Is Iowa at Indiana Threadworthy?

[victor64]

I thought Chloe McNeil did a great job on Clark. Clark was 12/28 from the field

 

[bballnut90]

Fun game to watch. I thought Berger was the best player on the court. She was brilliant, especially in the second half. Really good in the midrange and bullying Iowa's guards inside. Holmes also badly outplayed Czinano. That match up was the biggest difference between the 2 teams. Indiana had 2 legit stars, Iowa had 1 who played well but was burdened by the weight of doing it all. Side note--Czinano can't be more than 6-0 or 6-1...Holmes towered over her when they were matched up.

Iowa definitely had their chances this game. I was rooting for them but thought they got a LOT of favorable calls. Maybe it was the crowd influence but a lot of tick tack fouls called against Indiana and I thought Iowa got away with several no calls. At any rate, Iowa missed a lot 3s and there was not enough support for Clark. It rarely seemed like they were in rhythm. Clark played okay for Clark standards. Not her best game, too many TOs (8) but had some great plays and still finished with 35/10 assists which would be a career night for anyone else in the country. I thought Moore-Mcneil did a really good job defending her.

Stuelke is a nice presence inside, but going 0-8 from FT was extremely costly. Even if she hits half of those it's a drastically different game down the stretch. Aside from that I thought she played great in a big time match up. Fun game, great crowd. The rematch is already sold out.

 

[GoChips20]

Fun game to watch. I thought Berger was the best player on the court. She was brilliant, especially in the second half. Really good in the midrange and bullying Iowa's guards inside. Holmes also badly outplayed Czinano. That match up was the biggest difference between the 2 teams. Indiana had 2 legit stars, Iowa had 1 who played well but was burdened by the weight of doing it all. Side note--Czinano can't be more than 6-0 or 6-1...Holmes towered over her when they were matched up.

Iowa definitely had their chances this game. I was rooting for them but thought they got a LOT of favorable calls. Maybe it was the crowd influence but a lot of tick tack fouls called against Indiana and I thought Iowa got away with several no calls. At any rate, Iowa missed a lot 3s and there was enough support for Clark. It rarely seemed like they were in rhythm. Clark played okay for Clark standards. Not her best game, too many TOs (8) but had some great plays and still finished with 35/10 assists which would be a career night for anyone else in the country. I thought Moore-Mcneil did a really good job defending her.

Stuelke is a nice presence inside, but going 0-8 from FT was extremely costly. Even if she hits half of those it's a drastically different game down the stretch. Aside from that I thought she played great in a big time match up. Fun game, great crowd. The rematch is already sold out.

It’s a testament to the player Clark is that we’re calling 35/10 “a really good job defending” (and to be clear I don’t disagree with you).

 

[Dillon77]

These games are made for Berger to assert herself at key moments. I love her slow, steady back in and then the deft, fadeaway jumper

I can't believe how quickly Berger came back from being out a month. 16 points in her first game back, and 2-3 weeks later, a clinic in spin moves and toughness in this game.

Fun game to watch. I thought Berger was the best player on the court. She was brilliant, especially in the second half. Really good in the midrange and bullying Iowa's guards inside.

A Trifecta of +++'s for Berger. When IU needed a bucket, she just got to her spot for her shot ... and nailed it. She and Maine's finest - McKenzie Holmes -- were just spectacular. Can't wait for the rematch at Iowa.

 

[BRS24]

A while back, some posters mentioned that Clark needs support from Czinano, and I think it showed last night when she had to leave the game due to fouls, and only had 6 pts.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

A while back, some posters mentioned that Clark needs support from Czinano, and I think it showed last night when she had to leave the game due to fouls, and only had 6 pts.

Iowa is hard to watch for me. Too much Clark with capable scorers around her. She took like 20 more shots than the next Iowa player. That's a gift to the defense. Iowa needs more balance. She had 10 assists. Sounds impressive, but she is their PG and she has the ball in her hand ...A LOT. Indiana looked really good.

 

[BRS24]

Iowa is hard to watch for me. Too much Clark with capable scorers around her. She took like 20 more shots than the next Iowa player. That's a gift to the defense. Iowa needs more balance. She had 10 assists. Sounds impressive, but she is their PG and she has the ball in her hand ...A LOT. Indiana looked really good.

And similar to the scope creep of the Heisman pretty much now becoming a QB award, I want my PG award to go to someone that facilitates the offense, with scoring 2nd or 3rd options. But we'll see.

 

[cancontent]

A Trifecta of +++'s for Berger. When IU needed a bucket, she just got to her spot for her shot ... and nailed it. She and Maine's finest - McKenzie Holmes -- were just spectacular. Can't wait for the rematch at Iowa.

This is why I was surprised not much was being said about how her play would impact the game. Not taking anything away from Holmes but Berger is a really special player who seems to have been taken for granted. It's just expected that she'll perform the way she does.

 

[Dillon77]

This is why I was surprised not much was being said about how her play would impact the game. Not taking anything away from Holmes but Berger is a really special player who seems to have been taken for granted. It's just expected that she'll perform the way she does.

Not by me, our Canadian friend/correspondent! Berger is made for these games: she started taking them over from Patberg halfway through her sophomore year.

A buddy I play hoop with -- who refs the AAU circuit -- saw her during her HS freshman year or soph spring break. He told me "Write McGraw about this kid....no mistakes. Confident." I watched all the "tape" I could (Berger is from Kentucky) and sent a note. Too late: she committed super early to Moren and is now the poster child for the IU program as we know it. Fire and Ice in one package.

