Caitlyn Clark - She’s really good!

[Surly1]

Caitlyn Clark had a phenomenal game today, both all around and displaying her incredible shooting range. While Aaliyah Boston will win POY and deservedly so, Clark should be the Big Ten POY winner over Naz Hillman. Iowa were co-winners of the regular season championship along with Ohio State. In two games against Michigan, she put up 46 and 38 points. That should seal the deal.

Clark, along with Beuckers has brought a lot of excitement to the women’s college game. With UConn back in the NC conversation, there is a lot to look forward to this post season. While SC is in the driver’s seat, UConn can and is looking scary good, particularly when their team defense is solid and aggressive.
They are looking like UConn teams of lore, going on long scoring sprees, generating turnovers with stifling defense, displaying crisp and unselfish ball distribution, and getting contributions from a multitude of players.

I can’t wait for the tournament to begin.

 

[Bjbod]

Might've been Caitlin's best game ever. Pressure-packed contest for conference title. Sold-out arena: 15,000+; announcers said tickets going for $300. 38 points on only 18 shots; 11 assists to boot. Today she raised the level of her teammates' play. Really impressive.

 

[The deacon]

Caitlyn Clark had a phenomenal game today, both all around and displaying her incredible shooting range. While Aaliyah Boston will win POY and deservedly so, Clark should be the Big Ten POY winner over Naz Hillman. Iowa were co-winners of the regular season championship along with Ohio State. In two games against Michigan, she put up 46 and 38 points. That should seal the deal.

Clark, along with Beuckers has brought a lot of excitement to the women’s college game. With UConn back in the NC conversation, there is a lot to look forward to this post season. While SC is in the driver’s seat, UConn can and is looking scary good, particularly when their team defense is solid and aggressive.
They are looking like UConn teams of lore, going on long scoring sprees, generating turnovers with stifling defense, displaying crisp and unselfish ball distribution, and getting contributions from a multitude of players.

I can’t wait for the tournament to begin.

I agree nearly right on through your message, Surly1, except that you and seemingly everyone else on the Boneyard tend to forget the defending national champs in discussions about this year's tournament.

Stanford just completed a 16-0 run through its league schedule. I believe they are just as much a threat to win it all as SC.

As for Caitlin, I just smiled and marvelled at her performance today, especiallly given the venue, the pressure and the stakes.

 

[Bjbod]

I watched the entire game but didn't realize this until a sportwriter pointed it out this morning: she got her 38 without taking a single shot in the 4th quarter.

 

[Husky fanatic]

After watching our Huskies thump Providence it was icing on the cake to watch Caitlin. Petula Clark must be her mother as she was shooting “Downtown “

 

[visitingcock]

I agree nearly right on through your message, Surly1, except that you and seemingly everyone else on the Boneyard tend to forget the defending national champs in discussions about this year's tournament.

Stanford just completed a 16-0 run through its league schedule. I believe they are just as much a threat to win it all as SC.

As for Caitlin, I just smiled and marvelled at her performance today, especiallly given the venue, the pressure and the stakes.

Stanford struggled a bit in the "OOC Pre-Season." But, at least a part of that was the Tara was playing a VERY deep roster against a VERY tough schedule. It was like she was experimenting against tough teams. Dawn too, to a slightly lesser extent. Good prep for championship runs.

No, nobody is forgetting Stanford.

Caitlin: Her POY talk is justifiable. Personally, I would choose Boston, but Clark is a legit contender.

 

[GamecockFam]

Stanford struggled a bit in the "OOC Pre-Season." But, at least a part of that was the Tara was playing a VERY deep roster against a VERY tough schedule. It was like she was experimenting against tough teams. Dawn too, to a slightly lesser extent. Good prep for championship runs.

No, nobody is forgetting Stanford.

Caitlin: Her POY talk is justifiable. Personally, I would choose Boston, but Clark is a legit contender.

Both are deserving IMO. I think it comes down to either valuing someone who is an offensive prodigy with average defense vs. a player who must be accounted for on both offense and defense (and has had consistent production throughout the season).

 

[undersized]

I said something to this effect in another thread, but I think the factor that tips the scale toward Boston is her performance in SC's non-conference portion of the season.

 

[visitingcock]

I said something to this effect in another thread, but I think the factor that tips the scale toward Boston is her performance in SC's non-conference portion of the season.

Yes, Boston’s steady performances against NC State, UConn, Stanford, Maryland, K-State and the better SC completion ( a top 5 SOS by anyone’s standard) is difficult to top.

But this is Caitlyn’s thread. Her scoring? Great. But it’s her assists that make me really pay attention!

 

[my2cents]

I like the fact that she introduced a new term to the hoop dialect....the "Logo Three" of which she had about 4 yesterday.

 

[tigers4ever]

Boston will win bec her team is ranked #1 and the POY buzz started early this season. IMO, Clark is more derserving but her early games hurt her. She leads the nation in scoring and assists and has 5 triple doubles.

