USC star JuJu Watkins goes down and Trojans rout Mississippi State in March Madness

JuJu Watkins was carried off the ground with a season-ending knee harm within the first quarter of top-seeded Southern California’s recreation towards Mississippi State within the NCAA Event on Monday evening.

Watkins, one of many largest stars in ladies’s basketball, was streaking to the basket chased by two defenders when her knee bent awkwardly as she planted her proper leg, the non-contact harm inflicting her to crumple to the ground. She grabbed her knee and writhed in ache as her teammates surrounded her.

“I’d be mendacity if I advised you I wasn’t rattled seeing JuJu mendacity on the ground and crying,” coach Lindsay Gottlieb stated.

Afterward, a crew spokesperson stated Watkins will bear surgical procedure after which start rehabilitation.

The gang in Galen Middle went silent as Gottlieb and two different USC staffers attended to the 19-year-old Watkins, a 6-foot-2 sophomore who averages 24.6 factors. She was carried off by a number of individuals with the Trojans main 13-2.

The Trojans gained 96-59 to achieve the Candy 16.

“My prayers and ideas are with JuJu,” MSU coach Sam Purcell stated. “Clearly, we’re rivals and also you by no means need to see that, particularly what she means for ladies’s basketball.”

Watkins has loved good well being in her temporary faculty profession. She began all 34 of USC’s video games as a freshman, when she was second in scoring nationally with 27.1 factors a recreation. Her 920 factors set a nationwide document for freshman scoring.

USC reached the Elite Eight final yr, dropping to Paige Bueckers and UConn. The groups may meet once more in a regional remaining in Spokane, Washington, this yr.

After Watkins was harm, the gang loudly booed Mississippi State each time it had the ball. The college’s cheerleaders have been booed throughout their halftime routine and the gang received on the crew once more because it warmed up for the second half.

“They’re gonna stand behind their house crew. They’re gonna go onerous for JuJu,” stated MSU guard Jerkaila Jordan, who scored 17 factors. “I couldn’t do nothing however respect them.”

Watkins had three free throws, one rebound and two assists in 5 minutes.

Within the second quarter, USC guard Malia Samuels went down onerous on the baseline. She held her head in her arms as the gang booed and Gottlieb once more got here speeding out to examine on the sophomore, who ran the offense in Watkins’ absence.

“I used to be relieved to listen to her say, ‘I’m good,’” Gottlieb stated.

The Trojans appeared undaunted by the harm to their star. They rushed the ground in celebration after senior Rayah Marshall banked in a 3-pointer to beat the halftime buzzer and lengthen the result in 50-27.

“They gave us plenty of power, particularly when issues weren’t going our approach originally,” stated Kiki Iriafen, who scored a season-high 36 factors.

Watkins harm her left hand after the ball jammed her fingers in USC’s first-round blowout win over UNC Greensboro. She later got here up limping on her left leg and winced.

“It’s the top of the season, physique is slightly banged up,” she stated afterward. “On to the subsequent. No person cares. I’m all good.”