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How to Watch: USC Trojans in the NCAA Tournament

Erik-McKinneyby:Erik McKinney03/20/25

ErikTMcKinney

Juju Watkins
USA Today Sports

The USC Trojans are set to tip off their run toward a national championship this weekend as Lindsay Gottlieb’s team earned a No. 1 seed on the strength of the Big Ten conference regular season title.

USC will open tournament play against the No. 16 seed UNC Greensboro Spartans.

Game Facts

Teams: [1] USC Trojans (28-3) vs [16] UNC Greensboro (25-6)
Series history: First-ever meeting
Day: Saturday, March 22
Time: 12 pm PT
Location: Galen Center
Channel: ABC
Announcers: Eric Frede, Christy Thomaskutty and Holly Rowe
Betting line: USC -32.5, O/U 128.5

Key USC player stats

JuJu Watkins leads the Trojans in scoring at 24.6 points per game. She’s also averaging 6.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.9 blocks.

Forward Kiki Iriafen averages 18.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting nearly 50% from the field and 82.5% from the free-throw line.

True freshman Kennedy Smith is averaging 9.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while typically serving as the team’s defensive stopper.

Forward Rayah Marshall averages 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

The Trojans rank No. 27 as a team in free throw percentage at 77.12% and are No. 20 in free throw attempts per game. They are No. 17 in rebounding margin per game and are No. 2 in blocked shots per game.

Key UNC Greensboro player stats

Guard Jayde Gamble leads the team with 11.8 points per game but fellow guard Nya Smith scores 11.0 points per game. Both average 3.8 rebounds while forward Khalis Cain leads the team with 8.9 boards per game. Gamble and Smith have combined to take 41% of the team’s three-point attempts and hit at a 31.6% clip.

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