CBB Full-Court Press: Notre Dame's Hidalgo favorite for Wooden Award

College Basketball Full-Court Press recaps the most important developments from the sport and examines their significance moving forward.

Hidalgo leads Wooden Award race

Much of the Wooden Award talk entering this season centered around UConn's Paige Bueckers and USC's JuJu Watkins. Both players are off to solid starts, but it's Notre Dame star Hannah Hidalgo who's emerging as the clear favorite for National Player of the Year.

The Fighting Irish have non-conference wins over the Huskies and Trojans, and Hidalgo stole the show on both occasions. The 5-foot-6 guard outdueled Watkins in Los Angeles with 24 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and five steals, and she then became the first player over the past 25 seasons to have multiple 25-point, 10-rebound, and five-assist games versus UConn.

Hidaldo's scoring and efficiency are up significantly with a healthy Olivia Miles again taking primary facilitating duties. The sophomore is the NCAA's second-highest scorer (25.9 points per game) and sits 11th in 3-point percentage (45.7%). She's on pace to lead the nation in steals for the second straight season and needed only 45 appearances to reach 200 career steals, tying a Division I record over the last 25 campaigns.

UCLA is real deal

UCLA was a popular preseason pick to win it all despite never reaching a Final Four, and its upset victory over then-No. 1 South Carolina cemented the Bruins as a national contender. Cori Close's squad held the defending champs to a season-low 62 points on 36.4% shooting, won the rebounding battle by seven, tallied 15 points off turnovers, and had five different players register double digits in scoring.

That signature win in November highlighted the formula to UCLA's 15-0 start. Lauren Betts leads a group of eight players with at least 7.3 points per contest. The team's size and length across the board have made them the No. 2 defensive team, per Barttorvik.com. The Bruins rank second in opponent field-goal percentage (32.4%), 10th in points allowed (52.9), and are outrebounding their counterparts by an average of 18.4.

UCLA's success revolves around Betts. The 6-foot-7 junior is growing more comfortable demanding the ball and operates with patience down low. She has the strength to seal off defenders and can score over either shoulder. Betts also has the awareness to kick the ball out and re-post whenever defenses initially stop her. Teams have to think twice when doubling the imposing center. She's more than capable of finding the open player when swarmed, and the Bruins have enough 3-point threats to keep defenses honest. Her two-man game with Kiki Rice is flourishing, too. Opponents have to respect Rice's downhill speed as well as her playmaking ability when she's operating out of high ball screens with Betts.

USC rounding into form

The Bruins aren't the only team in Los Angeles making noise.

USC has bounced back from an early-season home defeat to Notre Dame with 10 straight wins, including a pair of top-25 victories. The most notable result was a thrilling 72-70 triumph against UConn, which featured standout performances from both Watkins and Kiki Iriafen. Watkins became the first player to post a 25-5-5-3 stat line on the road versus an AP top-five opponent, while Iriafen added 16 points, 11 boards, and a career-high six assists.

Watkins has been on a tear over the last 10 games, averaging 26.7 points, 6.1 boards, 3.7 assists, two steals, and 1.6 blocks. The sophomore guard continues to single-handedly take over games with her shot-making ability, playmaking prowess, and strong defensive play, and her improved decision-making is boosting her shooting percentages and cutting down turnovers. Iriafen is settling in, too, following her offseason transfer to the Trojans. The 6-foot-3 forward has posted 18.4 points and 9.6 boards per contest to go along with five double-doubles during the school's winning streak. She's relentless on the glass and an anchor for one of the stingiest teams.

USC's star duo can measure up against anybody, but they'll need contributions from others to break the school's 39-year Final Four drought. Senior forward Rayah Marshall has been a constant rim-protecting presence throughout her career, while freshman guard Kennedy Smith has flashed a 3-and-D skill set since her return from injury. Big Ten play will go a long way in determining if anyone can step up alongside Watkins and Iriafen.

Transition three

UConn's got another one: The Huskies will be just fine when Paige Bueckers leaves for the WNBA next year. Top-ranked recruit Sarah Strong has stepped in and immediately provided UConn with a bona fide triple-threat alongside the 2021 National Player of the Year. Strong can stretch the floor, facilitate at the elbow, carry the ball upcourt, and generate steals with her quick hands. The freshman's versatility has the Huskies as a top-10 offensive and defensive unit, per Barttorvik.com. Her presence is also easing the burden on Bueckers, who's shooting a career-best 55.9% from the field.

Morrow's consistency: Aneesah Morrow has been one of the game's most productive players since her collegiate career began four years ago. She led the nation in rebounding as a freshman and was the fourth-highest scorer during her sophomore year. Morrow then transferred from DePaul to LSU, where she continues to put up big numbers. The 6-foot-1 senior is averaging 18.1 points and leads the NCAA in both rebounds (14 per contest) and double-doubles (15). She's only four double-doubles away from second on the Division I all-time list and on pace to crack the top three in boards. The Tigers will be in the national title picture with Morrow, Flau'Jae Johnson, and Mikaylah Williams leading an explosive offense.

Don't sleep on South Carolina: The Gamecocks' first defeat in over a year shouldn't have been cause for concern. Dawn Staley's squad was still adjusting to life without Kamilla Cardoso, and Ashlyn Watkins needed time to get in proper game condition after her suspension from team activities was lifted. South Carolina has since rattled off nine straight wins, including three dominant top-15 victories. The Gamecocks are one of two schools with a top-five offense and defense, according to Barttorvik.com. Nearly 84% of their scoring returned from last year's national championship roster. They lead the country with 42.7 points per game from their reserves, led by 10.8 from freshman forward Joyce Edwards. South Carolina might not have a go-to option like Cardoso, but its strength in numbers could result in back-to-back titles.