NCAAW: Can No. 8 Maryland stay perfect against JuJu Watkins, No. 4 USC?

[ad_1]

When you’re among the final five unbeaten teams in Division I, the last player you want to see entering your arena is JuJu Watkins.

Yet, that’s where the No. 8 Maryland Terrapins, owners of an unscathed 14-0 record, find themselves on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The No. 4 USC Trojans, led by Watkins, come to College Park for a battle of Big Ten titans (8:30 p.m. ET, FS1).

The two teams present alternative theories of title-contending basketball, making the matchup on all the more intriguing. Will USC’s star power or Maryland’s balanced attack win out on Wednesday night?

Can the Terps’ team ball triumph?

After last year’s disappointing descent into mediocrity, Maryland is back at their more familiar perch near the top of the sport, with head coach Brenda Frese not only impressively importing a talented group of transfers, but also, almost instantly, effectively integrating new and returning players to establish an elite, two-way team.

As our Eric Nemchock has covered, the newcomers have alleviated the burden on Shyanne Sellers, allowing the senior point guard to more effectively and efficiently effect all areas of the game. And while junior guard Kaylene Smikle has emerged as the Terrapins’ most consistent scorer after transferring from Rutgers, the likes of junior guard Bri McDaniel, senior forward Allie Kubek and junior wing Saylor Poffenbarger also are capable of popping off for big scoring night.

McDaniel, in particular, makes the Terps dangerous. With a case for being the nation’s best sixth player, she comes off the bench with a mission to influence the action, often powering her way to tough buckets. Against a more top-heavy Trojan team, McDaniel’s bursts of impact could prove pivotal for the home team.

Will Watkins wow in another win?

However, in basketball, a singular talent can outshine even the most well-constructed team.

The sophomore superstar Watkins certainly has that potential. She will take and make the tough shots. She’ll frustrate the opposition by earning oodles of free throws. She also won’t ignore the other end of the floor, creating havoc as a defensive playmaker. And, in true star fashion, she has penchant for being at her best in the biggest, most crucial moments.

This season, Watkins also has a sidekick, with Stanford transfer and senior forward Kiki Iriafen increasingly finding her groove in gold and cardinal. That pairing is responsible for an average of 43 points per game, while the Trojans as a team are putting up 84.4 points per contest.

To puncture Maryland’s perfection, USC likely will need someone else to step, providing a critical bucket here and there as the Terrapins direct much of their defensive attention towards Watkins and Iriafen. Quite possibly, it will be one of the team’s heralded freshman guards: Kennedy Smith, Kayleigh Heckel or Avery Howell. The most likely candidate is Smith, who is fresh off her highest scoring game of the season, pouring in 19 points in USC’s rout of Rutgers on Sunday.

It also would be an ideal time for grad guard Talia von Oelhoffen to have her best game in a USC uniform. While she authored several memorable moments during her tenure at Oregon State, her stint with the Trojans has been underwhelming.