OT: Caitlin ain't Paige but .......

[eebmg]

In todays game against Penn State. Clark had 12 pts after 3Q and was pretty cold and the game was still close and then she went nuts for 20 pts in the 4Q. 4-4 from 3 and really took control. She will have some strong support for end of year awards. She needs to score for Iowa to be really successful so she will have more 30+ games while Paige will continue to build up the confidence of her teammates by deferring in the Big East.

 

[eebmg]

Yup and Clark took 21 shots to get her 30 points and Paige (in last night's game) took 10 to get 20.

Yes but this game shows she can get red hot and carry her team in the 4Q. Paige is better in many tangible and intangible ways and even more for the UConn environment but I still appreciate what Caitlin can do.

 

[Tonyc]

Hey dont knock Clark Shes a damm good player. She aint Paige but she is a damm good player. Respect her for that. Just think what you would think if she was your daughter with those numbers and people knocked her. Every girl has parents and the words you use could make them really happy or really angry and you dont know who their father is????????????????? Be Nice shes just a kid trying to be the best she can be.

 

[chrissaran]

Didn't knock Caitlin. Just showed that Paige has a much higher percentage on 2s and 3s.

 

[Centerstream]

Yes but this game shows she can get red hot and carry her team in the 4Q. Paige is better in many tangible and intangible ways and even more for the UConn environment but I still appreciate what Caitlin can do.

@eebmg as you probably can see, I deleted my post because it was an unfair comparison.

 

[Gurleyman]

In todays game against Penn State. Clark had 12 pts after 3Q and was pretty cold and the game was still close and then she went nuts for 20 pts in the 4Q. 4-4 from 3 and really took control. She will have some strong support for end of year awards. She needs to score for Iowa to be really successful so she will have more 30+ games while Paige will continue to build up the confidence of her teammates by deferring in the Big East.

Her last couple big games have been more efficient and she even got her turnovers down to 4. She’s probably played her way into being an All-American. I‘d say third team now with a chance to move up to second with a win over Indiana or Michigan. She has some flaws, but 27 ppg on 48 percent shooting is outstanding. There could be two freshmen in the top 10 All-America spots.

 

[DefenseBB]

The way I see it is Paige has more confidence in her teammates and would rather pass the ball to an open teammate for a higher percentage shot then throw up a low percentage circus shot. One plays for a 17-1 team (14-0) in conference and one plays for a 11-6 team (7-6 in conference).

Um, none of the statistics support your assertion. It boggles my mind when anyone compliments a non-UConn player, others have to immediately point out why UConn is better or why the player mentioned isn't as good or doesn't help her team much. Have you seen Clark play? The reason Iowa is 11-6 and 7-6 isn't because Clark doesn't make her teammates better, it's because her coach, Lisa Bluder doesn't teach DEFENSE. That Iowa team is a sieve.
Ms. Clark averages more assists than Paige so yes, she does have confidence in her teammates. The offense is predicated on her outside shooting and Czinano's inside game. She also has taken 113 free throws (7 a game!) with a 83% percentage which is also impressive for a guard.

I have said it before and will say it again, both these two are leading candidates for the 10 member WBCA All-American Team this year. This discussion is not an "either" "or" discussion, both are great players and worthy of what ever accolades come their way.

 

[Cornell Lt]

I've watched several Iowa games this season. Caitlin is a shoot first guard. It's obvious Iowa relies on her to score and score often. She does the other things also, but they usually happen as sort of an after thought. A very good player with not much of a supporting cast around her.

 

[dragon]

Clark has eight 30 point games so far tied EDD and the Ohio State player a few years ago. One more and she has the all time NCAA record.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Ms. Clark averages more assists than Paige so yes, she does have confidence in her teammates. The offense is predicated on her outside shooting and Czinano's inside game. She also has taken 113 free throws (7 a game!) with a 83% percentage which is also impressive for a guard.

Clark's a terrific player but it's hard to compare her to Bueckers from a statistical standpoint. Clark has so much more freedom and is the initiator of Iowa's offense on almost every possession. I mean, Clark had more three-point attempts today than Bueckers had total shot attempts last night. Clark's allowed to come down and just fire threes from 25+ feet with no offensive sets, and shes talented enough to make a bunch of those. Bueckers would get pulled at UConn for doing that.

