When USC and Connecticut met within the Elite Eight, within the rapid wake of JuJu Watkins’ devastating knee harm final March, it didn’t take lengthy to see how a lot USC missed its famous person. As arduous because the Trojans fought, the Huskies have been merely an excessive amount of to deal with with out Watkins.
That thought, 9 months later, hadn’t been given a lot severe credence at USC by means of a strong 7-2 begin. No less than, not till Saturday, when the top-ranked Huskies provided a impolite reminder by completely trouncing the Sixteenth-ranked Trojans, 79-51, of their dwelling area, the place they’d but to lose this season.
Connecticut, although, had but to lose a recreation since early final February. Coming into Saturday, it had received its 9 video games by a mean of 39 factors, dominating wherever it went.
It took all of some minutes Saturday to see an identical beatdown was in retailer. When it lastly was over, lower than two hours later, USC had been outmatched in virtually each class. The Huskies shot 18% higher from the sphere. They outrebounded USC, 41-33. They compelled extra turnovers, 20 to 13, and piled up 25 assists to the Trojans’ 11.
Watkins, who’s sitting out this whole season, might solely watch from the tip of the bench because the star freshman who stepped up in her absence struggled Saturday. Jazzy Davidson had been nothing in need of terrific over the past month as she settled into her new position because the Trojans’ undisputed high weapon.
However the freshman appeared something however settled Saturday, as Connecticut blanketed her early and sometimes. Davidson missed her first 5 photographs and managed to make solely three of 13 total, scoring 10 factors, her lowest output since USC’s loss to South Carolina.
By the point Davidson had hit her first jumper of the afternoon, early within the second quarter, the Trojans had already dug a 12-point gap. By the point USC scored one other bucket, the Connecticut lead had ballooned to 19.
It was as much as 22 as Davidson looked for a closing shot within the waning seconds of the primary half. When she lastly lifted up for a floater, Connecticut ahead Serah Williams was ready. She swatted the shot again into the freshman’s face.
Davidson fell to the courtroom because the buzzer sounded. It might show to be a becoming picture from a day to overlook for USC.
It was ugly from the beginning. Connecticut harassed USC with full-court strain, forcing turnovers on the Trojans’ personal finish. After they did make it throughout half courtroom, the Huskies swarmed the perimeter, leaving USC with out many open photographs.
The Trojans managed to carry tight with the defending champions for a short time. They led 9-8 on the 5:14 mark of the primary quarter. However then Connecticut’s protection ratched up. The photographs cease falling. The Huskies went on a 15-0 run to finish the primary quarter, as USC failed to attain for 5 minutes.
Davidson made a jumper early within the second to place a cease to the hunch, just for the Trojans’ offense to go chilly once more. Connecticut held USC scoreless for six extra minutes after that because it ripped off one other run, extending its result in 22 at halftime.
Any hope of a miracle comeback was extinguished mere minutes after halftime, as Connecticut as soon as once more mounted a run. It was virtually 5 minutes into the third quarter earlier than Londynn Jones lastly made the Trojans’ first shot of the half.
By then, there was no extra suspense of the place Saturday was heading.
