The answers had run out. The worst case had caught up to USC, at the worst time.
There was no more outrunning the reality looming over this entire NCAA tournament, not with Paige Bueckers at the height of her powers and the full weight of the Connecticut onslaught raining down on them. Without JuJu Watkins, there was no further the Trojans could go. And once again, it was Connecticut which slammed the door, ending USC’s season in the Elite Eight once again with a 78-64 victory.
The Huskies will face UCLA next weekend in the Final Four, while the Trojans are left to wonder where they go next without Watkins.
At every turn, until Monday, USC found an answer for her absence, scratching and clawing their way through two tournament rounds. In the round of 32, it was Kiki Iriafen who came alive in her stead. In the Sweet 16, it was a pair of freshmen in Avery Howell and Kennedy Smith who rose to the occasion.
Read more:Freshman duo of Kennedy Smith and Avery Howell lift USC into Elite Eight rematch with UConn
But this trip, without Watkins, will be tinged forever with questions of what could have been.
There is no way to know how far USC might have gone if Watkins’ right knee didn't buckle beneath her a week ago. But USC did all it could to keep that unlikely journey going.
Rayah Marshall, playing in her final game at USC, finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds, playing the game of her life when it mattered most.
But all that worked in the previous two rounds suddenly came up short. Iriafen struggled, scoring just 10 points. The freshmen did, too, as Smith and Howell combined to shoot four of 15 from the field.
Back in December, USC had bested the Huskies on their home court in an early-season classic. But the Trojans had their star then — Watkins led all scorers with 25 — and the Huskies lost just one more game before Monday.
