Without Watkins, USC is still keeping hopes up

Pressure is off for the Trojans as they have to compete minus their injured star.

- BY RYAN KARTJE

A DOMINANT defender last year, sophomore guard Kennedy Smith says she's ready to step up her shooting.

(ALIKA JENNER Getty Images)

When Lindsay Gottlieb looks back on last basketball season, it's impossible not to think of the pressure. The spotlight on USC burned brightly from Day 1 last fall, the whole hoops world seemingly waiting on JuJu Watkins to lift the Trojans to a national title. Everyone within the program felt that weight. Even USC's coach.

"Everyone felt we were a national championship contender," Gottlieb said.

There were lessons learned through that crucible, she admits now, and plenty of things she might do differently. Though no one could've planned for Watkins’ knee to buckle awkwardly beneath her in the second round of the NCAA tournament — or for the injury to rob her of the entire next season at USC, throwing a massive wrench into the Trojans’ trajectory.

Now, as USC prepares for a season without its superstar, there is no such pressure. As the Trojans’ season tips off Tuesday against New Mexico State, the spotlight will be busy shining elsewhere. Because as far as the college hoops world is now concerned, with Watkins sidelined, there are no outside expectations for the Trojans to start this season.

A year ago, Gottlieb had to confront that hype head-on. "It would have been foolish to ignore the [expectations]," she said.

But this year? "I think it would be foolish to do anything but ignore them."