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‘Heartbroken’ – Juju Watkins’ devastating injury leaves Stephen A. Smith fearing for March Madness as USC star ruled out
USC superstar Juju Watkins will miss the rest of March Madness after suffering a devastating injury blow. The Trojans guard tore her right ACL during a blowout win over Mississippi State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. GettyWatkins had to be carried off the court[/caption] She will undergo surgery and is then set for a lengthy spell in rehab. Watkins’ misfortune is a blow for fans across the country as one of the biggest stars in women’s college basketball sits out. The ESPN First Take panel discussed the brutal blow on Tuesday’s show. “This is a really sad moment for JuJu, for the team, for LA, but also just for women’s basketball,” said Andraya Carter. “I’m definitely heartbroken for her, I think she’s the face of women’s college basketball this year,” added Stephen A. Smith. “I was really, really looking forward to her going on a collision course against UConn. “She’s a show-stopper, she’s box office, I love watching her play, I had aspirations for USC to win the National Championship because I thought she had the potential to carry them there. “I had them in the National Championship game against South Carolina. I don’t see that happening, let me be very clear about that, I don’t think they’re doing that without her.” The 19-year-old, who was on course to challenge Caitlin Clark‘s NCAA records, was carried off the court five minutes into No. 1 seed USC’s 96-59 win. She was fouled when driving to the basket between two defenders and her knee buckled before she crumpled to the floor. Trainers lifted her into the locker room as the crowd anxiously awaited news. Unfortunately, their fears were soon confirmed. GettyThe USC standout will be a huge loss to the whole tournament[/caption] Watkins has put up huge numbers in her first two seasons “I’d be lying if I told you that I wasn’t rattled seeing JuJu on the floor crying,” said Trojans coach Lindsay Gottlieb. “This is a human game and so I obviously tried my best to be what I need to be for the team, but internally it’s a lot.” USC rallied without its talisman to reach the Sweet 16 but Watkins’ injury will have taken all the gloss off victory. Kiki Iriafen scored a season-high 36 points to lead the team. “We didn’t want to let her down,” Iriafen told ESPN. “We just want to keep dancing, so whatever it takes is what I wanted to do. I think it just shows our toughness.” March Madness Top Stories Ranking the greatest players in NCAA men’s March Madness history – from Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson ‘This sister is special’ – Stephen A. Smith identifies rising star who can challenge Caitlin Clark’s WNBA dominance NCAA March Madness is bigger and better than the College Football Playoff – the springtime phenomenon is bigger than ever Biggest March Madness upsets in history of NCAA Tournament – top seeds humiliated as small schools enjoy their moment The crowd in the Galen Center booed Mississippi State every time it had the ball after Watkins went down. Gottlieb chose to focus on the positive — highlighting how much the fans care for their hero. “You can’t tell me that the energy of the crowd and how angry they were with the other team and how much they were for our team is so much about what JuJu has given to this arena, to this program, to this city,” she said. The atmosphere spilled over onto the court and the post-game handshake line led to both players from both teams being separated. “They’re going to stand behind their home team. They’re going to go hard for JuJu,” added Mississippi State guard Jerkaila Jordan. “I couldn’t do nothing but respect them.” “We know that we’ve got no punks in our locker room, that we have a team that’s going to step up,” explained Gottlieb. “This team rallied, they rallied for [Watkins], they rallied for each other. “Obviously just heartbroken if there’s a serious injury for JuJu, but at the same time, I hope she can at some point see just the significance that she has here that goes so far beyond just her talent and abilities. “I mean that’s really what is generational about it, the way she’s galvanized everyone.” The Trojans are waiting to find out who they will face in the Sweet 16 without their sophomore guard.“I think as an athlete you’re good at compartmentalizing,” revealed teammate Talia von Oelhoffen said. “Obviously Ju is a lot for the team, but we have a lot of talent, we have a lot of depth and I don’t think we’re shaken by losing one player no matter who it is.” How to watch March Madness in the UK *If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions. This ye
USC superstar Juju Watkins will miss the rest of March Madness after suffering a devastating injury blow.
