We’re only two games into the USC women’s basketball season and the Trojans are already one of the most talked-about teams in the country, even with JuJu Watkins sidelined.
Coming off a show-stopping upset victory over No. 9 NC State that vaulted USC into the AP Poll Top 10 and squarely back into the national championship conversation, the Trojans face one of their toughest tests of the season versus No. 2 South Carolina.
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Can Lindsay Gottlieb and the Trojans pull off another signature win and take down the Gamecocks, led by 3-time national champion Dawn Staley?
Here are five things to watch Friday night as USC takes on South Carolina in the first half of a home-and-home to ultimately determine who is “The Real SC”.
Can Jazzy Davidson play more efficient basketball?
USC’s freshman phenom, Jazzy Davidson, has wasted no time announcing herself on the college basketball stage. Davidson led the Trojans with 21 points against NC State and also had 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 5 blocks in 34 minutes.
But she scored 18 of her 21 points in the second half and shot 8-23 overall. Many of her missed shots were contested three-pointers early in the shot clock, so her shot selection still needs work.
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Davidson’s inefficiency doesn’t discount her greatness; JuJu Watkins also struggled with efficiency during her first season in 2023-24 on a Trojan team that lacked offensive depth. But it’s clear the Trojan offense is much more dangerous this season when it runs through Davidson, who has also proven to be an excellent passer.
If she can shoot the ball well for four quarters, the Trojans will have a much better chance to beat South Carolina than if she struggles for half the game again.
Will USC’s rotation be the same?
USC made one major change to the rotation on Saturday, inserting Gerda Raulusaityte into the starting lineup and moving Vivian Iwuchukwu to the bench.
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Raulusaityte rewarded the coaching staff with a very solid game, playing the majority of the forward minutes and helping the Trojans hold star Wolfpack center Tilda Trygger to 8 points.
Raulusaityte also had 5 points of her own to go with 2 rebounds and 1 steal.
Another rotation storyline to watch: Londynn Jones has averaged 17.5 points per game off the bench to lead USC this season. She is shooting 48% from the field. Malia Samuels on the other hand, is averaging only 3 points per game but played 36 minutes against NC State.
It’s not all about scoring; Samuels is a great defender. But with USC possessing a surplus of elite guard defenders on their roster anyway, it feels like only a matter of time until Jones becomes a starter if she keeps scoring like this.
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Will Kennedy Smith become one of USC’s primary scorers?
Many Trojan fans and college basketball analysts across the country expected Kennedy Smith, USC’s top freshman addition in 2024-25, to take a big step forward on the offensive side of the ball in the absence of JuJu Watkins.
Unfortunately, it’s been a slow start to the season for Smith on the offensive side of the ball. She is taking a lot of shots; 10 in USC’s first game vs. New Mexico State and 16 in the NC State victory. But she is shooting only 26.9% from the field, second-worst on the team, and has only 21 points on the season. She has made only 1 3-pointer in 9 attempts.
It’s not just that she is struggling to shoot the basketball. Her offensive game has looked predictable and clumsy at times.
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She is still playing elite defense, and I believe she can turn it around offensively. But it is important that she does so at some point, because if the Trojans truly want to make a deep March Madness run, they will likely need Smith to bring the offensive firepower she is capable of.
What is Kara Dunn capable of if she stays out of foul trouble?
The Trojans’ upset win over NC State was even more remarkable because one of USC’s starters, Kara Dunn, was limited nearly all game because she was in foul trouble.
Dunn scored 6 quick points in the first quarter to help USC stay in the game early, grabbed four rebounds and had 2 steals despite playing only 24 minutes.
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But had she been able to play the entire game without worrying about fouling out, she would have likely had even more of an impact.
Dunn, one of USC’s only seniors, was a star at Georgia Tech last season. Her veteran presence could really come in handy against a great team like South Carolina.
So can Dunn stay out of foul trouble, and if she does, what will her box score totals look like? Could she be the X factor that helps the Trojans beat the Gamecocks?
Can USC’s depth exploit South Carolina’s roster issues?
South Carolina will likely only have 9 healthy and active players against USC. Chloe Kitts is set to miss the entire season with a torn ACL, Ashlyn Watkins is taking the season off from basketball for both injuries and personal reasons, and Maddy McDaniel was recently suspended from the team indefinitely. Dawn Staley previously said McDaniel is doubtful to return for the USC game.
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USC, on the other hand, should have 12 healthy and active players — everyone except for JuJu Watkins.
The Trojans have used a Golden State Warriors-esque “Strength in Numbers” philosophy early in the season. They played 10 players versus NC State while the Gamecocks played only 8. All 12 players saw the court against New Mexico State. The Trojans’ regular rotation will likely include 9-10 players.
The Gamecocks don’t even have the option to play 10 players if they wanted to. If Gottlieb keeps everyone fresh with a balanced rotation, perhaps the Trojans can wear South Carolina down with pure effort.
But even with only 9 players, the Gamecocks are always tough team to beat. Tune in Saturday night to see if the Trojans can pull off another big upset that would send shockwaves through the college basketball world.
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Bonus segment — Wendale Farrow vs USC
USC women’s basketball assistant coach Wendale Farrow did a great job alongside Lindsay Gottlieb, but he accepted Dawn Staley’s offer to join the Gamecocks’ coaching staff for this season. Farrow knows the scouting report on USC. Lindsay Gottlieb and Beth Burns know how Farrow thinks. This sets up an epic chess match on Saturday. Popcorn!
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: 5 things to watch – USC women’s basketball vs South Carolina
