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

It’s not an elimination sport 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 prime 16 seed reveal on Thursday night. It’s a rematch from a sport performed on Feb. 13 at USC’s Galen Middle, 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 they usually’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 can be thought of and may 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 workforce within the nation. UCLA began the 12 months 23-0 and is projected to be the No. 1 general seed within the NCAA Event, and Betts is a significant motive why. The 6-foot-7 middle averages 20 factors, 9.8 rebounds and a pair of.8 blocks per sport this season. Solely two different gamers within the nation common not less than 20 factors and 9 boards per sport this 12 months – South Dakota’s Grace Larkins and Vanderbilt’s Khamil Pierre – however neither swat away pictures or shoot as sharply from the ground as Betts’ capturing proportion of 62.9. Betts can also be fourth in PER with a mark of 40.6.

Then there’s Watkins, who wows together with her clean deal with, shot-making capacity and swagger. She’s fourth within the nation in scoring this season with 24.2 factors per sport, and likewise averages 6.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.1 steals and two blocks per sport – doing a bit of little bit of every thing for the Trojans at a excessive degree. Larkins is the one different participant within the nation this season who posts not less than 20 factors, six rebounds and three assists per sport. As a short apart, Larkins isn’t being mentioned for Participant of the 12 months as a result of she performs for an 8-18 South Dakota workforce, 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 prime with 16-1 marks in league play. USC’s lone loss to a Massive Ten faculty to date was a defeat at Iowa on the day the Hawkeyes retired Caitlin Clark’s jersey. The winner of this sport will get to assert not solely the Massive Ten common season title outright, but in addition the highest seed within the Massive Ten Event. And for the NCAA Event, the winner probably cements their standing as a No. 1 seed.

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

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

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

Sunday, 12 p.m. ET – ESPN

Photograph by Michael Hickey/Getty Pictures

The Combating Irish have inexplicably misplaced two video games in a row. After falling in double extra time in an epic sport at N.C. State on Sunday, Notre Dame was nonetheless slated as a No. 1 seed within the prime 16 reveal on Thursday evening. However then Hidalgo, Miles and Co. have been upset at house 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 effectively.

Louisville isn’t any pushover. They handed Duke its lone house lack of the season only a week in the past and have performed effectively within the ACC slate as Jeff Walz has found out 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 the moment has Richmond profitable the at-large bid for the A-10, whereas St. Joe’s and George Mason are left on the flawed aspect of the bubble. A win over Richmond would give St. Joe’s its third Quad 2 win of the season, which may be a adequate of a resume booster to place it on the proper aspect of the bubble. Richmond received the primary matchup between these two groups, 59-51.

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

Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET – FOX

Photograph by John Todd/NCAA Pictures by way of Getty Pictures

After battling accidents earlier this season, Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers has regained her kind as probably the most proficient 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 sport whereas capturing 40 p.c 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

Photograph by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Pictures

Virginia has underperformed expectations this season and can miss the NCAA Event for the seventh 12 months in a row, however sophomore guard Kymora Johnson is price watching. She averages 18.1 factors, 5.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists per sport. Within the Cavaliers’ final assembly with the Tar Heels, Johnson torched them for 25 factors on 4-of-7 capturing from deep.

After shedding to Duke, can UNC bounce again and get a win on senior day to spice up its probabilities 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 could possibly 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