The Trojans guard tore her right ACL during a blowout win over Mississippi State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
She will undergo surgery and is then set for a lengthy spell in rehab.
Watkins’ misfortune is a blow for fans across the country as one of the biggest stars in women’s college basketball sits out.
The ESPN First Take panel discussed the brutal blow on Tuesday’s show.
“This is a really sad moment for JuJu, for the team, for LA, but also just for women’s basketball,” said Andraya Carter.
“I’m definitely heartbroken for her, I think she’s the face of women’s college basketball this year,” added Stephen A. Smith. “I was really, really looking forward to her going on a collision course against UConn.
“She’s a show-stopper, she’s box office, I love watching her play, I had aspirations for USC to win the National Championship because I thought she had the potential to carry them there.
“I had them in the National Championship game against South Carolina. I don’t see that happening, let me be very clear about that, I don’t think they’re doing that without her.”
The 19-year-old, who was on course to challenge Caitlin Clark‘s NCAA records, was carried off the court five minutes into No. 1 seed USC’s 96-59 win.
She was fouled when driving to the basket between two defenders and her knee buckled before she crumpled to the floor.
Trainers lifted her into the locker room as the crowd anxiously awaited news. Unfortunately, their fears were soon confirmed.
“I’d be lying if I told you that I wasn’t rattled seeing JuJu on the floor crying,” said Trojans coach Lindsay Gottlieb.
“This is a human game and so I obviously tried my best to be what I need to be for the team, but internally it’s a lot.”
USC rallied without its talisman to reach the Sweet 16 but Watkins’ injury will have taken all the gloss off victory.
Kiki Iriafen scored a season-high 36 points to lead the team.
“We didn’t want to let her down,” Iriafen told ESPN.
“We just want to keep dancing, so whatever it takes is what I wanted to do. I think it just shows our toughness.”
March Madness Top Stories
Ranking the greatest players in NCAA men’s March Madness history – from Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson
‘This sister is special’ – Stephen A. Smith identifies rising star who can challenge Caitlin Clark’s WNBA dominance
NCAA March Madness is bigger and better than the College Football Playoff – the springtime phenomenon is bigger than ever
Biggest March Madness upsets in history of NCAA Tournament – top seeds humiliated as small schools enjoy their moment
The crowd in the Galen Center booed Mississippi State every time it had the ball after Watkins went down.
Gottlieb chose to focus on the positive — highlighting how much the fans care for their hero.
“You can’t tell me that the energy of the crowd and how angry they were with the other team and how much they were for our team is so much about what JuJu has given to this arena, to this program, to this city,” she said.
The atmosphere spilled over onto the court and the post-game handshake line led to both players from both teams being separated.
“They’re going to stand behind their home team. They’re going to go hard for JuJu,” added Mississippi State guard Jerkaila Jordan. “I couldn’t do nothing but respect them.”
“We know that we’ve got no punks in our locker room, that we have a team that’s going to step up,” explained Gottlieb.
“This team rallied, they rallied for [Watkins], they rallied for each other.
“Obviously just heartbroken if there’s a serious injury for JuJu, but at the same time, I hope she can at some point see just the significance that she has here that goes so far beyond just her talent and abilities.
“I mean that’s really what is generational about it, the way she’s galvanized everyone.”
The Trojans are waiting to find out who they will face in the Sweet 16 without their sophomore guard.
“I think as an athlete you’re good at compartmentalizing,” revealed teammate Talia von Oelhoffen said.
“Obviously Ju is a lot for the team, but we have a lot of talent, we have a lot of depth and I don’t think we’re shaken by losing one player no matter who it is.”
How to watch March Madness in the UK
*If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue
March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions.
This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years.
talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service.
Click here to sign up to a Sky Sports subscription, or read our article on the best Sky Sports deals available now.