 

[Plebe]

Why are you even asking this? It is not an either or record. The problem with too many posters on here is if another VERY good player is mentioned, people take perceived slights as at the UConn players. Clark IS a very worthy candidate for not only NFOY but also AA and Naismith consideration. She's that good. That is NOT denigrating Paige or UConn.

I'm glad someone from "our camp" beat me to this point.

Are people so terribly insecure that they can't bring themselves to appreciate or compliment another team's player?

Truly, doing so detracts not one iota from the greatness of UConn's players. And in the process one may even discover the healthful benefits of holding multiple thoughts in the brain at the same time.

 

[Littlemin]

Are people so terribly insecure that they can't bring themselves to appreciate or compliment another team's player?

For many posters here, the answer is a resounding “Yes”. I am not the rabid fan many are on here, more an incredible appreciation of what Auriemma and Dailey have accomplished than any emotional association with the school or team. So I find the player adulation and Mother Hen protectiveness of same and conversely, the arrogant writing off of other players very early in their college careers, well, interesting. Not to mention the fairly rampant dismissing of and lack of respect for any non-Uconn players or programs and their accomplishments. Of course, this opinion is applicable to some, not all who post here. Unfortunately, enough that it creates a kind of “Damn Yankees” feel on many threads for this outsider basketball junkie.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Clark has eight 30 point games so far tied EDD and the Ohio State player a few years ago. One more and she has the all time NCAA record.

Is this referring to Freshman seasons only?

 

[HopJim]

Rather than get into arguments about who is better, suggest this is one of the most interesting groups of frosh in years. If you love women's college basketball, what a great way to spend our Covid influenced days and evenings. Usually there is at least one game on a night with one of these players.

 

[bbsamjj]

The current NCAA leaders in 3-pt percentage are both freshman guards.

 

[nygblue]

I saw Caitlin over the holidays against OSU and she was a one woman wrecking crew. Looking at her stats I was surprised to see how many assists she has. With that being said, by the numbers Paige so efficient. It's amazing what she is doing as a freshman.

 

[homer the dog]

The way i look at it there hasn't been player in basketball like Paige since Bird retired, High praise indeed, but consider. Both:

Beyond fundamentally sound
Both clutch
Both great shooters
Both great leaders
Great teammates
Are without peer as passers
Make others around them better
Statistics don't begin to measure their total/true value
Same work ethic
Play hard
Seek out the best competition
Court vision
Court smarts
will go on the floor

And still there's more to both of them i that they have an indescribable something (like a hand emerged from the heavens and touched them) that allows them to play in a different dimension than most other people. Comparisons are just not fair

Like Bird said "I ain't much in the classroom but put me on a basketballl court and I'm an A+ student."

Now Geno needs to find the next Bill Walton

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Hope Clay Kallam doesn't have to go into hiding for this....


Caitlin Clark is a horrid defender. She is a brilliant scorer, but her lack of interest and lack of fundamentals at that end of the floor remove her from my list.

She can shoot it, though ...

 

[fomalhaut]

Not even remotely, she is more like Sabrina Ionescu ...

I'll believe that when Clark becomes a triple-double machine (she has 1 this season). Indiana has a guard, Grace Berger, who has three triple-doubles already.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I'll believe that when Clark becomes a triple-double machine (she has 1 this season). Indiana has a guard, Grace Berger, who has three triple-doubles already.

That, and Ionescu wasn't a scoring machine like Clark. She could go for 25 or 30 any given game, but never averaged over 20 ppg for a season.

 

[my2cents]

Um, none of the statistics support your assertion. It boggles my mind when anyone compliments a non-UConn player, others have to immediately point out why UConn is better or why the player mentioned isn't as good or doesn't help her team much. Have you seen Clark play? The reason Iowa is 11-6 and 7-6 isn't because Clark doesn't make her teammates better, it's because her coach, Lisa Bluder doesn't teach DEFENSE. That Iowa team is a sieve.
Ms. Clark averages more assists than Paige so yes, she does have confidence in her teammates. The offense is predicated on her outside shooting and Czinano's inside game. She also has taken 113 free throws (7 a game!) with a 83% percentage which is also impressive for a guard.

I have said it before and will say it again, both these two are leading candidates for the 10 member WBCA All-American Team this year. This discussion is not an "either" "or" discussion, both are great players and worthy of what ever accolades come their way.

Maybe we think the UCONN player is better because this is a Uconn board? Nothing wrong with being a fan.

 

[eebmg]

Maybe we think the UCONN player is better because this is a Uconn board? Nothing wrong with being a fan.

