No. 7 USC emerged victorious over No. 4 UConn on Saturday, claiming a 72-70 win in a fierce matchup between two top contenders for the NCAA basketball championship title who are still working on finding their consistent rhythm.
Despite leading by 18 points in the first half, USC, UConn made a strong comeback, briefly taking the lead in the fourth quarter before USC managed to secure a narrow victory over the Huskies.
JuJu secures USC victory
JuJu Watkins of USC scored a game-high 25 points, along with six rebounds, five assists, and three blocks, while facing tough competition from UConn’s Paige Bueckers. Bueckers and Sarah Strong of UConn shared the scoring load, each registering 22 points with Strong adding 11 rebounds.
UConn, initially ranked No. 2, has suffered crucial losses to Notre Dame and USC, going 0-2 in Top 10 matchups. Coach Geno Auriemma will aim to address this trend before their upcoming game in February against another ranked opponent.
“I thought the execution part in the first half was just as bad as I’ve seen in a few years here in Connecticut,” said Geno Auriemma after the defeat. USC’s coach Lindsay Gottlieb acknowledged the significance of the win over UConn’s prestigious program and Auriemma’s contributions to the sport.
Weekend surprises shake top NCAA basketball teams
This weekend, upsets were the talk of NCAA basketball as Top 25 teams faced unexpected losses, reducing the list of undefeated teams for the season.
No. 15 Michigan State suffered their first defeat to unranked Alabama, while No. 9 Duke also lost to USF in a challenging defensive game. Georgia Tech secured a ranked win over No. 23 Nebraska, preserving their unbeaten record, but No. 14 West Virginia was defeated by unranked Colorado.
This season is marked by parity, influenced by conference realignment, transfers, and other recent changes affecting many NCAA programs. With conference matchups ahead, teams will rely on regional rivalries and tough schedules to prepare for heightened competition in the coming year.
