"Smile if you're surprised": USC's Talia von Oelhoffen reacts to teammate JuJu Watkins named as Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year

JuJu Watkins enjoyed a historic run last year as a freshman and it is expected to continue in the upcoming season. The momentum has already begun as the sophomore guard was named the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year on Thursday.

Watkins' new teammate, Oregon State transfer Talia von Oelhoffen, reacted to the news on Instagram as she wrote:

"Smile if you're surprised."

Talia von Oelhoffen's reaction to JuJu Watkins (Credit: Instagram/@taliavonoelhoffen)

Talia von Oelhoffen will play her fifth season with the Trojans and is set to play a crucial role in helping JuJu Watkins on a potential title run.

“Talia is an all-conference player who led her team to an Elite Eight. Her basketball IQ is off the charts, and she’s incredibly versatile," USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said (via Yahoo Sports). "I think we’ll see her thrive in an up-tempo system, and she’s gifted at making those around her better.

"She’s coming to USC to help us win at the highest levels and will provide leadership that’s so important to any team with championship aspirations. I cannot wait to have her in a Trojan uniform.”

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Lindsay Gottlieb details her plans for JuJu Watkins off the court

While it is expected that JuJu Watkins will be one of the best players on the court, her off-court impact is huge and is only set to grow more. She turned the Trojans program around, bringing fans back to the Galen Center, and led the team on a deep post-season run.

With the mounting expectations on the young guard's shoulders, USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb detailed her plans to help JuJu Watkins navigate the fame. During her appearance on the "Locked On Women's Basketball" podcast in May, Gottlieb said:

"This chance to impact people around her in a positive way is important to her. The chance for both of us to try to grow women's basketball and use this attention as a way to springboard not just our program but women's basketball. ... We know we're going to get all the time slots on TV. We know that there's a lot of attention coming.

"I'm gonna lean on the Big Ten and the experiences they had with Caitlin in terms of providing the right security but also the right platforms and working with people around us. ... I'm not shy to say I want JuJu to leave college as the female basketball player with the most impact, with the most financial resources, to try and set her career up." (13:00)

Watkins and the USC Trojans are set to play their first game of the season on Nov. 4 against Ole Miss in Paris.