The elite matchups in Los Angeles didn’t disappoint, and as a result, there is a new Associated Press No. 1 for the first time since the 2023-24 preseason poll. LSU, the 2023 national champion, held the spot until South Carolina showed off in Paris and never stopped en route to the program’s undefeated championship last season.
Now it’s another team’s turn to move up.
South Carolina’s frontcourt is a rare work in progress
For as good as Chloe Kitts has been for South Carolina, she and the frontcourt were exposed as the reigning champion’s weakness in a loss to UCLA on Sunday that reset the national championship conversation. South Carolina was on a 43-game win streak.
It’s only the second time since the 2014-15 season the Gamecocks haven’t run their offense through a talented center, from 6-foot-4 A’ja Wilson (129-16 record, two Final Fours, national title) to 6-5 Aliyah Boston (129-9, three Final Fours, national title) and 6-7 Kamilla Cardoso (38-0, national title). The only previous season was 2018-19, when South Carolina went 23-10 — their most losses since 2011-12 — and peaked at No. 10 in the AP poll to begin the season.
“We’re in transition from having a dominant big to not having a dominant big and figuring out how we can incorporate our bigs scoring the basketball a little bit,” head coach Dawn Staley said. “So, we’ll figure it out. We’ve got to get comfortable with it, our bigs have to get comfortable with doing it a little bit differently.”
Instead, UCLA’s 6-7 center Lauren Betts took center stage as one of, if not the most, dominant bigs in the country. Staley said she liked what they did defensively on her (Betts had 11 points and was 5-of-8, slightly below her 70-plus percent average), but she “commands so much attention” it left open shooters. UCLA took advantage with a strong shooting performance. Betts added 14 rebounds (six offensive), four assists and four blocks.
Her presence alone forced South Carolina away from the basket offensively (18 paint points) and their guards struggled from the floor in a first half in which they were doubled up each frame. Shot selection was also poor and they appeared rushed and out of their depth, despite being the reigning champions and No. 1 ranked team in the country. Kitts was 1-of-7 in 12 minutes, all but three of which were in the first half. For the second straight game, South Carolina’s offense fell below 50% shooting, a mark they can’t let happen without a go-to center ready to carry the offensive leadership.
The last time South Carolina didn’t roll in with a dominant big, the Gamecocks earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament and lost in the regional semifinal. It’s a long season, and a loss will do this group good in the growth department, but the way UCLA dominated South Carolina is exactly how Staley said.
It’s what South Carolina is used to doing to teams en route to a national title. The pathway for teams like UCLA and Notre Dame, another lower-ranked team to earn a big win in Los Angeles this weekend, is wider than previously believed.
Notre Dame’s defense makes for a strong title contender
Big-time player, big-time stage. It’s how Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey described sophomore guard Hannah Hidalgo, but it can also be applied to every Fighting Irish player on the Galen Center court in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Notre Dame maintained full control from start to finish and took down then-No. 3 USC, 74-61, with as complete of a game as Ivey could want. The Irish frustrated national player of the year contender JuJu Watkins and forced anyone else to beat them, an issue the Trojans will need to right heading into Big Ten action. They threw help and size at forward KiKi Iriafen, a projected lottery pick, to make her attempt more jumpers than easy layups. The unit turned 21 turnovers into 22 points.
Hidalgo and Co. looked every bit the best defensive team in the nation. It’s been a focus all summer, Ivey said. And it should make every ACC team and fellow title contender concerned. Notre Dame already has the best backcourt in the nation with dynamic point guard duo Hidalgo and Olivia Miles eating in transition. Hidalgo controlled the first half and Miles erupted in the second.
Miles scored 12 of her 20 points beyond the arc in another dangerous addition to this roster. The junior has never been a strong 3-point shooter (24.6% entering this season), yet she has already made nearly as many as her sophomore season. The four she made against USC (on five attempts) tied her career high and put an end to any Trojans comeback.
Oh, and Notre Dame is playing without two starters in senior forward Maddy Westbeld and transfer forward Liza Karlen. Freshman Kate Koval is playing valuable early-season minutes that will only make Notre Dame deeper, and transfer Liatu King is becoming one of the most valuable pick-ups in the transfer portal.
USC needs time
Watkins finished with 24 points, but it was a difficult road as Notre Dame threw multiple bodies at her and successfully brought help on drives. Making things difficult for JuJu means it is difficult for everyone else. The Trojans aren’t ready to help around her yet.
Even generational superstars can’t win alone. UConn and South Carolina built their success with No. 1 recruits and high-level talent around them. Iowa reached national championship appearances off three-plus years of consistency surrounding Caitlin Clark in the starting lineup. Those teammates have spoken often of learning to play with her. This USC squad has three new starters in the lineup and one, freshman Kennedy Smith, didn’t play on Saturday due to injury.
“You don’t schedule this team because you think anything is going to be a 40-point win,” head coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “You schedule it because you have an opportunity to have a great crowd and play well and give yourself an early season signature win. Or you get exposed. And I would have chosen option 1 if that was my decision to make. But given the fact that it’s option 2, our only choice is to be exposed, stay together and get better.”
The glaring issue is turnovers. Both Ole Miss and Notre Dame forced at least 20 turnovers. Watkins had nine and five, respectively, and both were season highs. USC averaged 12.1 turnovers last year (12th in DI).
Game of the week
It’s a turkey-packed week of hoops as tournaments are already underway, but there are two that stand out above the rest.
Notre Dame vs. TCU, Friday at 5 p.m. ET (FloHoops): The Fighting Irish defense will face the tall task of experienced 6-7 senior center Sedona Prince and Olympic bronze medalist guard Hailey Van Lith.
Baha Mar women’s championship, Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. (FloHoops): Ole Miss caused fits for USC and JuJu Watkins in the opener. What will Coach Yo have ready for such a star-studded cast as UConn’s should the two teams meet in the championship game?
Yahoo Sports AP ballot
1. UConn
2. Notre Dame
3. UCLA
4. Texas
5. South Carolina
6. USC
7. Oklahoma
8. Maryland
9. Iowa State
10. Kansas State
11. LSU
12. Ohio State
13. West Virginia
14. Ole Miss
15. Duke
16. Kentucky
17. North Carolina
18. NC State
19. TCU
20. Iowa
21. Nebraska
22. Baylor
23. Illinois
24. Creighton
25. Louisville
Official AP rankings
1. UCLA
2. UConn
3. Notre Dame
4. South Carolina
5. Texas
6. USC
7. LSU
8. Oklahoma
9. Kansas State
10. Maryland
11. Iowa State
12. West Virginia
13. Duke
14. Kentucky
15. Iowa State
16. North Carolina
17. TCU
18. Ole Miss
19. Illinois
20. NC State
21. Oregon
22. Iowa
23. Alabama
24. Louisville
25. Nebraska