 

[jumpstart]

The difference between Boston and Clark is simple...Boston doesn't need to score 30 points for South Carolina but Iowa needs Clark to score 30. They are both great players but Paige would have been POY if she had stayed healthy and continued her years performance.

 

[undersized]

 

[bballnut90]

Another 40+ game for Clark. Unbelievable stretch of basketball by her. I hope she gets some hardware this year--she deserves it.

 

[visitingcock]

Needs a two seed in Greensboro

 

[eebmg]

Another 40+ game for Clark. Unbelievable stretch of basketball by her. I hope she gets some hardware this year--she deserves it.

I kept oscillating between Boston and Clark but I think I would give it to Clark. The argument that Iowa was not winning enough earlier in the year no longer holds.

 

[Plebe]

Another 40+ game for Clark. Unbelievable stretch of basketball by her. I hope she gets some hardware this year--she deserves it.

She was named B10 POY. Isn't that hardware?

 

[TheFarmFan]

I kept oscillating between Boston and Clark but I think I would give it to Clark. The argument that Iowa was not winning enough earlier in the year no longer holds.

It's so hard to compare them, because they fulfill polar opposite roles on team with very different needs. Stats wise, it's pretty hard to make the case against Clark, esp. now that her 3PT shooting is up recently. And as a PG, she completely makes or breaks the Iowa offense in a way that's less true of Boston. But Boston is on a much more balanced team and so she's not needed to do it all, and what she is asked to do, I think she does even better than any given facet of Clark's game.

This is why I generally prefer All-American awards that award by position (and have some flexibility within that) than POY awards, because players like Clark and Boston, on teams like Iowa and SCAR, are just really, really hard to compare. But I wouldn't hesitate to put them both on the A-A first team.

 

[bballnut90]

She was named B10 POY. Isn't that hardware?

POY hardware. I'm hoping she and Boston split POY awards since they are neck and neck, but if I had to give an edge I might slightly lean towards Clark now, especially if they win today and she keeps up her great play.

 

[Argonaut]

I wish there was an OPOY, DPOY, and then the POY.

Because, to use a Geno-ism, I don’t think Clark can guard a chair, but I’d definitely give her my vote for OPOY.

 

[noirwestern]

I don't know if it's she can't defend or if that's by design to keep her out of foul trouble? Watching her closely it appears Ms Clark has, let's just say, an abundance of attitude and is easily frustrated. The less contact she has the better. The fewer points she has to score for them to secure a win over a good team is better still.

 

[undersized]

I wish there was an OPOY, DPOY, and then the POY.

Because, to use a Geno-ism, I don’t think Clark can guard a chair, but I’d definitely give her my vote for OPOY.

This was true last year, but this year she's at least closer to 'passable.' As in, she's improved from an F to a C-. She still needs to close out better and guard ball screens better, but she's improved a lot. If you watched the game today, you'll know that Indiana tried to drive at her multiple times to bait her into fouling. She never did, and even came up with at least one block. She's also been getting more steals and deflections this year.

All that being said, she'll never been a lock down defender. But I think it would be a total waste of her skillset and energy for a coaching staff to ask her to fill that role. That doesn't excuse the piss poor defense she's showed at times -- but it's not what she will bring to a team.

 

[PoppaBear]

I would put Nalyssa Smith ahead of Clark and just behind or even with Boston for POY awards. She's the best all around player in college ball. And she's been consistent all year.

 

[bballnut90]

This was true last year, but this year she's at least closer to 'passable.' As in, she's improved from an F to a C-. She still needs to close out better and guard ball screens better, but she's improved a lot. If you watched the game today, you'll know that Indiana tried to drive at her multiple times to bait her into fouling. She never did, and even came up with at least one block. She's also been getting more steals and deflections this year.

All that being said, she'll never been a lock down defender. But I think it would be a total waste of her skillset and energy for a coaching staff to ask her to fill that role. That doesn't excuse the piss poor defense she's showed at times -- but it's not what she will bring to a team.

This 100%. She's not a top tier defender but has definitely improved. Iowa as a whole has played much better defense this year than last.

 

[undersized]

I would put Nalyssa Smith ahead of Clark and just behind or even with Boston for POY awards. She's the best all around player in college ball. And she's been consistent all year.

I don't really care one way or another how you order these three, but this is a good post. Despite all the unhinged Iowa and South Carolina fans screaming about how their prized ponies aren't getting enough attention, it's Smith (along with other players) who have actually been slighted this year in terms of media coverage. I mean, she's the reigning Wade Trophy winner for crying out loud. I know Baylor struggled a bit in the beginning of the season, but I feel like they have been ignored because their success undermines the narrative of "Kim Mulkey was That Program." While that may be true to an extent, she left behind some damn good players who still for the time being comprise a damn good team.