For me, I admit strong partisan feelings (not necessarily UConn driven) for Paige in end of year awards that you want to reward overall brilliance, fundamentals and Paige's core pass first mentality in this era of score first, taking wow shots and getting stats. As great as Caitlin is, she is and always will look shot first and that seems to be far more appreciated in today's era. I felt similar (although not to the same degree) with Sabrina who I think has strong similarities to Paige and maybe with OR's current downturn, we may again revisit what she meant to that program

Much like the Pheesa / Arike ROY competition where I was so worried that Pheesa's overall brilliance would not be recognized over Arike's flash although Caitlins game for me seems more team oriented than Arike and she is a willing enough passer

 

[Childhood]

Actually I just feel annoyed with this thread. Just take a quick look on Clark's teammate stat.
The 2nd score leader 19.2 (FG 67%)
This almost as close as to Paige's score.
The 3rd one with 12.7 (FG 52%)

NOT as bad as someone said Clark needs to score at that level in order to carry the team. But to be honest, I haven't watched their games.

 

[HopJim]

Have seen Clark play several times and she is a great player but unlikely to be put in the position at Iowa to show off her "clutch gene." Until Clark can perform at the same level against the top competition in the US, impossible to compare her to Paige.

 

[CajunHusky]

I'll believe that when Clark becomes a triple-double machine (she has 1 this season). Indiana has a guard, Grace Berger, who has three triple-doubles already.

Context: [Caitlin] is more like Sabrina Ionescu than Kelsey Mitchell.

I will stand by that assessment.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Paige's real competition for ROY may have been Angel Reese.
As a Freshman (2020-21): In her Maryland debut, scored 20 points shooting 70% from the field, grabbed 9 boards and had 2 blocks in win over Davidson (11/27)...Tallied a career-high 3 blocks, grabbed 9 boards, dished out 3 assists and scored 15 points against #24 Missouri State (11/28)...Scored 16 points including 6 of 7 free throws, grabbed 8 boards, dished out an assists and added a steal in win over #14 Arkansas (11/29)...scored 2 points and grabbed 2 rebounds in the win over Towson (12/3) suffered right foot fracture early in the game, did not return.

 

[JonathanXIV]

Paige's real competition for ROY may have been Angel Reese.
As a Freshman (2020-21): In her Maryland debut, scored 20 points shooting 70% from the field, grabbed 9 boards and had 2 blocks in win over Davidson (11/27)...Tallied a career-high 3 blocks, grabbed 9 boards, dished out 3 assists and scored 15 points against #24 Missouri State (11/28)...Scored 16 points including 6 of 7 free throws, grabbed 8 boards, dished out an assists and added a steal in win over #14 Arkansas (11/29)...scored 2 points and grabbed 2 rebounds in the win over Towson (12/3) suffered right foot fracture early in the game, did not return.

Not enough of a sample size. Remember all of the hype after Hailey Van Lith's first few games. Someone even started a post about how Hailey Van Lith would keep Paige off of AA teams. All that hype doesn't look so good right now. Good player, but no one is seriously talking about Hailey Van Lith as the FOY.

 

[bbsamjj]

Have seen Clark play several times and she is a great player but unlikely to be put in the position at Iowa to show off her "clutch gene." Until Clark can perform at the same level against the top competition in the US, impossible to compare her to Paige.

I think Clark has already demonstrated that she has a "clutch" gene. In the Iowa/Iowa St game this year, which is the biggest rivalry game they play every year, she made the game winning 3-pointer for Iowa: (full highlights, which also include the brilliant A. Joens, here: )

 

[eebmg]

I think Clark has already demonstrated that she has a "clutch" gene. In the Iowa/Iowa St game this year, which is the biggest rivalry game they play every year, she made the game winning 3-pointer for Iowa: (full highlights, which also include the brilliant A. Joens, here: )

I agree Paige and Caitlin (and Dana Evans and maybe others I don't know about ) share the clutch gene. Where Paige is different is in her mindset of a Pass first guard whose first focus is to get the rest of her teammates involved and successful but being their when needed. How often do we see Paige start slowly as she tries to let the others get involved first and only later begin taking over as needed. Just a different mindset and one I am grateful for.,

Finally, one aspect of Paige's game that has surprised me is her willingness to eschew the highlight passes (Maybe that behind the back to Aubrey had something to do about it) for intelligent passing and movement . Even her no look passes are high percentage and serve a purpose.