Opening day takeaways: How USC, JuJu Watkins survived Ole Miss to open the season

Ladies’s school basketball is formally again, and we have got you lined via the opening day of video games.

The primary matchup set a excessive customary for the remaining, as No. 3 USC narrowly escaped an upset in its 2024-25 season opener. The Trojans, who led by as many as 15 factors within the third quarter, held off No. 20 Ole Miss 68-66 on Monday within the opening sport of the Oui-Play occasion in Paris.

The Trojans had barely trailed till the 5:22 mark, when the Rebels rallied to take their first lead of the second half. Ole Miss led 64-60 with 2:23 remaining, however USC hit its closing eight free throws to seal the win.

USC sophomore JuJu Watkins, one of many front-runners for nationwide participant of the yr, had 27 factors, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks but in addition dedicated 9 turnovers.

USC’s Kiki Iriafen, who transferred from Stanford within the offseason, hit the profitable foul pictures with 9 seconds to play. She completed with 22 factors and 13 rebounds. KK Deans led Ole Miss with 19 factors, together with 4 3-pointers.

Monday’s schedule included 16 video games that includes AP High 25 groups. No. 1-ranked South Carolina opened its title protection with a 68-62 win over Michigan in Las Vegas. The Gamecocks’ win streak is at 39 video games, however the Wolverines — who began three freshmen — examined the defending champions from the beginning.

ESPN broke down the Day 1 outcomes.

No. 1 South Carolina 68, Michigan 62

How did South Carolina look because it began its title protection?

Creme: Daybreak Staley could have lots to level out within the movie session from this sport. The a lot smaller Wolverines equaled South Carolina on the boards and managed to attain 28 factors within the paint whereas additionally having extra assists (13 to 12) and extra 3-pointers (8 to five). This did not look something just like the Gamecocks on opening evening a yr in the past, after they blew out Notre Dame in Paris.

That stated, this sport additionally revealed no less than one space that makes South Carolina No. 1 within the nation and the defending champ: Staley has so many choices. On an evening when Raven Johnson and Sania Feagin mixed to shoot 0-of-10 from the sector and rating 4 factors, Tessa Johnson stepped to the forefront with 15 factors, very like she did within the nationwide championship sport. Chloe Kitts was South Carolina’s finest participant with 19 factors and 14 rebounds.

Philippou: It wasn’t precisely a case of South Carolina choosing up the place it left off, although that is perhaps partly as a result of the workforce is adjusting to the absences of Kamilla Cardoso and Ashlyn Watkins. The Gamecocks did not personal the paint as they sometimes do, which, paired with a 5-for-26 evening on 3-pointers, made issues a bit too shut for consolation. Freshman Joyce Edwards had some good moments (10 factors, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block), whereas MiLaysia Fulwiley performed simply quarter-hour and was primarily a nonfactor. Because the South Carolina participant with arguably the very best ceiling, it’s going to be value monitoring how Staley will get Fulwiley going shifting ahead.

After the sport, Kitts stated the workforce will use this lackluster efficiency to gasoline it shifting ahead. Sunday’s top-10 showdown versus NC State will likely be a terrific take a look at to see how properly the Gamecocks can bounce again from a subpar outing.

Michigan was the most important shock of opening day

Philippou: The Wolverines weren’t on many radars this season, apart from their extremely touted recruiting class. That group of freshmen — led by fearless Canadian Olympian Syla Swords (27 factors, 12 boards) — took the defending champs to the ultimate minute Monday. Even when South Carolina went up by 9 factors within the fourth quarter, Michigan did not let up, pulling inside two within the closing 30 seconds.

The Wolverines did not even face excessive expectations in their very own convention; they had been picked to complete exterior the highest 5 of the Massive Ten preseason ballot. However do not be shocked to see Kim Barnes Arico’s squad ranked or receiving votes within the subsequent AP ballot.

No. 6 Notre Dame 105, Mercyhurst 61

Did the Combating Irish’s Olivia Miles–Hannah Hidalgo backcourt dwell as much as the billing?

