USC, JuJu Watkins turned the tables on Colorado and Jaylyn Sherrod
USC did indeed avenge its loss to Colorado from earlier in the season. The Trojans’ victory on Friday night in Los Angeles enabled the Women of Troy to split the season series against the Buffaloes, who had defeated USC in Boulder on January 21. Winning the game is what mattered most to USC, but the way in which the Trojans won this game had to be particularly satisfying for them. They really did turn the tables on Colorado in an instance of basketball role reversal.
In order to understand this, you need to go back to that January 21 game before returning to Friday night’s action.
Let’s take a look:
OUR STORY FROM JANUARY ON THE FIRST USC-COLORADO GAME
This story from January is worth circling back to today:https://t.co/16y35q5ObS
— USC Trojans Wire (@TrojansWire) February 24, 2024
THE PLAY THAT FOULED OUT JUJU WATKINS AGAINST COLORADO IN JANUARY
JuJu Watkins (NPOY candidate) just fouled on THIS charge call.
“Taking a charge” is the worst rule in all of sports. Ban it pic.twitter.com/zMv7tWZIlL
— Future Of The Retro (@TraeK_) January 21, 2024
COLORADO'S JAYLYN SHERROD SHOWED STREET SMARTS
We wrote about the play in which Colorado’s Jaylyn Sherrod fouled out JuJu on January 21:
The final point: It was not a good basketball play by Sherrod of Colorado, in that she didn’t let JuJu land with possession. The play should have been called a foul on Sherrod, not JuJu. However, Sherrod knew there was a real chance JuJu could foul out on the play. Sherrod took a risk which frankly had a very high risk-reward calculus. Stealing a foul on JuJu and getting her out of the game was worth the risk of committing a foul herself. The official never should have rewarded this play, but Sherrod did her game theory and took a risk which was handsomely rewarded. There’s a lot to learn on many levels.
TURNING TO FRIDAY'S REMATCH IN THE GALEN CENTER
Against Colorado, Jaylyn Sherrod got under JuJu Watkins’ and USC’s skin by baiting JuJu into fouls and ultimately fouling her out of the game. What makes this USC win extra sweet is that the Trojans got under Sherrod’s skin this time and fouled her out.
DEFINITE MENTAL GAME GOING ON
JuJu Watkins wins a little mental game with Colorado's Jaylyn Sherrod, who's been guarding her tough all game. Draws a couple fouls this third quarter, then gets Sherrod again on a rip-through to give her her third midway through fourth. USC in bonus already — Watkins w/26
— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) February 24, 2024
MEMORIES
You know JuJu remembers Sherrod fouling her out in Boulder one month ago on that controversial play.
JuJu is offering the right response. https://t.co/EXWccf1sat
— USC Trojans Wire (@TrojansWire) February 24, 2024
GROWING AWARENESS
Now McKenzie Forbes draws a foul on Sherrod — her fourth, and Sherrod is subbed instantly in this 3Q, going straight to the tunnel in sheer frustration. Great observation by @TrojansWire — in first meeting v. Colorado, Sherrod was one who fouled out JuJu Watkins https://t.co/KkYeNv0nOd
— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) February 24, 2024
TWO COLORADO PLAYERS FOULED OUT ON FRIDAY VS USC, NOT JUST JAYLYN SHERROD
And now JuJu Watkins fouls out Colorado's Aaronette Vonleh. Both Vonleh and Watkins' primary defender, Jaylyn Sherrod, have fouled out. Watkins was smiling after that last foul. She's got 40 on 10-of-18 shooting, 16-of-16 on FTs.
— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) February 24, 2024
BUFFALOES WIRE NOTES CU'S FOUL TROUBLE IN REACTION TO COLORADO LOSS
Foul trouble, JuJu Watkins doom sharp-shooting Buffs at USC https://t.co/tugIV6GvPu pic.twitter.com/NGKWMGkQKt
— ColoradoBuffaloesWire (@BuffaloesWire) February 24, 2024
BUFFALOES WIRE QUOTE
From Buffaloes Wire’s story on USC’s win over Colorado:
Once Jaylyn Sherrod fouled out at the 8:15 mark of the fourth quarter and Aaronette Vonleh followed three minutes later, the Buffs’ offense was unable to keep pace with USC’s firepower.
USC really did flip the script relative to January 21 in Boulder. The Trojans were the more disciplined team in this game.
