Analyzing the USC Trojans' Modern Approach to Defense

The Southern California Trojans are one of the hottest teams in the country, headlined by freshman sensation and National Player of the Year candidate JuJu Watkins. They're reaching heights that haven't been seen by USC since the 90's, working to cement their place back amongst the elite in basketball.

JuJu rightfully captures headlines, a special and effervescent force. 

However, in watching the Trojans regularly, I keep coming back to the defense. That's how this team is built, supplementing Watkins' talent with two-way players that can shoot the ball on the wings, and that goes without mentioning JuJu's defensive excellence as well. 

Rayah Marshall, a current candidate for the National Defensive Player of the Year, anchors the defense on the backline. While her individual steal and block numbers have decreased this season, I'd argue she's a more well-rounded defender than last season. She's stronger holding up in the post against some of the bruising bigs in the PAC; her work on Oregon State's Raegan Beers comes to mind immediately.

She's one of the best rim protectors in the sport, slides her feet and can switch onto smaller players, is a high energy hedge defender, and unlocks a multitude of schematic elements for USC's defense.

USC ranks in the 95th percentile in the country in adjusted defensive rating per CBB Analytics, a metric that accounts for strength of schedule and style of opposition to provide contextualized data.

What stands out about this group that cements them as one of the top defenses in the nation?

Before even diving into the film, you look at the build of the roster and you get the inkling of modern principles; 6 of the top 7 in minutes played per game are 6' or taller. Kayla Padilla is the lone player in the main rotation below six feet, but possesses good length at the point guard position. This team has so much length along with a great deal of athleticism across the board at every position.

That feeds into the next point; this team is ridiculously active. To add context to that, the Trojans are 8th in the country in Hakeem percentage per CBB Analytics, which is simpley combined block and steal percentages.

26.8% of USC's defensive possessions end with a block or a steal.... which is just wild to comprehend!

This team loves to switch, a byproduct of their length, size, and lineup fluidity. But, don't get it twisted, the Trojans using switching to dictate defensively, not as a stopgap. If you've ever heard of the term switch pocket, it's simple once you get into it, as much of switching is about taking away that space created by a ball screen. Think of the switch pocket as the gap created by the ball screen, and that gap can be wider or narrower depending on the effectiveness of the switch.

USC rarely soft switches, working hard to keep the ball in front, but also to deny what can happen with the screener. That's a key element, as so often outside of the game, there can be a much greater emphasis on the ballhandler than the player who screens. The Trojans work to squeeze the life out of ball screens by minimizing the space afford to both players in two on two actions.

UCLA works into an empty corner ball screen, putting additional strain on defensive help. One of the best ways to make life a little easier on help defense is to contain the ball and contain the roll, slowing down the possession.

Watch as Watkins hugs the roller, denying the space as McKenzie Forbes jumps out to meet Charisma Osborne after waiting until Watkins has hands on the rolling big. While USC is fairly multiple, changing up their scheme dependent upon opposition, containing the roll and the middle of the defense is a principle that's always felt in watching. Again, though, the team emphasis is always felt.

Note how Malia Samuels takes an extra step or two in at the nail as the screen hits, giving an extra body in the gap. My favorite wrinkle, one that USC has mixed in with regularity, is helping from two passes away. In most base pick and roll schemes, Kaitlyn Davis would slide over to tag the roller and Taylor Bigby would zone up on the backside cutting the distance between the two weakside players. 

Bigby and Davis reverse that here, as Bigby rotates over. Samuels is directly in the lane that Osborne could skip the ball over to Brown. There is essentially no way to really take advantage of the defense here with a skip pass. It seems simple, and it is in essence, but it's so big for multiple reasons, and it's something I think we'll start to see more of at all levels of the game.

Guards have gotten so automatic at hitting those corner skips off a ball screen, even at the college level. So off rip, you're mixing up what a player is used to hitting in their sleep. It's less about getting a stop outright to me, it's more about slowing down the decision-making process of the on-ball player and giving the defense time to reset. Players can hit the pass two passes away, but it's harder, they're less accustomed to it in general, and it can clog the lane and vision as seen here.

Again, it's not an all the time thing, but they'll hit it when the ball goes into the post at times as well. Throwing so many looks at opposition and GOOD looks is integral to what this team does on the defensive end.

This possession shows us so much all wrapped together.

Cal works to try and get some sort of action going to cause a defensive rotation, starting with the pin-down across the court. Davis denies the roll and Padilla chases overtop, as Leilani McIntosh is a deadly shooter.

McIntosh works back to screen the screener and the switch gets called for. The ball gets handed back off to McIntosh and Davis and Padilla switch again with Davis hugging the roll opportunity. Cal works to the middle.

McIntosh is a massive threat off the dribble as a shooter and getting downhill to create for her teammates. The Trojans blitz McIntosh with the 5 (Clarice Akunwafo) with Padilla dipping underneath to pick back up on the ball as the possession slows. The over the top lob to the roller isn't really there given the angle.

Note Davis sinking in for a second as Forbes digs into the post from that same two passes away position out of the slot. Cal hits with that off-ball exchange just before the ball screen, so it may not be an intentional two pass away rotation, but you get the same concept regardless.

Forbes flies back out after Akunwafo recovers and Davis contests the three.

Regardless of this ending up a make or miss, this is a win for the defense, dragging Cal into the late clock, denying any sort of dribble penetration, and forcing Cal into a contested look.

I'd also be remiss if I didn't add that Kaitlyn Davis has been absolutely phenomenal for this team defensively. She can guard up on larger bigs, she can slide her feet on a switch, she's excellent with hedges and blitzes, and she rarely feels out of position. She's so pivotal in giving USC the lineup flexibility that's becoming a trademark in how they play, which is crucial when you have a wing player as your primary creator.

The defensive foundation was set in 2023 as the Trojans made their first NCAA Tournament appearance in nearly a decade, and they've only furthered that defensive imprint this season. When factoring in the talent coming in next season (Kennedy Smith is going to do amazing things in this defensive system) it's easy to imagine the future of Los Angeles hoops defined by versatility and elite defense.