Philippou: Sure. You could not ask for extra from Miles in her first official sport again from her February 2023 knee harm. She left Notre Dame’s Purcell Pavilion on Monday together with her fourth profession triple-double (20 factors, 10 assists, 10 rebounds), looking like her former All-American self. Hidalgo made her two-way presence felt with 19 factors, 9 boards, 6 steals and 6 journeys to the free throw line.

Irish coach Niele Ivey has spoken about Notre Dame eager to play up-tempo. That was evident particularly within the first half, when it picked apart Mercyhurst within the open ground and went into the break up 56-27, with Miles largely bringing the ball down and Hidalgo largely enjoying off the ball. For the sport, the Irish scored 32 fast-break factors (largely within the first half) and put up 82 factors within the paint.

That Notre Dame scored 105 factors regardless of enjoying simply seven gamers (Liza Karlen and Sonia Citron are among the many lately injured) was a constructive signal for Ivey, particularly contemplating there may be room for enchancment offensively: The Irish assisted on simply 21 of their 45 area targets and shot 3-for-17 from the 3-point arc.

By way of @ESPNStatsInfo: Olivia Miles is the primary participant in ACC historical past to have a triple-double in three completely different seasons

— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) November 5, 2024

No. 3 USC 68, No. 20 Ole Miss 66

Did USC appear to be the nation’s No. 3 workforce?

Creme: Within the second quarter, when the Trojans outscored Ole Miss 22-10, sure. However that wasn’t the case for the opposite half-hour. Ole Miss gained three of the 4 quarters and got here again from a 15-point third-quarter deficit as a result of USC’s offense bought stagnant and relied too closely on Watkins, Iriafen and the free throw line (23-of-29 for the sport). Watkins and Iriafen scored 25 of the Trojans’ 31 second-half factors, and 17 got here on the stripe.

The top-scratcher was Talia von Oelhoffen, who sat for lengthy stretches with foul hassle and took 5 pictures. USC will not be an elite workforce with out its two stars getting extra assist from von Oelhoffen.

Coach Lindsay Gottlieb has two video games towards inferior opponents arising (Cal Poly on Saturday and Cal State Northridge on Nov. 12) to iron out some offensive illnesses, however 68 factors and 40.0% taking pictures from the sector (together with 1-for-11 on 3-pointers) will not be sufficient towards Notre Dame on Nov. 23.

Philippou: USC appeared like a workforce with 9 newcomers, together with three new starters (Iriafen, von Oelhoffen and freshman Kennedy Smith). The thrill over the Trojans’ incoming gamers — their two big-name transfers plus a stacked freshman class — comes with the truth that there is some studying curve because the gamers get used to at least one one other, which was exacerbated towards Ole Miss’ stress protection and with USC’s bench skewing younger. Final yr’s workforce leaned on veteran Ivy League transfers surrounding Watkins and Rayah Marshall; this season, there’s not lots of basketball expertise, individually and collectively.

Postgame, Watkins stated the Trojans are nonetheless studying from one another, and Gottlieb argued that chemistry types faster beneath duress than in a blowout. The Trojans have lower than three weeks to kick-start that course of earlier than dealing with No. 6 Notre Dame; that’ll be a giant checkpoint in assessing whether or not USC is on its option to changing into the workforce it believes it may be.

How did Ole Miss practically knock off the Trojans? What assertion did the Rebels make?

Creme: Nice protection has been a trademark beneath coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, and the protection was excellent towards USC. Ole Miss’ size, notably from gamers reminiscent of Madison Scott and Kennedy Todd-Williams, was disruptive. USC could be criticized for 26 turnovers, however Ole Miss had lots to do with it.

We additionally bought to see how essential Deans would have been to the Rebels final season. In her debut since struggling a season-ending knee harm in late November 2023, Deans made 4 of 8 3-pointers within the second half to steer a taking pictures flourish not typical of Ole Miss, which hit 26.5% of its 3-point makes an attempt final season. After going 1-for-11 from deep, the Rebels made 5 of their subsequent eight from past the arc to get again into the sport. Ole Miss might need scored the upset if not for a pair of turnovers within the closing minute.

