Caitlin tonight..you be the judge

[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.

 

[Gurleyman]

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

Honestly, I thought that was going to be the exact story of the SC game, where a physical, athletic defense wouldn’t let Paige get the ball where she wants and do the things she wants to do. And she managed to get the better of them.

Actually, with 2 minutes to go I thought SC had succeeded even though Paige played reasonably well - they made her cut hard to get open all game, and I thought she wore down and SC was able to come back in the fourth while she was out of gas. Until suddenly, she showed a second wind that was more like a tornado.

 

[bbsamjj]

While Iowa will never be confused with the UConns, Stanfords, or SC's of the world, they are consistently an NCAA team that was in the Elite 8 as recently as 2 years ago. I find the talk that she chose being the star over team success a bit ridiculous in this context.

In Creme's latest Bracketology, he has Iowa as a #7 seed who would face #2 seed NC State in the second round. If you're a top 4 seed, I don't think you want to see Caitlin Clark anywhere near your side of the bracket.

 

[msf22b]

So tonight, Rutgers was all over Ms. Caitln, brutalized her (and her teammates) upon occasion.
She scored 21 and had 10 assists...and the assists were demoralizing
Paige-like bullets to open teammates.
And more importantly, the ball was in her hands, much of the game
and for the most-part, the Rutgers press didn't much bother her.
Fortunately for Iowa, one of the other kids got hot and was raining threes.
Rutgers made some semi-runs, but couldn't get closer than 8 in the 2nd half.
This kid, this team, is the real deal...play fun BB
Play again tomorrow on Fox...1 or 2
Worth taking a peak.

 

[Gurleyman]

Pretty happy they won. Moves them up to the 6 or 7 line and we don’t have to worry about their shooting - and the circus and distractions - in the second round.

 

[chrissaran]

Or you can say it's amazing her #'s are what they are since she is the total focus of the defense and has no one to take the pressure off her

Give me a break. Have you watched any of the Big Ten Tournament? She's hardly their only talented player.

 

[Husky fanatic]

Today they will be the higher seed. Not a good position to be in in this tournament. But the way they’re playing I think they’ll make the finals.

 

[Bald Husky]

We do not want Iowa in our bracket, it would be a circus

 

[cancontent]

Today they will be the higher seed. Not a good position to be in in this tournament. But the way they’re playing I think they’ll make the finals.

Rankings means nothing at this point in my opinion. They're facing Michigan State who beat them earlier this season. They're 6 & 7 respectively.

Currently, I'd say Iowa would have the advantage primarily because of depth. Michigan State has a starter out due to concussion protocol. Others are banged up, including Clouden it seems (calf?). Michigan State was able to grind through yesterday. Do they have it in them to pull it off today is the question, especially if they are short handed.