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00:00I love breaking expectations.
00:14I'm always trying to push boundaries or limitations set on me.
00:18I look at basketball as art.
00:20Juju kind of just paints a picture.
00:22It's just a flow to her game.
00:25Watkins took an extra step, the crowd went into hush mode.
00:30If you watch her move up the court, she moves differently than everyone else.
00:34When you watch LeBron James move up the court, he moves differently than anyone else.
00:38Watkins, fall and scores!
00:41If there's any player that could lead their team all the way, Juju can do it.
00:55Yeah, we locked in like that?
01:00Dang, Juju!
01:02What's up?
01:03What you do on your day off, Juju?
01:04I said, what you do on your day off?
01:06Yeah.
01:07You get some sleep?
01:08Yeah.
01:09Let's go!
01:10Let's go!
01:12Juju and Ken and big guards can go on all four lines.
01:16Here we go.
01:17Let's go.
01:19Last game of the regular season against UCLA.
01:22This is the most important game of the season so far, so just trying to really lock in.
01:27It is harder to be the team the second time around, but we can't lose.
01:35We want to give it to them here because everything here is predicated on them being great passers, right?
01:40So let her leg whip here and let her get to her spot.
01:43We just don't want to start here and get it to here.
01:45Pressure, pressure, press!
01:46Keep stretched, keep stretched!
01:47Keep stretched!
01:48Keep stretched!
01:49Keep stretched!
01:50Keep stretched!
01:51Good!
01:52J, get off there!
01:53No, it's going in pressure!
01:54We need to be aggressive on defense.
01:55You gotta go, K-9!
01:56You gotta go!
01:57Just even pay more attention to the small details.
02:00Go, Juju!
02:01Yes, Juju!
02:02Yes, Juju!
02:03Yes, Juju!
02:04Yes, Juju!
02:05We knew that for UCLA to have success against us, they would have to beat us on the board, beat
02:12us in transition, make all the hustle plays, and we just said we're just not going to
02:16allow that to happen.
02:17Is there any extra motivation knowing that this game is for the Big Ten season?
02:20For sure.
02:21Yeah, it's our most important game this year.
02:23Not only are these our crosstown rivals, but, you know, the only thing sending us away
02:27from a Big Ten regular season.
02:29All right, thanks everyone.
02:30Thank you, thank you.
02:33Thank you all, man!
02:34U.S.D.
02:38Move bus!
02:39Juju Watkins!
02:41Just to see the excitement around the UCLA game, so many people came out.
02:45Just to see my face on the side of a bus, students coming to support the bus, it definitely
02:52got me hyped for the game.
02:55You got your bus pass!
02:56You gotta make a bucket!
02:58There we go, there we go!
03:00You got your bus pass!
03:02the hoopas was founded in southern california we go to schools all over la
03:15and to have a local hero like juju on the side of our bus is just so inspiring to so many girls
03:22i wanted to come watch juju play she doesn't give up she works hard and then they also gave us a note
03:35that she wrote something we're going to take you on the bus and then get ready to go is that cool
03:41all right can we cheer real quick on three one two three let's go
03:46juju when a superstar from your city stays in your city you not only believe in that player but you
03:57also start to believe in your city and so i think juju staying home did a lot for you know the young
04:03girls in l.a one two three to see the love and support it motivates me to
04:16you know work even harder we're here in westwood at holly pavilion the big 10 regular season title at
04:25state number two ucla number four usc
04:36just for you know me growing up in southern california that's the ucla robbery
04:41i've seen you know teams and members teams going at it
04:53you get the conference and you get the city if you win tonight usc and ucla here we go
05:01whenever we're in like hostile environments like a ucla being at that campus and playing at their gym like
05:08she definitely you know she feeds off the crowd right wing juju top of the key steps into a three
05:15perfect this was the regular season champ i honestly forgot that that was on the line i was just playing
05:32like okay we're about to play our our rivals and we have to win
05:37marker they double the post again and rip it three
05:40what's going to be
05:45and starts that is absolutely lethal from juju watkins who wants this to be her city
05:54let's go
06:03throw into the home that one took ucla down just five
06:07in the second half it felt like more the pressure was on them but we were in foul trouble
06:12rice on the repeat for cuts
06:14the crowd against usc once again that's three on watkins you look at your entire starting unit and
06:23at minimum all have three
06:30to win a regular season championship in their building you needed everybody and different
06:34people stepped up and the way that it happened with everyone contributing was was really really memorable
06:40i feel like a champion
07:03what gives another block back to back blocks for juju
07:07they talking stuff to me and to rye and you know just like but we're telling them like
07:14what's going on guys y'all gonna take this out what do you think
07:17it is over in this new big 10 era the trojans are champions of the big 10
07:25it was special you know it's been since the 90s since usc won a regular season
07:48and juju and juju and usc take down ucla not once but twice
07:57we're always happy after a win but i think that one hit a little bit different
08:09we're excited you know the team is clicking at the right time we're all really comfortable with each
08:12other so i think we're just more so excited to get to indy and you know get this big 10 championship
