CBB Full-Court Press: JuJu shines in Battle of L.A.

College Basketball Full-Court Press recaps the most important developments from the sport and examines their significance moving forward.

JuJu's showstopping performance

JuJu Watkins always seems to save her best performances for UCLA. The Trojans phenom averaged 30.7 points, 10.3 boards, 2.7 blocks, and 2.3 steals in three meetings against the Bruins last season. She took center stage once again in the Battle of L.A., registering 38 points, 11 boards, eight blocks, five assists, and one steal to lift USC past previously undefeated UCLA. Watkins is the first Division I player to have at least 35 points, five blocks, and five dimes in a game over the past 20 seasons. She spent less than a minute on the bench during the entire tilt.

Watkins' all-around skill set was on display from the jump. The sophomore blocked Bruins guard Kiki Rice on the second possession of the game and proceeded to knock down 6-of-7 attempts from deep in the first half. Watkins had no hesitation pulling up from distance, got some clean looks off dribble-handoffs with Kiki Iriafen, and effectively used the jab step to create a bit of space from her defender. The Trojans outscored their crosstown rivals 16-7 on the fast break, with Watkins serving as the catalyst for most of those transition opportunities. The 6-foot-2 guard has the speed and strength to go coast to coast as well as the court vision to seek out teammates on hit-ahead passes.

Watkins took over the final frame with her defense and sealed USC's first victory over a No. 1 team since 1983. She showed great timing with her digs on UCLA center Lauren Betts and helped on defense when needed. Watkins had three swats in a 1:05 span at the beginning of the fourth quarter and another pair of rejections on Betts in the final 2:31. It was the exclamation mark on arguably the finest moment of Watkins' young career and potentially a difference-maker in a tight Wooden Award race.

UConn makes statement

UConn had fallen short in each of its marquee non-conference matchups, dropping games to USC, Notre Dame, and Tennessee earlier this season. The Huskies finally got the signature win they've been seeking, blowing out South Carolina by 29 points over the weekend to end their opponents' home winning streak at 71 games. It was the Gamecocks' largest defeat at Colonial Life Arena since December 2008, according to ESPN's Alexa Philippou.

Geno Auriemma's squad put forth a clinical performance after some recent struggles under the bright lights. UConn made only 14 triples and 23.7% of its 3-point attempts in its three defeats. The Huskies nearly exceeded their three-game total against South Carolina alone, draining 13-of-28 attempts from downtown. Azzi Fudd followed up a career-high 34-point performance with six treys versus the reigning national champs, while Ashlynn Shade added three makes from deep.

Some of the Huskies' outside looks were a product of pushing the pace. Paige Bueckers constantly found Fudd and Shade leaking upcourt on multiple occasions before South Carolina could set up its stingy half-court defense. UConn had 31 fast-break points against the Gamecocks after failing to crack double digits in that department in two of their three losses. The Huskies' dominance on the glass also fueled their transition game. Freshman Sarah Strong had 12 defensive rebounds, Bueckers corralled six, and Jana El Alfy had four.

UConn executed its game plan to perfection and got the desired result in spite of a 3-of-12 outing from Bueckers. That should be a huge confidence boost for a Huskies squad that badly needed a win versus a top-tier opponent.

Texas takes control of SEC

Texas capped an incredible week with a 12-point comeback win over LSU just a few hours after it was given a No. 1 seed in the NCAA selection committee's mock bracket. The Longhorns took down South Carolina and Kentucky prior to Sunday's triumph over the Tigers, making Vic Schaefer's group the first team in 20 years to win three consecutive regular-season contests against top-10 opponents.

The Longhorns' recent run has allowed them to seize control of a highly competitive SEC. Sophomore forward Madison Booker has raised her level of play, averaging 18.3 points, 9.7 boards, 3.3 assists, and 2.3 steals over her past three appearances. When her shot wasn't falling against LSU, she found ways to get to the charity stripe and made a pair of key jumpers down the stretch of a tight game. Taylor Jones and Kyla Oldacre are spearheading a Longhorns interior attack that averaged 43.1 points in the paint and 18.9 second-chance points entering Sunday's play. The post tandem has recorded a combined 24.7 points and 13.3 boards per contest across the previous three games.

Texas' defense has been equally responsible for the team's success, frequently forcing miscues, protecting the rim, and allowing few threes. Fourth-year guard Rori Harmon is the heart of the Longhorns' defense, applying constant pressure and taking charges. South Carolina, Kentucky, and LSU - three of the nation's most potent offensive units - were limited to under 40% shooting in their recent matchups against the Longhorns.

Transition three

NC State back on track: NC State is looking a lot more like the team that reached the Final Four last season, with wins in 16 of its last 18 games after a 4-3 start. The Wolfpack are committing the third-fewest fouls per game (12.2), have the eighth-lowest turnover rate (16.4%), and are 15th in defensive rebounds (29.2). Aziaha James paces the team in scoring for a second consecutive year, posting a career-high 17.8 points on 46.5% shooting. She had a personal-best 36 points in a key ACC showdown against Duke. Zoe Brooks has become more comfortable in her first year as the Wolfpack's starting point guard, tallying five dimes per contest over her past 14 appearances. Saniya Rivers continues to cause havoc on the defensive end, placing seventh in the conference in blocks (32) and 19th in steals (41). NC State's showdown Sunday with Notre Dame will decide the ACC regular-season crown and affect seeding for March's conference tournament.

Tennessee will be a tough out: Don't be deceived by the Lady Vols' 6-6 SEC record. Tennessee has given some of the nation's top teams a run for their money and would be a difficult NCAA Tournament draw for any No. 1 seed. Five of its six conference losses have come against top-10 teams, with four of those matchups decided by five points or less. Kim Caldwell's squad finally got a significant resume-building win earlier this month when it upset UConn for its first victory in the storied rivalry since 2007. Tennessee can certainly do some damage in March. The Lady Vols have the country's second-highest scoring unit, led by top-20 Wooden Award candidate Talaysia Cooper. The redshirt sophomore guard is having a breakout year on both ends of the floor, averaging 17 points and an SEC-leading 3.2 steals.

Georgia Tech rewards Fortner: The Yellow Jackets signed head coach Nell Fortner to a three-year contract extension through the 2029-30 campaign earlier in February. Georgia Tech has exceeded all expectations after being picked to finish 10th in the ACC preseason poll. The school's on pace to set a new single-season program record for wins and set to make its third NCAA Tournament appearance in six campaigns under Fortner. The former Big Ten and SEC Coach of the Year guided the Yellow Jackets to their second Sweet 16 appearance just four years ago. Another trip to the second weekend is a real possibility. Georgia Tech ranks 16th in adjusted offensive efficiency (114.9 points per 100 possessions), according to Barttorvik.com. The Yellow Jackets have a plethora of 3-point shooters and are elite at defending the three. Top-30 recruit Dani Carnegie has made an instant impact, averaging 13.5 points and knocking down the 10th-most triples (54) in the ACC.