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Neither UCLA coach Cori Close nor USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb have ever been keen on looking too far into the future for their teams. Both have emphasized focusing on one game at a time, and taking the middle ground between the highs of wins and the lows of losses.
But as the No. 1 Bruins came up short for the first time this season to the No. 6 Trojans Thursday, Close hinted that she and her team have their sights set on the prize.
“I actually said (to the team before the game), this is like a dress rehearsal for a Final Four,” Close said. “We want a dress rehearsal, and now we get more (games), and that’s good. Because that’s where we want to be.”
The reality is that UCLA and USC could both very well end up in Tampa this year and possibly face each other for a third time this season, as each program has advanced to elite status and propelled themselves to the top of the new Big 10 Conference.
The Trojans began the season ranked No. 3, while the Bruins were No. 5. But in the third weekend of play, USC lost to then-No. 6 Notre Dame while UCLA took down then-No. 1 South Carolina. The Bruins have spent the last 12 weeks since then undefeated at the top spot, while the Trojans have stayed in the top 7, sustaining a second loss to Iowa along the way.
UCLA has had quality wins over Nebraska, Indiana, Michigan, Baylor, Maryland and Ohio State, among others. USC has beaten UConn, Nebraska, Maryland, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio State. But each team has had their challenges over the past month.
The Bruins, lead by 6-7 center Lauren Betts (19.5 ppg, 9.9 rpg) and guard Kiki Rice (12.8 ppg, 4.4 apg, 3.6 rpg) have sometimes been slow to start games at times, waiting until the second half to ignite and bury opponents. Rice, in particular, can seemingly go hot or cold quickly, and that streakiness was on display against USC.
All-American Juju Watkins (24.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg), the Trojans’ crown jewel, had been slumping since mid-January as she struggled to score and seemed lackluster on the court. Against her crosstown rival, Watkins rocketed back to form and finished with 38 points, 11 rebounds and 8 blocks.
“Whatever it takes to win,” Watkins said. “I didn’t plan on having that many blocks, but I think that’s what we needed to win. Any way I could help out, that’s my goal.”
Watkins also indicated that her difficulties are now behind her.
“It’s been a tough couple of weeks for me, but I’m staying true to the process,” she said. “There’s a lesson in everything for me, and (this time) it’s to always stay joyful on the court.”
The “Battle of LA” between the two teams has been fierce, dramatic and laden with plots for many years. But the exploding popularity of women’s college basketball the last two seasons, in particular, has brought the crowds out to both schools.
Attendance at the Galen Center two nights ago was 10,258. Engaged fans stood on their feet and cheered throughout the matchup, their tenor rising with shots, blocks and steals, in particular. It is a scene that will be repeated in two weeks, as Pauley Pavilion is sold out for the rematch.
Part I saw USC run out to a 24-15 lead in the first quarter, which UCLA didn’t start to chip away at until midway through the second as Rice put up 6 points, and she and her teammates began to draw fouls.
The Bruins dominated the third period, behind Betts’ 9 points, and they lead 52-47 going into the final frame. But it was all Trojans from there, as they outscored the visitors 24-8 in the fourth while locking down on defense and making 5 of their 13 game blocks.
In one sequence in the game’s final minutes, Rice had the ball and was trying to get by USC freshman Kennedy Smith. Rice took a step back, and Smith bent down slightly and clapped her hands several times. The crowd roared.
“Everyone knows what’s needed,” Gottlieb said. “We don’t win without everyone doing what they’re supposed to do.”
Close, Betts and Rice weren’t shy discussing their shortcomings in the game, and what they planned to do about them.
“I really loved our response in the first half to come back, and to take control of the game in the third,” Close said. “Then we got out-toughed in the fourth quarter.”
“Now it’s time to (look) at where we had lapses, and where we got our butts beat. We’re going to have to learn from that and respond….I believe we’ll let this loss teach our hearts.”
Betts was direct.
“I’ve got to be better, period,” she said. “Toward the end I was forcing a lot of tough shots, and I’ve got to be better for my team. I need to get better seals, and I know how to do that.”
Gottlieb said that though it was “a magical night” for USC, the team’s attention is turning towards their next game.
“The matchup with UCLA is our only double in the Big Ten,” she said. “We’ll take care of business and that’ll be the next big game, but not until we play the ones ahead of us.”
The Bruins face Michigan State, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin before meeting their rivals again, while the Trojans play Washington, Michigan State and Illinois.
The Final Four is April 4-6.