08:17so juju what do you have for us in march uh some wins
08:25that was really exciting that you know we were able to close out the season strong and
08:29you know we celebrated that for a bit and then we go on to the next
08:41and then we go on to the next one and then we go on to the next one and then we go on to the next one
08:47how's everything feeling for the most part
08:49uh it's okay just my legs mainly
08:53your neck okay because i saw you laying it kind of hard oh yeah i'm fine okay
08:59and some shoulders still
09:00going into the big 10 tournament you want to go into each game feeling like you're at your best
09:10just making sure that you're doing the most to just prepare yourself
09:15when we was at the arena i did like ice bath this is the next step and then i'm just gonna hydrate and
09:21stuff season's so long so you really start to feel little knickknacks towards the end of the season
09:30it's just being more intentional about caring for your body
09:34where do you feel it here it's like right on top okay
09:39hit me here and check it out
09:41you've been checking it out 15 times
09:43girl my knee hurts i have to keep reminding myself this is like the final stretch just maximize the
09:53amount of time that was left and taking every game as an opportunity to get better and prepare myself
10:05conference tournaments are always interesting right because they come after a long regular season
10:09and they're before the ncaa tournament so we were able to say okay check you know regular season
10:15champs and we know what's on the horizon with the ncaa tournament but here's a chance to just play in
10:20a competitive one-and-done situation and that's how we approached it winning the tournament would
10:26give us a lot of momentum going into march madness you know we did it last year so to repeat you know it
10:34would be great quarterfinal day at the big 10 tournament usc and indiana a spot in the semifinals
10:42on the line our first game of the tournament we played indiana indiana's a great team it was going
10:50to be a grinder
10:56juju watkins forcing the defense turning it into offense
11:00we knew indiana would be a tough game we were the one seed but they're a really good team
11:15we had to fight and claw to stay competitive
11:17listen to me post-season intensity good they're good we got to stay together all of us got to put
11:29great ground ball pressure but when your kid leaves it then it goes that way we got to jump to the ball
11:33we're getting kid on flexes and shuffle don't get this right yes we all got your back exactly we got
11:38exactly got your back yeah and let's go so listen play help each other body on the body
11:47watkins windexes the rebound down the left side of the lane and euro to the club flips it up and in
11:54through traffic and over game zone to put usc back in front they're a hard team to play
12:01we did what we needed to do to move on to the next round here's juju watkins 27 points today
12:08change that number quickly juju watkins has 30 points for the seventh time this season
12:18and the one seed urac is on to the semi-final every win in march is a big freaking win keeks you're
12:26gonna lead us i'll put this one here ready
12:39Fans filing in a fantastic day ahead as the Big Ten champion Trojans look to march on
13:01and they take on the confident freshman-led Michigan Wolverine.
13:06We had already played Michigan in the regular season.
13:08Great team, a lot of potential, very young.
13:12Stay together, be the fastest team on O&D, be the fastest team, let's go.
13:17Have each other's back.
13:18Two, three, one, two, three, juicy!
13:22We had an idea of what they were capable of, but at the end of the day, you know,
13:26it's tournament play, so really anybody can go off.
13:30And here we go, in the Big Ten tournament semifinal.
13:34Winner to the title game tomorrow afternoon.
13:36Olsen working herself in the pace.
13:43They kind of came at us early and made a bunch of shots.
13:46It wasn't, you know, something that was given to us in any way.
13:49Loft has control for Michigan.
13:51Top of the key, launches a three-wall, hits it!
13:54What we learned over the course of the year is how to take someone's punch, so to speak, and adjust.
14:02Howell, back to Uriah Ben, right corner, pull-up is perfect!
14:08Rick Marshall steadies herself with the power dribble, up and in!
14:12We had to be the aggressors.
14:13We had to find a way to get to our sweet spots.
14:18We had to be the aggressors.
14:21We had to find a way to get to our sweet spots.
14:25Uriah Ben with the steal.
14:31Rayling Watkins.
14:32Uro steps to the club.
14:33Off-clops around and down!
14:35Get another stop, girls!
14:37Get another stop!
14:39Shot clock under 10.
14:40Watkins down the right side of the lane.
14:42To the club!
14:43Open it in!
14:44The exclamation point!
14:51Watching Juju and Kiki Uriah Ben both have double-doubles was a bright spot for USC.
14:58Because that was what they were trying to figure out all season.
15:00How do both of these superstars thrive on the court together?
15:07The buzzer sounds.
15:08It's over.
15:09The one seed.
15:10USC is on to the Big Ten tournament title.
15:14They will face UCLA for the third time this season.
15:28Great job, you guys.
15:29We know that we know them really well.
15:32But I want us to lock in on a few areas that we can approve.
15:39We're going to start with the Betts D.
15:41We don't, we can't, we will not let her get two feet in the paint touches.
15:48When she puts the sucker on the floor and goes down like this, we can go get it.
15:52And I think we can go get it more aggressively than last time.
15:55It's really hard to play a team three times.
15:58It's hard to beat a team three times.
