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So far, both LA teams have had the kind of seasons expected.
USC is still good, but the Trojans have clearly taken a step back from the dominance they had when JuJu Watkins was playing. They are still a force thanks to freshman Jazzy Davidson and are No. 16 in the nation, but are no longer viewed as national title contenders. UCLA, on the other hand, remains a championship favorite. Yes, they lost a game to Texas last month, but their quality has shown. Their No. 4 ranking indicates they would likely be a top seed in the NCAA Tournament if things ended now.
However, things aren’t over; in fact, we are just getting started with Big Ten action.
The opening games for UCLA and USC won’t be easy. Each team will be favored as they take on undefeated teams. UCLA will face 10-0 Oregon (3 p.m. ET, FS1), and USC will face No. 21 Washington (8 p.m. ET, BTN), which has started this season 8-0. Here are the keys to the games for each Southern California team:
How UCLA can win
UCLA should win easily and make a statement that this is their conference from now on.
To do that, Lauren Betts needs to be fed the ball early and often. She’s averaging 13.3 points and seven rebounds per game for the Bruins and also has become a terrific passer, averaging 3.5 assists in each matchup.
Once Betts is established, the Bruin guards, Gabriela Jaquez and Kiki Rice, can go to work. They’ve been an electrifying backcourt. And don’t forget Gianna Kneepkens, who has been a superb addition to UCLA, averaging 13.9 points per game.
When you factor all of UCLA’s strengths, it becomes clear why they are viewed as a juggernaut.
To keep that reputation, they need to attack Oregon inside, dominate the glass and prevent the Ducks’ best scorer, Katie Fiso, from getting going. Easier said than done, but UCLA should be up to the task.
How USC can win
She might be the new player, but Davidson is the engine that drives the Trojans. Davidson is averaging 16 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, making her the team leader in all three categories.
While Davidson can do it all, she can’t do it alone. Her backcourt teammates, Kara Dunn and Londynn Jones, will have to help her with their leadership, experience and ability to produce in conference competition.
At times, Davidson can be timid and careless with the basketball. Against Washington, if she has too much of those traits, it could be trouble.
Defensively, USC has to try to contain the Husky guards. In particular, Sayvia Sellers and Avery Howell, both of whom can score in bunches, and if they get into a groove early, they are talented enough to overwhelm teams. Sellers already has a 30-point game on her resume this season, and former Trojan Howell is averaging 12.1 points per game.
Both USC and UCLA have the same goal: Win the Big Ten.
They are just coming at that ambition from different perspectives. The general consensus is that UCLA is the best team in the conference, while the overall perception is that this is a gap year for USC as they wait for Watkins to return.
The Bruins will work to prove their believers right, while USC aims to show the doubters are wrong. Let’s see how things look after Sunday.