Philippou: Ole Miss got here in fifth within the SEC preseason ballot, behind South Carolina, Texas, LSU and Oklahoma — all of that are preseason top-10 groups. Practically upsetting a supposed nationwide title contender in USC — and seeing Deans return to basketball in robust kind, as Charlie talked about — will elevate expectations that McPhee-McCuin’s group can preserve its standing as a ranked workforce, maybe host NCAA match video games and return to the Candy 16 (the Rebels upset 1-seed Stanford to succeed in the regional semifinals in 2023).

What stood out about Watkins’ efficiency?

Creme: Not less than early, Watkins appeared extra affected person than she was on the finish of final season. Iriafen is a teammate she trusts; it was clear Watkins was OK deferring a number of the offensive load. Watkins’ 19 area aim makes an attempt had been three fewer than she averaged a yr in the past, and he or she as soon as once more impressively drew fouls, taking pictures 10-of-12 from the free throw line. However 9 turnovers is clearly an issue. It is particularly regarding as a result of Watkins wasn’t dealing with the ball as a lot as she sometimes did in later phases of final season. That stated, her general line was nonetheless an impressive option to start the brand new season.

Philippou: The imaginative and prescient for this USC workforce is for Watkins to have extra assist round her so she would not should do as a lot as she did final season. That did not come into fruition Monday with Watkins, Iriafen and Smith combining for all however seven of the Trojans’ factors and the offense sputtering. As others round Watkins get extra snug, that ought to reduce the load on the star sophomore, permitting her to exert herself extra on the defensive finish and shine as a passer. We noticed nice flashes of that towards Ole Miss together with her 5 blocks (tying a profession excessive), 3 steals and 4 assists.

What’s the greatest concern for USC shifting ahead?

Philippou: Gottlieb stated USC wasn’t in a position to play in circulate and with freedom offensively, as an alternative permitting Ole Miss’ stress to dictate the sport. The turnovers (26, 4 greater than the Trojans’ made area targets) had been the most important pink flag, as was the abysmal 3-point taking pictures (Gottlieb insisted USC is healthier than that from deep). It is a small miracle the Trojans gained contemplating they shot 1-for-9 from the sector within the fourth and Watkins managed two factors within the closing seven minutes.

Ole Miss-esque defenses aren’t one thing USC ought to have to fret about within the Massive Ten, however the Trojans nonetheless should guarantee they will take care of that form of stress come March.

Creme: The Trojans want higher level guard play to alleviate the burden for Watkins. They want her coming off screens, not initiating offense. Meaning Von Oelhoffen must keep out of foul hassle (4 fouls Monday), be extra concerned and be extra aggressive. Scoring her first (and solely) factors with 21 seconds left cannot be the norm.

And it is worrisome that Marshall, probably the most tenured participant as a Trojan, did not rating and took one shot in 34 minutes. The 6-foot-4 senior is a profession 11.4 points-per-game scorer.

No. 5 UCLA 66, No. 20 Louisville 59

UCLA gained its opener, however did the Bruins impress?

Philippou: It was a little bit of a damper Monday for the Bruins to be with out Kiki Rice on account of a shoulder harm suffered in observe. The purpose guard is taken into account day-to-day, in line with the ESPN broadcast.

UCLA‘s offense wasn’t notably fairly. The Bruins had 22 turnovers and shot 41% from the sector, although issues will probably run extra easily as soon as Rice is again. It was a terrific signal that Lauren Betts picked up the place she left off, with a team-best 18 factors on 9-for-12 taking pictures, 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks.

Betts and Oregon State switch Timea Gardiner appeared to work nice collectively on the court docket, with Gardiner’s potential to stretch the ground serving to to open up the within for the 6-foot-7 Betts. Gardiner, a 6-3 ahead, led the Bruins with 5 3-pointers on seven makes an attempt — three of which had been assisted by Betts — and was considered one of two Bruins to transform from past the arc on the day. The duo may emerge as probably the most thrilling frontcourt pairings within the Massive Ten — and the nation.