Caitlin tonight..you be the judge

[CocoHusky]

Jeff Walz coached the FIBA team that included Paige, Van Lith, Boston, Hillmon, Egbo, Belibi, Horston, Joens and Caitlin Clark. He played Paige and Van Lith a lot. Paige won the MVP and Walz played Van Lith a lot bcuz he was recruiting her, eh? Clark didn't get many minutes in the games that I watched. So not much chance to compare Clark vs Paige in the FIBA games.

Paige and Caitlin history at USA basketball goes back to 2017 at U16. In 2017 neither player was a starter for Carla Berube, Zia Cooke was the starting PG and Horston was the starting SG. In 2017 they were probable even with Clark coming in to back up Cooke and Page (and Azzi) coming in to back up Horston.
By 2018 at U17 both Paige and Azzi emerged as the starting back court with Haley Jones Horston and Boston up from. It hard to say that Azzi and Paige surpassed Caitilin in 2018 because Caitlin was injured (Thumb) during the trials and did not make the U17 team. In 2019 the Jeff Walz coached team Azzzi was injured and Paige not only emerged as a starter but the MVP, best player against two of the leading candidates for NCAA player of the year this season in Naz Hillmom and Ryhne Howard. You mention that Jeff played Van Lith becuse he was recruiting her-which is probably true. The irony is that Jeff could just have easily been recruiting Clark because neither player committed until Nov of 2019.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Clark has 19 points on 6-18 shooting. Czinano has 34 points on 15-17 shooting. Purdue can't stop the big girl.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Clark now up to 27. Czinano has 38. No one else for Iowa has more than 6.

 

[darkstar1]

Purdue v. Iowa confirmed why Big 10 viewed as perhaps the weakest P5 league this year. Would either of these teams have cracked the top 4 in the Big East. I don’t think so.

 

[stamfordhusky]

Purdue v. Iowa confirmed why Big 10 viewed as perhaps the weakest P5 league this year. Would either of these teams have cracked the top 4 in the Big East. I don’t think so.

Iowa is only marginally better than Marquette, but they are light years ahead of any other Big East team (except UConn of course).

 

[bballnut90]

Purdue v. Iowa confirmed why Big 10 viewed as perhaps the weakest P5 league this year. Would either of these teams have cracked the top 4 in the Big East. I don’t think so.

This was a first round game....no one is using either team as an example for why the Big Ten is a strong conference this year. Watch Maryland tomorrow and get back to me.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Clark definitely deserves way more exposure than she is getting. If not for Paige, Clark would be the most talked about frosh. It would have been interesting if she went to a team that gets the media's attention.

 

[blkkirk]

One thing that I like is how determined she is about taking the ball to the rim. She welcomes contact. This is an area where Paige can improve upon. This would add another 6 or 8 points to Paige's game.

 

[my2cents]

Clark had an off night shooting, it happens. She does have a nice stroke.
Both teams looked very slow especially on defense.
Not a believer in comparing two players.....but Clark and Paige have different roles in two different offenses that each team runs.
Iowa is an NBA hybrid "1 IN 4 OUT". where the lane is open for 1 player and the other 4 hug the three point line waiting for a kick out. Uconn runs a traditional weave, looking for back cuts, pick and rolls, and dump downs to the bigs.
Most of Clarks points came from beating her defender and making uncontested layups at the rim. Did I mention how slowwww Purdue was? Paige really doesn't take the ball off the dribble to the rim, she is looking for people to pass to.
IMO, Iowa got way more bump calls than any UCONN could expect.
Lastly, if that represents a stronger conference that UCONN should join, I would pass. We would beat each of those teams by 35-50 points.

 

[SVCBeercats]

Not to mention she doesn't have the teammates Paige has..Don't get me wrong I still like Paige better I guess I was kind of shocked how much she reminds me of Paige the way she plays.

Paige seems to need screens and passes from her teammates more than Caitlin. Ciatlin is really good at creating off the dribble. Some point to Caitlin's turnovers. Well consider the caliber of her teammates and how often Paige's better teammates mishandle her passes. I would want both on my team and figure out later how to get them to work together.

 

[Bajan Best]

Paige seems to need screens and passes from her teammates more than Caitlin. Ciatlin is really good at creating off the dribble. Some point to Caitlin's turnovers. Well consider the caliber of her teammates and how often Paige's better teammates mishandle her passes. I would want both on my team and figure out later how to get them to work together.

C'mon Really?!
I think that is simply a product of coaching sir... Both players have the ability to use their handle and foot speed to go by their defenders... However, Paige is definitely benefitting from having better coaches and a winning system. Furthermore, I'm willing to bet that's one of the major contributing factors why one team has a better team record.

 

[ScottCT]

C'mon Really?!
I think that is simply a product of coaching sir... Both players have the ability to use their handle and foot speed to go by their defenders... However, Paige is definitely benefitting from having better coaches and a winning system. Furthermore, I'm willing to bet that's one of the major contributing factors why one team has a better team record.

I agree, that was an absolutely ridiculous statement. I almost spit out my drink when I read it.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Paige seems to need screens and passes from her teammates more than Caitlin.

Did you see the South Carolina game particularly the fourth quarter? The way Paige knocked down big shot after big shot with such tight defense might change your mind about that.

