Preparing for a Tough Competition

The USC women’s basketball team feels ready for the challenges ahead.

With a formidable opponent and a passionate crowd, their upcoming game promises to be intense. Playing a rigorous non-conference schedule could prove advantageous as they head into the tournament, especially since they will face teams in the Big Ten Conference, all of which have secured spots in the NCAA Tournament.

Trojans coach Lindsey Gottlieb emphasized to the media that, while playing strong teams doesn’t give extra points, it should inspire confidence. “We’ve got to perform well, but from a mindset perspective, it should help us know we can compete at our highest level against anyone,” she noted.

The path to success won’t be straightforward. USC enters the tournament as a No. 9 seed, squaring off against No. 8 seed Clemson on Saturday at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. The venue is quite close to Clemson—a mere two-hour bus ride, which makes it feel like a home game for the Tigers.

Should they get past Clemson, a tough matchup against top-seeded South Carolina would await them. The question now is whether the Trojans can reclaim the form that brought them to the Elite Eight in the last two seasons.

Key to Success: Keeping Jazzy Healthy

A significant boost for the Trojans comes with the return of star freshman Jazzy Davidson, who has been cleared to play after missing time due to a shoulder injury. This comeback could be just what they need to end a four-game losing streak.

“I’m really excited,” Davidson expressed regarding her NCAA Tournament debut. “Growing up watching this tournament has been thrilling for me. So getting a chance to play in it for the first time is something I really value. I’ll just do whatever I can to help my team win.”

Utilizing the Big Four

Davidson will certainly need support to navigate the first weekend of play. Players Kara Dunn, Kennedy Smith, and Londyn Jones have been averaging a combined 37.4 points, making them one of the most potent foursomes out there. With such depth, this team is likely more dangerous than their 17-13 record might suggest.

Need for Contribution from Forwards

While guard play has been impressive, the performance from forwards Dayana Mendez, Laura Williams, Vivian Iwchukwu, and Yakya Milton hasn’t been consistent enough. They don’t need to shoulder all the responsibility, but reliable rebounding and defense from them is crucial.

Handling Crowd Pressure

USC may find itself in a challenging spot, effectively playing an away game before possibly facing the dominant Gamecocks. Gottlieb stated, “In a potentially hostile environment, we’ve got to harness the crowd’s energy. I hope the venue is packed, and we need to focus on getting that win against Clemson.”

Aiming for the Big Wins

To prepare for this season’s challenges, USC incorporated high-caliber teams into their early schedule to build resilience. Among those was South Carolina, which they faced earlier and lost to 69-52. However, they’ve cultivated an “anyone-can-win” mentality within the USC Arena.

As Dunn aptly put it, “We just want to be the team that no one else wants to face.”