USC women’s basketball had a rough ride against Ole Miss. The Trojans escaped with a two-point win in Paris, 68-66, after trailing by four inside the final three minutes of regulation. USC led by 15 but was then outscored by 19 points — 36-17 — in a long stretch of the second half. JuJu Watkins and the rest of her teammates were plainly rattled by Ole Miss’s elite defense. Ole Miss coach Yolette McPhee-McCuin, also known as “Coach Yo,” prides herself in teaching relentless, ferocious defense. That is her calling card. USC just didn’t handle the heat very well. Fortunately, Ole Miss’s offense isn’t very good, and the Rebels’ mistakes enabled USC to rescue itself down the stretch.
USC didn’t play a good game against Ole Miss, but this team is aware of the challenges it faces this season. There’s no ignorance of reality, and that’s a good reason to believe the Trojans will make the adjustments they need to make.
Need more evidence of this? Sue Favor of Women’s Hoops World wrote a piece just before the Ole Miss game in which she gathered insights from USC players and coaches. Here’s one key quote from coach Lindsay Gottlieb:
“The stage has been elevated, and expectations are elevated for all of us,” Gottlieb said of her team, which is ranked No. 3 in the AP preseason poll. “There’s definitely a target on our backs, and we’re ready for it.”
JuJu Watkins added this insight:
“I love the work, and I definitely have a lot to work on,” Watkins said. “I always believe I can go a step further every time, and I love the game so much and expect the best of myself and my team. I know its gong to take a lot of work to get a championship, but everyone has bought in here.”
USC did not struggle against Ole Miss because of complacency or overconfidence. This team is acutely aware that it is not a finished product and that everyone has to evolve and grow. The Trojans simply got punched in the mouth by a great defensive team and didn’t react well in their first game of the season. Expect the Trojans to react well and play cleaner basketball the next time they face a tough opponent.
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