JuJu Watkins isn’t just back on the court after her ACL tear, she’s back with a vengeance. After missing USC’s 2025 March Madness elimination and the entire subsequent season, Watkins put on a show in her return, dropping 32 points to help the Trojans demolish the Utah State Aggies 118-40 at the Galen Center. This wasn’t just a comeback, it was a statement.
Watkins Wastes No Time, Looks Like a National Player of the Year Contender
If you thought Watkins would need time to shake off the rust, think again. The 6-foot-2 senior guard, who was the 2025 national player of the year even with her injury-shortened season, delivered the performance of the day across all of college basketball. Her 32 points were the fifth-most in women’s ball on Sunday, but it was the completeness of her game that truly stood out. Against the Aggies, she went 4-for-7 from beyond the arc, pulled down a massive 16 rebounds,12 of them defensive,and dished out six assists. Oh, and she wasn’t done: Watkins also recorded five steals and a block, all in just 27 minutes. Her Game Score of 34.8 speaks volumes. She looks every bit like a contender for that national player of the year honor once more in what’s likely her final college season.
Alexander Explodes for 41, Strong Powers UConn to Victory
The men’s game saw its second 40-point performance of the season thanks to Cal State Bakersfield’s Jaden Alexander. The senior guard went absolutely wild, leading all scorers across college ball with a career-high 41 points on 14-for-21 shooting. Alexander lit up North Dakota State, sinking a program-record nine three-pointers in the Division I era to secure a 91-80 win. He wasn’t just a scorer either, adding five defensive boards, three steals, and a block, all while committing just one foul. This performance completely eclipsed his previous high of 35 points set back in January. Considering his first start last season also came against North Dakota State, where he scored 33 fewer points, this is a huge leap. If he can stay healthy and remain a starter this season, unlike in 2025-2026, that’s massive for the Roadrunners.
On the women’s side, No. 2 UConn was looking to rebound after a tough loss to No. 5 Michigan, and they did just that. Facing the No. 10 Iowa Hawkeyes in their first game at Storrs this season, reigning national player of the year Sarah Strong stepped up big time. The junior forward put on a clinic, setting a new career-high with 39 points to lead the Huskies to a 91-79 victory. Strong’s stat line was ridiculous: she shot 15-for-26 overall, including 5-for-10 from deep, grabbed 10 boards for a double-double, and chipped in three assists and two blocks. She clearly wasn’t about to let a losing streak start on her watch.
What’s Next for the College Hardwood?
So, what are we looking at here? JuJu Watkins is back and clearly ready to dominate, which is incredible news for USC and terrifying for everyone else. Jaden Alexander has put the entire college basketball world on notice with a career performance, showing what he can do when healthy and starting. And Sarah Strong is proving why she’s the reigning national player of the year, carrying UConn to an important win. Keep your eyes peeled, because these players are setting the tone early, and it’s going to be wild watching how their seasons unfold.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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