Though, Smith took matters into her own hands first.
The freshman from Etiwanda High established the tone early for the Trojans, scoring 11 of their first 13 points, more than she’d scored in any game the last month. It turned out to be her most consequential stretch of the season, as the rest of the team shot a paltry 21% in the first half, yet the Trojans trailed by just two at the half.
“When we were stagnant, she kept getting buckets for us,” Iriafen stated of Smith. “She’s such a key player for this team and has really helped us become a contender.”
It was after the half that Howell took over. She scored 12 within the third and fourth quarters, together with seven down the stretch to assist put away the Wildcats.
Each freshmen had been at their greatest within the closing minutes, with Kansas State nonetheless inside a bucket or two.
USC guard Avery Howell shoots beneath stress from Kansas State guard Zyanna Walker through the second half Saturday.
(Younger Kwak / Related Press)
With lower than two minutes remaining and the lead at only one level, Smith knocked down two free throws. Then, as Kansas State took the ball up the courtroom, she poked it away, taking off in transition. She was fouled and hit considered one of two free throws, simply sufficient to push USC’s result in two possessions.
Kansas State’s Serena Sundell lower the result in two with 1:14 remaining, giving the Wildcats a window. However a nook three from Kansas State clanked away, and the ball ended up in Howell’s fingers. The freshman hit two extra essential free throws to push the result in 4, placing the Wildcats away for good.
It took a gaggle effort to get them there, similar to Gottlieb promised. Smith scored a season-high 19. Howell, who stepped into the beginning lineup in Watkins’ place, tied a season excessive with 18. Rayah Marshall had 10 factors and 9 rebounds whereas holding Lee to 12 factors. One other freshman, Kayleigh Heckel, performed a essential function as a spark plug off the bench, scoring eight.
Altogether, the sum of the Trojans’ supporting components had been sufficient to place away Kansas State. Whether or not it’s sufficient to get previous Paige Bueckers and Connecticut is one other query completely.
The burden of Watkins’ absence nonetheless loomed giant over the proceedings. The crew strode into the world carrying black shirts together with her signature bun peeking out from a Nike swoosh. Purple No. 12 jerseys nonetheless dotted the stands. A Funko pop figurine of Watkins was current on the sideline, handed between teammates on the bench.
However on the courtroom, for one sport at the least, her absence functioned as solely a footnote within the closing end result, on an evening that belonged to USC’s freshmen.
