USC Freshman Shines as Defensive Powerhouse Ahead of Sweet 16 Clash

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — USC guard Kennedy Smith has emerged as one of the standout freshmen in college basketball this season, showcasing her skills as a tenacious defender as the Trojans advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

Following a convincing 78-58 victory against Michigan on Dec. 28, USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb praised Smith’s defensive prowess, claiming, “I don’t know that I’ve ever had a better defender coming in as a freshman. Just her mind, her understanding of defensive schemes, and her physical ability…she gets it started for us, and it’s a really important part of what we do defensively.”

In the game against Michigan, Smith contributed 7 points, three rebounds, and two assists, while notably disrupting the Wolverines’ offensive flow with two steals. Her defensive intensity also captured attention during USC’s two victories over cross-town rival UCLA.

Smith acknowledged her unique background contributing to her defensive mentality. “I kind of grew up just playing with boys, and that’s kind of where I got my tough mentality from,” she told The Next after a first-round NCAA tournament victory over UNC Greensboro. “I take pride on defense. I don’t like anybody to score on me.”

One of Smith’s most valuable attributes is her ability to guard multiple positions effectively. During games, she transitions fluidly between defending a wing player on the perimeter to covering a larger post player in the paint. This positional versatility stems from her experience at Etiwanda High School in Rancho Cucamonga, California, where she originally played as a post before evolving into a guard.

“It’s just playing my role, knowing my position, and doing what I can to help on both offense and defense,” Smith said, adding that her contributions go beyond scoring. “Whether that’s knocking down a three or getting to the basket, and also getting stops.”

Throughout her first season, Smith has averaged impressive numbers, including 4.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 2.0 assists in 28.6 minutes of play per game. She has scored in double figures in 12 games, with a high of 19 points against Rutgers on Jan. 5.

Despite suffering an early-season injury that sidelined her for nearly a month, Smith earned her starting spot immediately and continued to adapt alongside teammates, including sophomore star Andrea Watson and three senior starters.

“Offensively and defensively, just finding my role,” she said. “Making sure that I know my position, fitting in, finding my role and things of that nature.” Smith emphasized the supportive role that Coach Gottlieb played in helping her handle the pressure of being a freshman starter.

Heading into their Sweet 16 matchup against Kansas State, the Trojans are faced with a challenge as they will be without injured player JuJu Watkins. However, Gottlieb remains confident in her team’s capabilities. “I think the belief is there,” Gottlieb said. “We’ve adjusted some things in terms of who is in what spot. There were not a lot of minutes that JuJu was off the floor. But we’ve got a lot of really good players on the team.”

Smith is poised to make a significant impact offensively as well, having primarily served as a spot-up 3-point shooter this season, while demonstrating her ability to drive to the basket and facilitate plays.

Reflecting on the team’s chemistry, Smith stated, “I think our chemistry is very good on and off the court. I really love these girls. It’s been a great group so far, and I enjoy playing with them.” As the tournament progresses, Smith is excited to continue working together with her teammates, taking it game by game.