The moment has arrived. Saturday’s game between No. 4 USC and No. 2 UCLA isn’t just a battle for Los Angeles; it will decide who wins the Big Ten regular-season title. Both teams have a 16-1 conference record, and with no team close to these titans in the conference standings, the winner of this final regular-season game will take it all.
The game will be on FOX on Saturday at 9:00 p.m. ET, and UCLA is hosting.
Tale of the tape
The last time these two teams played each other was an instant classic. The Trojans pulled off the upset over the Bruins at home thanks to the stellar play of JuJu Watkins, who ended the game with 38 points.
While the defeat undoubtedly stung, UCLA has been one of the better teams in the country. They are the second-ranked team, and this defeat to USC is the only blemish on their record.
The Trojans aren’t far behind the Bruins. They are ranked fourth and have only two losses on their resume. Whoever wins this game will likely move up in the standings. For USC, that means jumping past UCLA, and for the Bruins, it means a shot at being ranked No. 1 entering March Madness.
How UCLA can win
On their home court, UCLA needs to feed Lauren Betts the ball early and often. She is averaging 20.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, and they’ll need all that—and more—to beat USC.
The backcourt of Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez and Londynn Jones will be crucial in this game. There is no stopping Watkins, but if this trio can help cancel out her production by scoring in double figures, it will go a long way in positioning them for victory.
The guards also have to shoot better from deep. During their last matchup with USC, they went 2-for-13 from 3-point range. Shooting 15 percent from 3 will not win them this rematch.
How USC can win
If UCLA is relying on Betts, then USC is all about Watkins. She has had more ups than downs during her sophomore year, and another top game would secure the Big Ten title for the Trojans in their first season in the conference.
Kiki Iriafen has been so good as a transfer and her scoring versatility will also be needed on Saturday. The duo of Iriafen-Watkins is the key, but “the others” have to step up as well.
Can Rayah Marshall, Talia von Oelhoffen and the USC bench do enough to earn another win over UCLA? We’ll soon find out.
Game information
No. 4 USC Trojans (25-2, 16-1) vs. No. 2 UCLA Bruins (27-1, 16-1)
When: Saturday, Mar. 1 at 9 p.m. ET
Where: Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA
How to watch: FOX
