JuJu Watkins absolutely went off, dropping a monster 32 points, 16 rebounds, six assists, and five steals as No. 3 USC annihilated Utah State 118-40 on Sunday. This was the home opener, man, and it was a star-studded return for one of college basketball’s most electric players. You just love to see it.
She’s Just Different, Y’all
After missing a whopping 20 months with a torn ACL, Watkins didn’t just play, she dominated. The senior looked exactly like the AP Player of the Year she was pre-injury. Fans at the Galen Center gave her a massive ovation during pregame introductions, and then again when she was subbed out with 2:34 left in the game. You could feel the energy. Watkins has been a scoring machine in both games this season, piling up 53 points already. She dropped 21 in their season-opening 100-68 win over UNLV, too. She got the crowd absolutely hyped, then hit a buzzer-beating pull-up jumper from 15 feet to end the first quarter, giving USC a 36-11 lead. Seriously, a clinic. She almost had a double-double by halftime with 16 points and nine rebounds, and the Trojans were already up 55-22. That’s just wild.
USC Is For Real (Again)
Watkins was in full-on All-American form, making plays everywhere on the court. She used a nasty crossover to shake Sami Mancini, then buried a jump shot. She was running the fastbreak, pulling down boards, hitting shots from the elbow, inside, outside, you name it. It wasn’t just her, though. Saniyah Hall added 20 points, and six different Trojans scored in double figures in this rout. Utah State’s Kylani Rookstool had 12 points and Mancini added 10, but it wasn’t enough to stop the No. 3 team. USC is now 2-0 and looking absolutely dominant early in the season.
So, what’s next for this squad? USC is back home to host College of Charleston on Tuesday. You know they’re gonna bring that same fire. Can’t wait to see what JuJu does next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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