| The college basketball season is upon us! In the women’s game, USC star Juju Watkins is out for the season with an ACL tear, leaving a shining opportunity for another player to step up as the face of the sport this year. It could be Connecticut’s Azzi Fudd, LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson, UCLA’s Lauren Betts, among others — but while we wait to see who stars in more State Farm ads this winter, there are a few other questions about the season on my mind. Here are five of them: How will South Carolina’s transfers fare? Some of the most intriguing offseason movement centered on the Gamecocks. Coach Dawn Staley lured point guard Ta’Niya Latson, who led the nation in scoring last season, from Florida State, but lost one of the most dynamic players in the game, guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, to LSU. Staley’s teams might be better known for their frontcourts, but Latson is the best scoring guard South Carolina has had in years. She had 20 points on 10 shots in the season opener against Grand Canyon. Can anyone beat the Huskies? No Paige Bueckers, no problem — at least not with senior sharpshooter Azzi Fudd and sophomore sensation Sarah Strong on the court. Connecticut could have two all-Americans this year, and with the team’s mixture of offensive power, big-game experience and Strong’s rebounding, they’ll likely be title favorites all season long. How will Tennessee and Duke adapt? Lady Vols Coach Kim Caldwell made her debut last season with a frenetic style of play that caught the rest of the SEC off guard and made Tennessee a dreaded opponent. Everyone knows what to expect now, though, and No. 8 Tennessee lost a tight matchup to No. 9 N.C. State on Tuesday. No. 7 Duke, meanwhile, was on the wrong end of the season’s first big upset when they lost, 58-52, to No. 16 Baylor in Paris on Monday when they stalled offensively. Will UCLA, Baylor and Texas maximize their window? So UCLA lost its entire freshman class to the portal! That’s (gulp) not so bad these days, right? At least the Bruins have seven seniors on their roster, making them a veteran team to watch alongside Baylor, which has six seniors, and Texas, which returns standout junior forward Madison Booker and fifth-year point guard Rori Harmon. Both UCLA and Texas looked not quite ready to meet the moment last season when they made it to the Final Four; a year of experience in the spotlight can only do those rosters good. Which players will stand out from teams who aren’t title favorites? Keep an eye on the country’s top recruit, Jazzy Davidson at USC, who will certainly have room to grow and lead with Watkins out for the season. I’m curious to see what Aaliyah Chavez and her exciting perimeter game can do at Oklahoma alongside senior center Raegan Beers. Finally, don’t forget Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes — she had two 50-point games last season and the Commodores lost their other two top scorers to the portal. | 
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