First Take debates preferences between USC, South Carolina in NCAA Tournament

USC applies to two of the top teams for the 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament with Southern California as well as South Carolina. So, between the two, ‘First Take’ discussed who they preferred between the Trojans and the Gamecocks.

On Monday, Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe debated between USC (28-3) and South Carolina (30-3). Sharpe began by going with ‘SC considering the difference they have to him on the court in JuJu Watkins.

“I’m going to say USC because they have that one, that JuJu,” Sharpe said. “Although the shots weren’t falling for her yesterday, she still got 29. I just don’t think, Carolina? They don’t shoot the ball well enough for me. Now I know they can play outstanding defense. They can shut you down but I think they would struggle against somebody like, uh, JuJu because she can go get her own bucket, she can defend, she can put the ball on the floor, mid-range, she can shoot the three. I think, I think USC, with JuJu Watkins will probably go further.”

“Do I expect to see some of them get upset before the Final Four? I really don’t. But, if you make me pick one right now, I’d probably say the Lady Trojans,” said Sharpe.

USC is having one of their best seasons in school history with a top-ten offense led by Watkins (24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.9 blocks) and Kiki Iriafen (18.2 points, 8.3 rebounds). However, after losing two games all season and once in conference play, the Trojans lost the Big Ten Championship on Sunday in what was their third matchup of the season against UCLA.

In turn, Smith went with South Carolina. He did so based on their own difference that he knows they have on the sidelines with Dawn Staley.

“I’m going to go with South Carolina and I’m going to go with South Carolina because we’re talking about the NCAA Tournament competition and we’re talking about experience,” said Smith. “I mean, you’re talking about that? You’re talking about Dawn Staley. You’re talking about a team that has won two of the last three national championships, okay. Who, by the way, is having a down year in some people’s eyes. I mean, stop the presses. They’re 30-3. That’s their down year, okay. Yes, UConn had a lopsided win over them a couple of weeks ago. Texas has beaten them, UCLA has beaten them. But I’m going with South Carolina to the answer of this question because Dawn Staley.”

“I love me some JuJu but South Carolina, Dawn Staley, experience? It matters,” Smith said.

By their recent definition, the Gamecocks are having a lesser year with three losses being as many as they had in the previous three seasons combined. Still, with nearly a top-ten offense and a top-fifth defense, they’re doing more than fine, especially after this weekend in winning the SEC Tournament for a third straight year and fifth in their last six years.

Per the latest edition of Bracketology at ESPN, both South Carolina and USC would be No. 1 seeds with the Gamecocks at No. 1 overall and USC as the third of the four behind UCLA now as well. The AP Poll from today would suggest the same with each in the top-four, with UCLA and UConn, going into this weekend for Selection Sunday.

Each of South Carolina and USC expect to be in the Final Four in Tampa. From there, though, it’s about preferences between the two as broken down today on ‘First Take’.