LOS ANGELES — While it appeared JuJu Watkins sustained a few injuries during the USC women’s basketball game in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, when asked about it post-game, she would neither confirm nor deny it. “Hmmm,” she said, scratching her chin and glancing at the ceiling. “I don’t know. It’s the end of the season, body’s a little banged up, but onto the next. Nobody really cares.” Watkins knows all eyes are on her, always. Opponents, rivals, future defensive assignments, the media, even Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. This is no time for signs of weakness. Not when the first-seeded Trojans (29-3) are set for a second round matchup with ninth-seeded Mississippi State (22-11) on Monday, at 7 p.m. in the Galen Center for a chance to play in the Sweet 16 in Spokane. So, while she grabbed her left hand in the first half, came out of halftime with a wrap around her ring and middle finger, and left the game, briefly, after turning her left ankle, Watkins made sure to show no sign of lasting effects. She joked on the bench with teammate Kayleigh Heckel as the reserves closed the Trojans 71-25 win over UNC Greensboro, and was seemingly still getting to the punch-line as she and Heckel bounded into the locker room and giggled throughout the press conference. Whether it was the injury or the scoreboard, Watkins played fewer than 30 minutes for the first time since Jan. 26, and USC won with its defense. Two factors that will give the Trojans confidence moving forward as the team’s offense, and Watkins’ individual scoring punch, should not be a problem. The Trojans will have another challenge with Mississippi State’s defense as the Bulldogs allowed UC Berkeley just 46 points on Saturday. On the season, the Bulldogs concede 63.2 points per game. Offensively, they’re led by a dynamic guard duo of Jerkaila Jordan and Eniya Russell. Jordan averages 15.9 points per game, while Russell contributes 11.7 to go with a team-high 3.4 assists. Forward Madina Okot is third in the SEC in rebounds per game (9.7) and had a 14-point, 13-rebound performance on Saturday. Her matchup with USC post Rayah Marshall will be a physical one as Marshall, too, is a bruiser, who had a career-high seven blocks against UNC Greensboro. “She really is the anchor of our team,” Trojans forward Kiki Iriafen said on Saturday. “There’s no us without Raya. I think she’s such an unsung hero for this team.” Iriafen continued to explain how Marshall resurges their offensive flow when they fall stagnant, which was the case with Iriafen on Saturday. She went just 1 of 5 from the field and committed four turnovers in the first half. Her shots looked rushed, her post moves clunky. But she, eventually, found that flow, scrapping for hustle points on the offensive glass and scoring in transition to finish with 13 points. Related Articles College Sports | NCAA Tournament: USC women ready for ‘a new season’ College Sports | Swanson: USC women’s basketball nets disrespectful No. 1 seed College Sports | Alexander: What we learned, deduced and guessed on NCAA Selection Sunday College Sports | Swanson: USC women’s basketball assistant living a life ‘no one could have scripted’ College Sports | USC’s upset bid falls short in Big Ten Tournament loss to Purdue Iriafen has struggled, at times, throughout this season adapting to coach Lindsay Gottlieb’s fast-paced scheme, so her offense suddenly sparking to life isn’t as much of a given as Watkins’ is. Still, she expressed confidence that she’ll find her rhythm down the stretch and said that she can “play carefree” when her teammates are clicking like they were on Saturday. It’s that last part that gives this USC team a different feel. It can win in different ways, with different players starring in their roles. ...read more read less