16:00Now let's talk about our shares, right?
16:01Good.
16:02Hit the shake.
16:03Good.
16:04Sharing is caring.
16:05Hello.
16:06Really good job.
16:07Sharing the basketball, right?
16:08Listen, these are probably going to be someone to look tomorrow.
16:11They're probably going to put a lot of pressure on the ball screen the way that Michigan did,
16:15but it's okay because we have this right here.
16:17Duke, the and one.
16:18Really good job putting them on their heels.
16:20People remember first and they remember last.
16:23And so your conference championship is your last shot at letting everyone know what you're
16:29bringing to the NCAA tournament.
16:31And so a lot of times you like to think that if I can win this tournament on back-to-back-to-back
16:37days feeling as tired as we are, it's just a mental edge that you have going into the NCAA tournament.
16:45It's hard to have such a short amount of time to prepare for each team.
16:50So when it comes to us versus UCLA, it's just a matter of who can last the longest.
17:06Played UCLA for the third time.
17:08It was insane.
17:09Eight days ago, they played for the Big Ten regular season title.
17:16And eight days later, they once again faced off for the Big Ten tournament title.
17:23Let's go, Juju!
17:25It's just a matter of just trying to always kind of stay one step ahead the whole game
17:30and handle the runs because they're such a great team.
17:34Watkins has it left wing.
17:40Barker in her grill.
17:42Watkins finds Kiki on the left block.
17:44UCLA does not want to let Watkins beat them, but she did there.
17:52I felt like the first half was almost a continuation of kind of how the other games had gone.
17:57Juju came out and was like, okay, you still don't have an answer for me.
18:01We were more in control.
18:04It was a good game.
18:05They pushed us to be our best.
18:09Get it!
18:10Wow.
18:11Ten seconds to go in the first half.
18:12Go! Go! Go! Go!
18:13Beat Smith.
18:14Left block.
18:15Right corner.
18:15Howell.
18:16Free to fire.
18:17Heaps the triple.
18:18And that's how half number one in their Big Ten tournament title comes to an end.
18:25Heading into the second half, UCLA made some really good adjustments to make things harder on us.
18:29They turned it up a notch and we couldn't quite match it.
18:36Parker up with the right hand from the left block for Till.
18:42The field goalless quarter for the Trojans might just ultimately be their downfall.
18:48I was so impressed because UCLA changed their game plan, but I knew that it would be really difficult to beat UFC.
18:57Top of the key Watkins launches a three and rattles it home a 10.7 second clap.
19:03Switch all the screens out of bounds other than with bets.
19:06Other than with bets.
19:07See if we can get a pick.
19:08We had a rough second half, I will say, and they capitalized on that.
19:12Watkins to inbound.
19:14Tries to get it in.
19:15Watkins to steal.
19:16Up ahead on Ohlhoff and back to Watkins.
19:20Underneath the rim.
19:21Flips it up and in.
19:22Three point game with 4.2 left.
19:24I was not disappointed with our effort.
19:26We gave it everything we had and we went down fighting.
19:29Watkins with three and a half court heaves.
19:32Off the back door and it's over.
19:34UCLA wins the Big Ten tournament title.
19:37We have done a lot of winning that we've done a lot of celebrating, right?
19:45And that it is, it is our responsibility and we are to handle the not celebrating and the pain of it as well as we answer.
19:52That is part of it.
19:53That is life.
19:54We've had two bosses this year.
19:56Both of them are men shooting.
19:58Both of them we have bounced forward.
20:00And so that is our only option here.
20:03Because the most important track is a problem.
20:06It was just like, okay, it's the end of the season.
20:09So it's like, you can't dwell on it.
20:11This is going to motivate us more going into the tournament.
20:16We always talked about a national championship.
20:19Let's go, let's go.
20:20So when he finally came close to March Madness, like, okay, we have to win.
20:24March Madness is the best test of skill and resilience.
20:28She's a superstar coupled with her talent.
20:31Of course USC is going to win it all.
20:34It's hard to not wish things were different.
20:39You feel like you're running?
20:41We will all wait very patiently for Juju.
20:44This is what I roll on the board today.
20:46The only thing we want is for her to come back feeling like herself again.
20:51I'm Juju, I want everything.
20:52She's a part of the tsunami that's happening with women's basketball.
20:55You just add the Juju factor on top of that.
20:57It's unstoppable.
20:58One, two, three.
20:59We love Juju!
21:00Go Juju!
21:01Go Juju!
21:02Go Juju!
21:03Go Juju!
21:04Go Juju!
21:05Go Juju!
21:06Go Juju!
21:07Go Juju!
21:08Go Juju!
21:09Go Juju!
21:10Fight on.
21:11Welcome for that autograph.
21:15Juju inspires me when I play basketball.
21:17Juju is my idol.
21:18I like how she never gives up.
21:21I just love her playing style.
21:23I'm going to love how she pulls you.
21:24How she's the same fucking role.
21:26She's really good at basketball and I hope I'll be like her sometime.
21:30Beautiful.
21:31Never forget that.
21:32I say that.
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