Which Baylor Bears should JuJu Watkins and USC be worried about in the Sweet 16?

Star freshman JuJu Watkins and the USC Trojans are packing their bags. But they aren’t going home quite yet, they’re heading to the Sweet Sixteen. Again.

This will be the program’s 11th appearance in the Sweet Sixteen as the Trojans hunt for their third-ever national title.

In the Sweet Sixteen, USC will face another perennial program in women’s college ball: the Baylor Bears.

A sorely underrated team, even as a fifth-seed, Baylor has some star power of their own, just maybe not on a national-recognizable level.

While Watkins has stolen the show on the West Coast and is arguably one of the most talented players in the nation, which Bears should the Trojans best prepare for as they head into the Sweet Sixteen?

A trend in the Big 12 this season, whether it be to necessity or not, has been forwards running the court for the women’s teams.

Dre’Una Edwards, one of the more veteran players on the Bears’ roster has done just that for Baylor’s squad. At 6 feet tall, Edwards would be pretty massive for a guard but as a forward, she can handle the ball with shocking grace.

Edwards is averaging 11.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game for the Bears. She is shooting 49.5 percent from the field to lead the team in scoring. 

A first-year Bear, Edwards spent her first three seasons at Utah and Kentucky.

Another senior in Baylor’s starting lineup, Sarah Andrews is an offensive-minded juggernaut. She leads the Bears with 3.9 assists per game while contributing her own 11.3 points per game.

At 5-foot-6, Andrews is a relatively small player on the court but has the raw strength necessary to make up for her short stature. Despite her height or lack thereof, she has 2.4 rebounds per game.

This is Andrews’ fourth year at Baylor and as a dedicated Bear, she has become a leader on and off the court.

Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, beyond her incredible name, is an incredible sophomore. She has talent that is beyond her years and she has made a name for herself on a team full of skilled players.

While she doesn’t lead Baylor in any stat lines, Littlepage-Buggs is averaging double-digit points (10.5) and 7.0 rebounds per game.

Littlepage-Buggs is also averaging 1.5 assists and 0.7 steals per game and could be a surprising problem for the Huskies.

While Aijha Blackwell only averages 8.4 points per game, she is a menace on the defensive end of the court.

Averaging 8.3 rebounds (5.3 off the defensive glass) and 1.2 steals per game, Blackwell is hard for opponents to score on or even get the ball past.

Blackwell may not be the highest producer on offense for the Bears but in her fifth collegiate season, she brings experience and a defensive prowess that’s necessary for a team’s success.

The Bears and Trojans are scheduled to play at 2:30 p.m. PT on March 30. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

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