Iowa may not deserve a #1 seed, but they are hot.

[nwhoopfan]

I think the narrative about her being a bad defender should be retired. She shoots passing lanes, positions herself well off ball and has active hands. There are far bigger problems for Iowa’s defense in that starting lineup than her.

Iowa as a team is much better defensively than they used to be.

 

[undersized]

But in the games I’ve watched I haven’t seen people rough her up when she moves without the ball.

This is just so far from the truth

 

[sweetspot]

Iowa as a team is much better defensively than they used to be.

For the season they’re only slightly ahead in the Massey ratings of where they finished last year (128 to 117). But they’ve been playing better the past few weeks, agreed.

 

[The deacon]

I’d like to see the evidence for this claim. I know she gets a lot of fouls on drives when she ends up sliding on the floor behind the basket. This is an old trick, by the way, perfected by Déjà Kelly and others. But in the games I’ve watched I haven’t seen people rough her up when she moves without the ball. Many, if not most, of the fouls she draws are precisely that, fouls she draws. Lou is not “drawing fouls” when she tries to move around the court without the ball. This is not a subtle distinction.

And contrary to your repeated and unfounded accusations, I am not detracting from Clark’s greatness. I point to it every time I talk about her. What I won’t do is exaggerate it. And I also pay more attention to context than you seem to want to.

Okay, Bone Dog, I have not made repeated and unfounded accusations against you, apologies if you feel that way.... any comment I made was directed at others on the BY who love to diss Clark. I know you have often complimented her performances and her standard of play. I even joked, apparently unsuccessfully, that you were playing the role of a fair facsimile of others who go after Clark.

Regarding drawing fouls, yes, Caitlin is good at that, as is Lou, but Caitlin is also very often grabbed, elbowed and hooked as she runs the court.

As for exaggerating Clark's greatness, how can I? Excepting perhaps Sabrina Ionescu's senior season in '19-20, when she averaged nearly 9 rebounds and 9 assists, no one in a really long time, if ever, has performed offensively to the level Caitlin has this season. And Sabrina averaged nearly 10 points per game less than Clark is.

Paige Bueckers showed two years ago that she has the stuff that makes Caitlin so outstanding, but sadly her body has just not held up. We all pray she'll be right there next year challenging Caitlin to be the best player in the country.

As I've said often here on the Boneyard, we're all so blessed to be Huskies fans, and to be able to watch these special athletes do their thing. Right now, Caitlin Clark is a cut above the rest right now, both in performance and entertainment value.

 

[Bone Dog]

Regarding drawing fouls, yes, Caitlin is good at that, as is Lou,

Fair enough, @The deacon . But I think you're mistaken about one thing. Lou doesn't drive in order to draw touch fouls. I've watched every single UConn game this year, and I haven't seen that move. She typically ends up standing after a drive. This is also true of Azzi -- rarely if ever ends up lying on the floor after a drive. Geno doesn't coach that. They are too busy running back on D. I've only watched about half the Iowa games, so perhaps Caitlin has stepped back from this tactic of late. This is really the only criticism I could imagine making of her game. Everything else about her play is really special. Whatever Iowa does this season, she will be the key to it.

I'm hoping the officiating committee takes a look at the way this play (the drive and fall) is called and tries to remove it from the game, or at least discourage it.

Otherwise, I think we're on the same page wrt Clark.

 

[cancontent]

My question is does Iowa even want to be a #1 seed? Saw someone post it on Twitter and it piqued my interest.

Considering who could be 2 seeds if they're a 1 (e.g. Maryland, LSU, Utah, Virginia Tech all possible) it could it be to their advantage that they're not. A match up against Virginia Tech could be very interesting however considering their style of play.

 

[Bone Dog]

My question is does Iowa even want to be a #1 seed? Saw someone post it on Twitter and it piqued my interest.

Considering who could be 2 seeds if they're a 1 (e.g. Maryland, LSU, Utah, Virginia Tech all possible) it could it be to their advantage that they're not. A match up against Virginia Tech could be very interesting however considering their style of play.

I'd pick Iowa to win against VT. They can defend VT's guards and Kitley isn't enough to take the win boy herself.

 

[cancontent]

I'd pick Iowa to win against VT. They can defend VT's guards and Kitley isn't enough to take the win boy herself.

I think it's a toss up personally based on how VT is currently playing. VT handled two very defensive minded teams handily during the ACC tournament. Amoore is very crafty like Clark, not to mention her range is better than I recall.

The guard match up is not as cut and dry as I think you perceive it to be. King and Traylor can give teams fits. Not to mention there is Soule and Gregg to deal with inside at the forward/post position. Gregg showed that she can handle playing inside and outside with her 3 point shooting range during the ACC tournament. Kitley doesn't have to do it all by herself and it makes the match ups with Czinano and Stulkey more challenging.

 

[hoopsnloops32]

My question is does Iowa even want to be a #1 seed? Saw someone post it on Twitter and it piqued my interest.

Considering who could be 2 seeds if they're a 1 (e.g. Maryland, LSU, Utah, Virginia Tech all possible) it could it be to their advantage that they're not. A match up against Virginia Tech could be very interesting however considering their style of play.

This doesn't make sense because if they are the 2 seed, those teams would also be the one-seed in their place. The one seed vs 2 seed debate this year is much more about easier sweet sixteen match-ups that preferred elight 8 match-ups. If you are going by Cremes brackets -would a 2 seed Iowa want to face a 3 seed- UConn (absurd) to get to the elite eight to play a one seed Stanford? No, of course they do not.

 

[visitingcock]

I dont think they are worthy of a 1 seed but definitely worth of a 2 seed a high one at that. Maybe 5 - which is really like the 4. Arguably 5, but no lower than 6.

Clark is great and her supporting cast is good. One or two are very good.

 

[cancontent]

This doesn't make sense because if they are the 2 seed, those teams would also be the one-seed in their place. The one seed vs 2 seed debate this year is much more about easier sweet sixteen match-ups that preferred elight 8 match-ups. If you are going by Cremes brackets -would a 2 seed Iowa want to face a 3 seed- UConn (absurd) to get to the elite eight to play a one seed Stanford? No, of course they do not.

I get your point, but it still could be to their advantage. As a 1 seed in the same bracket you reference, they'd have a interesting UCLA team that could provide problems before crossing paths with UConn. Of course this all depends on who actually ends up being in their bracket.

 

[cancontent]

Great observation from McGuff.

 

[visitingcock]

Looks like they won’t be the two seed in SCar’s bracket.

sad