Shannon Sharpe Makes Bold NCAA Tournament Prediction: JuJu Watkins Will “Cut Down the Net”
Shannon Sharpe never holds back his opinions—whether they hit the mark or raise eyebrows is another story. But on Monday, the ESPN personality and NFL Hall of Famer had a major take on the NCAA Women’s Tournament, putting the spotlight on one of the sport’s biggest rising stars: JuJu Watkins.
The USC freshman phenom has been must-watch all season, leading the Trojans to a No. 1 seed and setting them up for a deep tournament run. But Sharpe believes that if Watkins wants to bring a championship back to Los Angeles, she’ll have to go through Dawn Staley and South Carolina—a powerhouse program with its own championship pedigree.
“On the women’s side? I think it’s going to be a battle with a real USC stand-up. Is it the Lady Trojans or the Lady Gamecocks? And if my brother went to the Lady Gamecocks, I’m going to take the Trojans in this one,” Sharpe said.
And he’s betting big on Watkins to deliver.
“I just think JuJu, she’s going to have an unbelievable tourney. She’s going to go on an unbelievable run. I think she cuts down the net this year.”
With Watkins averaging 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 42.6% from the field, Sharpe’s confidence isn’t exactly unfounded. But can USC outlast South Carolina and the rest of the field to claim a national title?
The journey starts Saturday, as the Trojans take on No. 16 seed UNC Greensboro at 3 p.m. ET.
