JuJu, Paige, and more: Breaking down key matchups in USC-UConn clash

JuJu Watkins and USC will make the cross-country trip to Hartford for a top-10 showdown against Paige Bueckers and UConn.

The highly anticipated prime-time tilt is part of a two-game series between the schools and features a pair of leading Wooden Award candidates.

The Trojans and Huskies met in last season's Elite Eight, with the latter prevailing 80-73 to reach their 23rd Final Four.

Watkins and Bueckers remain at the center of their respective school's national championship hopes. Saturday's blockbuster affair will serve as a litmus test for the pair of 10-1 squads.

Here are the key matchups to follow when UConn and USC take the floor.

JuJu vs. Paige

Watkins is one of the NCAA's most lethal scorers, averaging 24.7 points through her first 11 appearances this season. The 6-foot-2 guard already has a 40-point showing under her belt and set a new USC record in that same contest with nine makes from downtown. Only Caitlin Clark has produced more 30-point outings than Watkins through a sophomore year.

Watkins' shot selection was an area of emphasis during the offseason, and it's shown on the court. The Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year is shooting 5.3% better from the field on 4.6 fewer field goals per game. She's also been a more efficient 3-point shooter on virtually the same volume of shots. The Huskies no longer have a perimeter stopper like Nika Muhl, so expect a committee approach to guarding Watkins.

Don't be surprised if Bueckers takes some of the defensive responsibilities against the Trojans phenom as she did down the stretch last April. It's part of what makes the two-time All-American guard such a special player. Bueckers is always thinking one step ahead of her opponents, which allows her to force turnovers and spark UConn's transition attack.

But you don't earn the nickname "Paige Buckets" without lighting up the scoreboard. Bueckers can shoot off movement, post up opposing guards, and finish through contact in the paint, and she has consistently been among the nation's leaders in effective field-goal percentage. USC will likely turn to Watkins - a solid defender herself - to take the challenge of stifling Bueckers.

Iriafen vs. Strong

Many expect Kiki Iriafen to follow Bueckers at second overall in next year's WNBA draft. The Stanford transfer is proving that her breakout junior season was no fluke, averaging 18.7 points, 9.2 boards, and 1.4 assists over 11 appearances. She's sixth in the NCAA in offensive rebounds (54) and attempting a career-high 6.1 free throws per contest.

Iriafen operates with patience in the post, consistently draws fouls, plays with a high motor on the glass, and has the lateral mobility to defend on the perimeter. While her range has yet to extend beyond the arc, she has the ability to knock down face-up jumpers from the elbow.

Sarah Strong could find herself matched up against the reigning power forward of the year. Strong has made an instant impact with the Huskies, trailing only Bueckers in scoring and pacing the team in rebounds, steals, and blocks. The prized No. 1 overall recruit recently became the only UConn freshman in the past 25 years to tally at least 15 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a single game.

Strong has the versatility of a modern big. The 6-foot-2 forward runs the floor in transition and isn't afraid to let it fly from distance. She can pull up in transition, shoot off the catch, and pick-and-pop to the 3-point line. Whenever opponents close out too aggressively, she's more than capable of putting the ball on the floor and driving all the way to the basket. The Huskies have found success using Strong as a playmaking hub at the elbow and in dribble-handoff actions. Her quick hands and instincts have resulted in a pair of six-steal performances.

"I don't know that anyone has had the offensive skill set that Sarah has since (Breanna Stewart) was here," UConn head coach Geno Auriemma said following his school's win over Louisville earlier this month, according to CT Insider's Maggie Vanoni.

Supporting casts

Both schools have a dynamic one-two punch, but who'll rise to the occasion alongside the star duos?

USC needed to replenish its talent after losing three starters from last year's squad. They did just that with the additions in the transfer portal and a top-ranked recruiting class featuring three McDonald's All-Americans: Kennedy Smith, Kayleigh Heckel, and Avery Howell.

Each have shown promise in their first campaign with the Women of Troy. Smith was settling in as the Trojans' third offensive option prior to being sidelined. Heckel replaced Smith in the starting lineup, energizing Lindsay Gottlieb's squad with her pace and on-ball pressure. Meanwhile, Howell stepped into Heckel's role as the lead guard off the bench, registering 7.2 points per contest and shooting 35.7% from deep during USC's current six-game winning streak.

A similar situation has played out at UConn where Azzi Fudd is back on the mend with a minor knee sprain. The former No. 1 recruit is the only player outside Bueckers and Strong averaging double digits in points, and her floor-spacing was badly missed during the Huskies' lone defeat of the campaign to Notre Dame.

UConn needs more from its supporting cast, regardless if Fudd suits up Saturday. Second-year guard Ashlynn Shade gave the Huskies exactly what they were looking for during Tuesday's victory over Iowa State, draining seven triples en route to a career-high 27 points. Granted, she won't be setting a new personal best every time out, but consistent scoring from Shade would keep defenses honest and ease the offensive load on Bueckers and Strong.