USC’s Tournament Ends Against Bueckers and Dominant UConn

The USC Trojans’ NCAA tournament journey came to an end in Spokane, Wash., as they fell 78-64 to a dominant Connecticut team, led by a stellar performance from Paige Bueckers. The loss marked another Elite Eight exit for USC at the hands of Connecticut, and it highlighted the significant impact of JuJu Watkins’ absence.

Throughout the tournament, USC had managed to overcome Watkins’ absence, finding unexpected contributions from other players. In the round of 32, Kiki Iriafen stepped up, and in the Sweet 16, freshmen Avery Howell and Kennedy Smith rose to the challenge. However, against a formidable Connecticut team, the Trojans’ depth was tested, and ultimately, they came up short.

The Huskies’ victory sets up a Final Four clash with UCLA, while USC is left to contemplate their future without Watkins. The loss underscored the Trojans’ reliance on their star player and raised questions about how they will adjust in her absence.