After picking up win No. 23 in Seattle against the Washington Huskies, the Trojans will continue Big Ten play at Galen Center this Wednesday evening, taking on the No. 22 Michigan State Spartans. With just three Big Ten matchups remaining, the Trojans have been on fire this past week, ruining the UCLA Bruins’ perfect season last Thursday. 

“It’s that time of year where every game is really important. We are fortunate that at the end of February, we are playing with championship implications,” said Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb in an interview with the Daily Trojan. 

The Trojans (23-2, 13-1 Big Ten) looked unstoppable during Thursday’s victory versus the Bruins (24-1, 12-1). But, in Seattle, USC faced some unexpected challenges against the unranked Huskies (14-12, 5-9). 

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The final score came out with a mere 5 points making the difference. The Huskies successfully stifled the Trojans defensively in the first half, with a season-low 23 points scored for USC. Throughout the first three quarters, USC shot only 29% from the field. Nonetheless, the Trojans illustrated why they are a top-ten team, rallying in the fourth quarter to take the win. 

The Trojans must stay focused for their upcoming matchup against the Spartans (19-6, 9-5 Big Ten). Michigan State — despite its rank beneath USC — is a team that cannot be underestimated. The Spartans have pushed top-ten-ranked teams this season. The Spartans defeated Iowa back in December, 68-66, a team that the Trojans lost to by seven in early February.  

Michigan State made a powerful entrance into this season, beginning with a 12-game win streak that was eventually ended by an 82-67 loss to Alabama (21-5, 8-4 SEC) in mid-December. After that setback, however, the Spartans have shown inconsistent results. Michigan State has taken five losses in Big Ten play already, falling to Maryland (20-6, 10-5 Big Ten), Nebraska (17-9, 8-7 Big Ten), Oregon (18-8, 9-6 Big Ten), Michigan (18-8, 9-6 Big Ten) and UCLA. 

Despite the fluctuations in results for Michigan State, the Spartans boast an impressive group of upperclassmen, including graduate guard Julia Ayrault. Ayrault has averaged 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this season. Additionally, graduate guard Jaddan Simmons has had a solid season thus far, averaging 6.1 points per game and four rebounds. 

While the Spartans possess strong veterans like Ayrault and Simmons, the Trojans will need to overcome their recent offensive struggles. USC had trouble scoring in the first half of the Washington game, and they’ll need to improve their offense to keep up with players like Ayrault, who will be driving to the basket early on in the game. 

“[The Spartans] are extremely aggressive. We have to take care of the ball, and we also have to defend them in transition and half-court. They get to the free-throw line a lot, but they come in with a ton of aggression. So I think that’s the biggest challenge,” Gottlieb said. 

Another obstacle the Trojans face, in addition to Michigan State’s strong, guard-heavy offense, is the quick turnaround from this past Sunday’s Washington game. By Wednesday, USC will have played three games in six days, with UCLA and Washington having particularly been physical, high-scoring matchups. 

As Big Ten play continues, the Trojans will have to quickly rest and recover after traveling to Seattle. The combination of playing several games in a short period of time mixed with the approximately three-hour flight to and from Seattle can add extra fatigue for players. 

“Each day, we focus on being intentional with what we’re doing, taking it one day at a time. Our trainers make sure we’re getting our ice baths and massages in, and reminding us to stay hydrated and take care of ourselves,” said senior center Clarice Akunwafo in an interview with the Daily Trojan. 

Whatever the Trojans have been doing off the court to ensure they show up ready to play has been working, as they are off to one of their best season starts since the 1982-83 season. 

Sophomore guard JuJu Watkins continues to shine, as she earned her fifth Big Ten Women’s Basketball Player of the Week Award accolades. Between the UCLA and Washington games, Watkins averaged an incredible 27.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 4.0 blocks and 1.0 steals.

USC is currently ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten, and a regular season title is within reach if they can secure victories in their remaining conference games against Michigan State tomorrow, Illinois (21-5, 11-4 Big Ten) on Sunday, and a rematch against the Bruins on March 1. 

“Coach [Gottlieb] reminds us that we control our own destiny. We control whether or not we win the Big Ten Championship … just take it day by day and game by game,” Akunwafo said. 

The Trojans and Spartans are set to face off on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Galen Center.