March Madness is getting closer and closer on the calendar, and USC hopes to replicate and exceed the Elite 8 bar it set for itself last season. But Thursday has one major test in store for the Trojans to see just how real these Championship aspirations could be: the No. 1 UCLA Bruins.

Ahead of arguably the biggest game of the season in terms of ramifications, it’s time to evaluate how No. 6 USC (21-2, 11-1 Big Ten) has looked on the road to March so far. So, just in time for midterms, let’s pull out the rubrics and see how women’s basketball is doing with their assignments.

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Lindsay Gottlieb — A

It’s hard to be too critical of Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb in any way looking at this USC team she assembled. When she took the reins of the Trojans, she inherited a team that had won 20 games or more twice in 10 years. Now, Gottlieb just clinched USC’s third straight 20-win season, only the fourth time that’s happened in program history.

High expectations call for higher scrutiny, but Gottlieb has still done a stellar job. The freshman recruiting class she brought in has already cemented itself on this team and looks to be a bright spot for years to come. The Trojans are performing better on the defensive end than last year — from 62.5 points per game allowed to 56.6 points this season — as well as on the offensive end — from 74.9 points per game scored to 83.2 points this season. 

Gottlieb’s key for the rest of the season is whether she can continue surpassing previous years’ successes and beating these top-of-the-pack juggernauts, teams such as the Bruins (23-0, 11-0) that are ranked above the Trojans. But so far, she’s managed her players well and continues to show why she’s one of the top coaches in the nation.

JuJu Watkins — A-

At times, sophomore guard JuJu Watkins has looked very much like the First Team All-American she was last season. But as of late, she’s been in a sophomore slump of sorts. She still is up there in the country in terms of points per game, 23.9, but that’s a step down from last year’s 27.1 points per game.

Her shooting efficiency has taken a stark nose dive as of late. In her last six games, she’s shooting just 30% from the field, and she’s coming off of games in which she shot 4 for 11 and 5 for 21. This game against the Bruins will show if this is becoming a worrisome trend or just a short slump.

At the end of the day, Watkins has shown why she’s great, and it shouldn’t be a surprise if she steps up when it matters most.

Kiki Iriafen — A-

After being named the best power forward in the country last season, graduate forward Kiki Iriafen helped fuel those national championship aspirations when she transferred to USC this summer. To have a one-two punch of Iriafen and Watkins was hyped to be one of the best in the country as both were named preseason Associated Press All-Americans. 

While at times her play has been inconsistent — she’s scored 20 points in consecutive games just once this season — she’s been a big part of why USC is so good right now.

Even with her offensive production sometimes slipping, she’s already matched her steal total from last season and has been key on the defensive glass. Iriafen is coming off one of her best games of the season and will need to continue to compile these big games for USC.

Talia von Oelhoffen — B

A season ago, graduate guard Talia von Oelhoffen was balling out for Oregon State and one of the premier playmakers in the country. This season, so far, she’s regressed in just about every major statistical category. Naturally, that’ll happen when you come to a new team with fewer shots to go around — Watkins has taken the seventh most shots of any player in the country this season.

Still, von Oelhoffen’s production will need to improve. She’s had just six games with more than five assists and just three since conference play started so far this season — something she did 16 times last season. Especially in games when Watkins’ shots aren’t falling, the Trojans need someone like von Oelhoffen to take control of the game and create better opportunities around the floor. 

Kennedy Smith — A

One of those aforementioned freshman recruits, guard Kennedy Smith has been a pleasant surprise for the Trojans this season. Although she really shouldn’t be a surprise as the reigning Gatorade California State Player of the Year and No. 6 recruit out of high school, according to espnW. She’s been a much-needed spark plug for this Trojan team.

She’s been lights out the last six games. She’s averaging 10.2 points per game, 44.4% from the field and 34.3% from the 3-point line, to go along with 2.4 steals and 0.8 blocks a game. Smith has been doing just about everything. She’s coming into her own in the cardinal and gold, and if the Trojans take down the Bruins on Thursday, don’t be surprised when it’s Smith who was one of the catalysts.

Overall Team GPA: 3.68

So far, the Trojans have had a pleasant season. They have a few blemishes to their name but still look like a top team. Depending on how their game against the Bruins goes Thursday, the outlook for the rest of the season could be very different from what it is right now. They have a chance to cement themselves as one of the top three teams in the country if they win — but that’s a big if as they go up against the No. 1 team in the country.