 

[BBallF]

Clark had an off night shooting, it happens. She does have a nice stroke.
Both teams looked very slow especially on defense.
Not a believer in comparing two players.....but Clark and Paige have different roles in two different offenses that each team runs.
Iowa is an NBA hybrid "1 IN 4 OUT". where the lane is open for 1 player and the other 4 hug the three point line waiting for a kick out. Uconn runs a traditional weave, looking for back cuts, pick and rolls, and dump downs to the bigs.
Most of Clarks points came from beating her defender and making uncontested layups at the rim. Did I mention how slowwww Purdue was? Paige really doesn't take the ball off the dribble to the rim, she is looking for people to pass to.
IMO, Iowa got way more bump calls than any UCONN could expect.
Lastly, if that represents a stronger conference that UCONN should join, I would pass. We would beat each of those teams by 35-50 points.

Exactly on point as to the offense. That is why Clark gets to the rim at will. All she has to do is beat her man since everyone else is outside and the one big below waits for her man to double on Clark and gets an open layup or short bunny and hence 38 points. It's an AAU offense and really can be monikered as a dribble drive offense. It is the polar opposite of our offense. Also, she has a green light on every possession to shoot out of necessity and hence the high scoring average. She is a great player no doubt and an All American and future Olympian but Paige can be compared with her very starkly in one important respect- Paige elevates the entire team and all its components just as DT did in 2003 and 2004. I didn't see that last night. They are a 16-8 team and 6th in the Big 10.

 

[Bajan Best]

I am yet to watch a game of Caitlin this year..
However, based on the highlights I've seen and the numbers she has acquired this year, she definitely should be "in the conversations" for all the same post-season awards as Paige, except perhaps one ...

People do love conspiracy theories, who exactly is it, that is hiding Caitlin CLark this year? Absolutely NO ONE!
I believe one team has more national coverage, therefore it would only be natural to hear more about the player(s) on that team, simply because they are seen more.

With regards to Caitlin Choosing to play at Iowa, It wasn't so long ago we heard this same debate about Sabrina going to Oregon, and how did that turn out? or better yet Lobo Choosing Storrs. The bottom line is the young lady is showing she can play the game effectively and efficiently at a high level and is deserving of all/any recognition so far.

Player of the year, for the most part goes to the best player on the best team or the player that also had the most impact on their team, i.e. according to Geno
This is the only reason why Paige will most likely win the award this year.
Did Elena Delle Donne ever won player of the year in college?

 

[meyers7]

Paige : I have Geno and you don't.

Cricket Meme.

Here you go.

 

[NEforceUConn]

Don’t want to jinx anything. They both are great freshman. Let’s see how the ncaa unfolds.

 

[Zinethar]

Caitlin is certainly a good player and very good scorer. Only detracting thing I saw last night was to total lack of defense either team even attempted to play. I've noted before that I overall have not been impressed with the Big10 this year and the poor defense I've seen is a big reason why.

 

[Ozimoto]

She is a good (ok, very good) player. She showed she is more than just a three point shooter last night for sure.

 

[browns]

One thing that I like is how determined she is about taking the ball to the rim. She welcomes contact. This is an area where Paige can improve upon. This would add another 6 or 8 points to Paige's game.

Good point..not sure how much Paige welcomes the contact like as you said ,Caitlin and Chelsey Dungee too.I think next year she may go to the rim more as she becomes stronger.She certainly can finish and it would be great to get her to the FT line more

 

[MilfordHusky]

Caitlyn is really good and doesn't play like a freshman. I have her in my top 5 this season.

 

[ScuderiaDiU]

How well do u think Clark will do against Rutgers tonight?

No where near as well as she did earlier in the year. Stringer knows how to slow down a one man team. They are going to be VERY physical with her. She won't even get the point of being able to dish to her post player if the refs "let them play".

 

[darkstar1]

Exactly on point as to the offense. That is why Clark gets to the rim at will. All she has to do is beat her man since everyone else is outside and the one big below waits for her man to double on Clark and gets an open layup or short bunny and hence 38 points. It's an AAU offense and really can be monikered as a dribble drive offense. It is the polar opposite of our offense. Also, she has a green light on every possession to shoot out of necessity and hence the high scoring average. She is a great player no doubt and an All American and future Olympian but Paige can be compared with her very starkly in one important respect- Paige elevates the entire team and all its components just as DT did in 2003 and 2004. I didn't see that last night. They are a 16-8 team and 6th in the Big 10.

Gaudy individual statistics and winning do not always walk hand in hand. Give me the player that does what is necessary as part of a winning team.

 

[Blue Huskie]

Clark is going to wish she had all those screens Paige is getting when they play better teams. Clark scores a lot because she wants to and she has to. She actually misses a lot of shots but makes up for it at the free throw line. She gets to the line a lot because she has to force the issue and try to get fouled. Paige is seeking to get more open shots. She has a lot of help and doesn't always have to score 30 per game. I really think Paige can handle the ball like nobody else. She has got more moves than I've ever seen. Very tricky for such a young player. I think that elevates her above everyone else alnog with her ability to make everyone else better (And I don't just mean assists but mentally better). Of course many voters are purely in love with "How many points per game" so who knows how they will choose.

 

[msf22b]

No where near as well as she did earlier in the year. Stringer knows how to slow down a one man team. They are going to be VERY physical with her. She won't even get the point of being able to dish to her post player if the refs "let them play".

Should be an interesting game
You may be correct DIU
But once in a while a transcendent talent overcomes such obstacles.