Ladies’s basketball watch information: UCLA vs. USC is the must-watch rematch between JuJu Watkins and Lauren Betts

It’s not an elimination recreation the place the season involves an finish for the loser, however March will start with a bang on Saturday evening when No. 2 UCLA hosts No. 4 USC at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.

It’s the common season finale for each groups, each of whom appeared on the 1-line within the NCAA Event choice committee’s newest high 16 seed reveal on Thursday night. It’s a rematch from a recreation performed on Feb. 13 at USC’s Galen Heart, the place the Trojans handed their rival their first lack of the season. Now, the Bruins are aiming to get that lick again.

However way more than merely revenge and bragging rights are stake. These two packages based mostly in Los Angeles are two of the very best in ladies’s faculty basketball this season and so they’re led by maybe the highest two gamers within the nation.

So, let’s start there. The Nationwide Participant of the 12 months race appears to be coming all the way down to USC’s JuJu Watkins and UCLA’s Lauren Betts. Others will likely be thought-about and would possibly obtain votes, like Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, UConn’s Paige Bueckers and LSU’s Aneesah Morrow, however most on-line sportsbooks are projecting Watkins and Betts because the favorites.

The case for Betts boils all the way down to this: She’s the very best participant on the very best group within the nation. UCLA began the yr 23-0 and is projected to be the No. 1 total seed within the NCAA Event, and Betts is a significant motive why. The 6-foot-7 heart averages 20 factors, 9.8 rebounds and a couple of.8 blocks per recreation this season. Solely two different gamers within the nation common at the least 20 factors and 9 boards per recreation this yr – South Dakota’s Grace Larkins and Vanderbilt’s Khamil Pierre – however neither swat away pictures or shoot as sharply from the ground as Betts’ taking pictures proportion of 62.9. Betts can be fourth in PER with a mark of 40.6.

Then there’s Watkins, who wows along with her clean deal with, shot-making capability and swagger. She’s fourth within the nation in scoring this season with 24.2 factors per recreation, and in addition averages 6.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.1 steals and two blocks per recreation – doing somewhat little bit of all the things for the Trojans at a excessive degree. Larkins is the one different participant within the nation this season who posts at the least 20 factors, six rebounds and three assists per recreation. As a quick apart, Larkins isn’t being mentioned for Participant of the 12 months as a result of she performs for an 8-18 South Dakota group, however certainly, her numbers are spectacular.

Again to Watkins – she’s fifth in win shares and has helped the Trojans notch wins over the likes of UCLA and UConn. In the meantime, Betts’ Bruins have knocked off South Carolina and Louisville.

A formidable efficiency by Betts on Saturday evening, coupled with a Bruins’ victory may persuade voters to place her forward of Watkins on Participant of the 12 months ballots.

Additionally at-stake is the Massive Ten title. Of their first season within the league, these two west coast newcomers stand on the high with 16-1 marks in league play. USC’s lone loss to a Massive Ten college to date was a defeat at Iowa on the day the Hawkeyes retired Caitlin Clark’s jersey. The winner of this recreation will get to assert not solely the Massive Ten common season title outright, but additionally the highest seed within the Massive Ten Event. And for the NCAA Event, the winner seemingly cements their standing as a No. 1 seed.

It’s the newest chapter on this rivalry that you just received’t need to miss.

Right here’s what else is value watching this weekend:

Recreation that might have an effect on NCAA Event seeding: No. 25 Louisville at No. 3 Notre Dame

Sunday, 12 p.m. ET – ESPN

Picture by Michael Hickey/Getty Pictures

The Preventing Irish have inexplicably misplaced two video games in a row. After falling in double additional time in an epic recreation at N.C. State on Sunday, Notre Dame was nonetheless slated as a No. 1 seed within the high 16 reveal on Thursday evening. However then Hidalgo, Miles and Co. had been upset at residence later that night by Florida State. The ACC common season title appears to have slipped from the Irish’s grasp, and a spot on the 1-line may as properly.

Louisville is not any pushover. They handed Duke its lone residence lack of the season only a week in the past and have performed properly within the ACC slate as Jeff Walz has discovered his younger group.

Superior mid-major conflict that deserves your consideration: Richmond at Saint Joseph’s

Saturday, 2 p.m. ET – ESPN+

Amber Searls-Imagn Pictures

ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme at present has Richmond successful the at-large bid for the A-10, whereas St. Joe’s and George Mason are left on the incorrect facet of the bubble. A win over Richmond would give St. Joe’s its third Quad 2 win of the season, which may be a ok of a resume booster to place it on the suitable facet of the bubble. Richmond received the primary matchup between these two groups, 59-51.

Should-watch participant in opposition to an attention-grabbing opponent: No. 12 Ohio State at No. 19 Maryland

Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET – FOX

Picture by John Todd/NCAA Images through Getty Pictures

After battling accidents earlier this season, Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers has regained her kind as one of the crucial gifted guards within the nation. On Thursday evening, she scored 21 of her 25 factors within the fourth quarter to assist the Terps notch a highway win at Indiana by double figures. She’s one in all simply 4 gamers within the nation this season averaging 14 factors, 4 assists and 4 rebounds per recreation whereas taking pictures 40 % from 3-point land. Sunday marks her Senior Day and possibly the final time she’ll play in Faculty Park.

Sickos Responsible Pleasure Recreation of the Week: Virginia at No. 8 North Carolina

Sunday, 2 p.m. ET – The CW

Picture by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Pictures

Virginia has underperformed expectations this season and can miss the NCAA Event for the seventh yr in a row, however sophomore guard Kymora Johnson is value watching. She averages 18.1 factors, 5.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists per recreation. Within the Cavaliers’ final assembly with the Tar Heels, Johnson torched them for 25 factors on 4-of-7 taking pictures from deep.

After dropping to Duke, can UNC bounce again and get a win on senior day to spice up its possibilities of getting a double-bye within the ACC Event? With out Alyssa Ustby and Reniya Kelly – whose taking part in statuses stay up within the air – it may very well be tough.

Additionally watch…

Penn at Harvard: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET – ESPN+

No. 15 Kentucky at No. 6 South Carolina: Sunday, 2 p.m. ET – ESPN

No. 16 Duke at No. 24 Florida State: Sunday, 6 p.m. ET – ACC Community

No. 10 TCU at No. 17 Baylor: Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET – FS1