 

[cancontent]

Not by me, our Canadian friend/correspondent! Berger is made for these games: she started taking them over from Patberg halfway through her sophomore year.

A buddy I play hoop with refs the AAU circuit saw her during her HS freshman year or soph spring break. He told me "Write McGraw about this kid....no mistakes. Confident." I watched all the "tape" I could (Berger is from Kentucky) and sent a note. Too late: she committed super early to Moren and is now the poster child for the IU program as we know it. Fire and Ice in one package.

100% my friend. Really was impressed with her when I saw her play with USA basketball during the Americas tournament prior to the Tokyo Olympics. I think she took her game to another level after that experience.

 

[MSSportsGuy]

Just a general comment that I've gleaned from reading about Clark's career for the past few years on this board.

There seem to be a lot of posters here who don't seem to care for volume shooters, which Clark is. The fact she has so many assists doesn't seem to phase those who believe she takes too many shots for Iowa. I recall the same things being said about Kelsey Mitchell when she was at OSU, and definitely was said about Arike at ND.

Like many people I too prefer basketball games that are balanced, crisp, with lots of passes and getting people the ball in the right spot. However, over the years I've also seen teams where if the alpha player didn't take a lot of shots, they had no chance of winning. It may not be ideal but it's reality.

This isn't is a criticism of any specific person or their views, just an observation combined with my two cents. From all accounts Clark is an exceptional player and has given Iowa a breath of fresh air in basketball.

 

[The deacon]

Just a general comment that I've gleaned from reading about Clark's career for the past few years on this board.

There seem to be a lot of posters here who don't seem to care for volume shooters, which Clark is. The fact she has so many assists doesn't seem to phase those who believe she takes too many shots for Iowa. I recall the same things being said about Kelsey Mitchell when she was at OSU, and definitely was said about Arike at ND.

Like many people I too prefer basketball games that are balanced, crisp, with lots of passes and getting people the ball in the right spot. However, over the years I've also seen teams where if the alpha player didn't take a lot of shots, they had no chance of winning. It may not be ideal but it's reality.

This isn't is a criticism of any specific person or their views, just an observation combined with my two cents. From all accounts Clark is an exceptional player and has given Iowa a breath of fresh air in basketball.

Interesting thoughts, MSSportsGuy, and there's validity to it all except, please, please, please don't compare Caitlin Clark to Arike... yikes!

Iowa is hard to watch for me. Too much Clark with capable scorers around her. She took like 20 more shots than the next Iowa player. That's a gift to the defense. Iowa needs more balance. She had 10 assists. Sounds impressive, but she is their PG and she has the ball in her hand ...A LOT. Indiana looked really good.

Yes, Caitlin took 20 more shots than her teammates last night, but that disparity was not the norm.

Note the Hawkeyes are shooting 50 percent from the floor for the season, 52 percent without Caitlin's shots, and Clark is shooting 46 percent. It's not like her shooting is dragging Iowa off a cliff. And a high percentage of shots by her teammates are layups she sets up or wide open threes because she's so closely guarded.

Even last night, she shot 43 percent on what was a below-average night for her, likely due to the reality that Indiana plays better defense than most other teams. By the way, Clark is averaging 19 shots per game, not an extraordinary number considering the team's reliance on her.

 

[visitingcock]

Just a general comment that I've gleaned from reading about Clark's career for the past few years on this board.

There seem to be a lot of posters here who don't seem to care for volume shooters, which Clark is. The fact she has so many assists doesn't seem to phase those who believe she takes too many shots for Iowa. I recall the same things being said about Kelsey Mitchell when she was at OSU, and definitely was said about Arike at ND.

Like many people I too prefer basketball games that are balanced, crisp, with lots of passes and getting people the ball in the right spot. However, over the years I've also seen teams where if the alpha player didn't take a lot of shots, they had no chance of winning. It may not be ideal but it's reality.

This isn't is a criticism of any specific person or their views, just an observation combined with my two cents. From all accounts Clark is an exceptional player and has given Iowa a breath of fresh air in basketball.

I will confess that I have a prejudice against high volume shooters as being "ballhogs." Goes back to my childhood when "ballhogs" and "hot dogs" were generally dislike in favor of "team players." I'll never shake that prejudice. Too ingrained.

However, The high assist number by Clark and the number of triple doubles she has posted, makes be realize that her performance warrants an exception. She is a GREAT offensive player!

 

[Bone Dog]

I agree that Clark isn’t really pg, though she plays one on TV. She’s really a shooting guard with excellent handles. She’s a good passer to be sure, but she’s too important as a shooter to this team. Can Marshall really not play the point for Iowa? I wonder if Bluder isn’t making a mistake here.

I love Berger and Holmes — actually a better version of Clark and Czinano because they know how to involve the rest of the team better.

I had better hopes for Iowa after they lost to UConn. They threatened in the 2nd and 3rd quarters until collapsing in the 4th. Their scoring was more evenly distributed, with Marshall and Martin and Warnock having bigger roles. IU beat them too, but it was a close game, closer than I expected. They played a lot like Iowa. As a result, I expect UConn will beat IU if it comes to it and everyone’s healthy. I hope we see that game.

 

[MSSportsGuy]

Interesting thoughts, MSSportsGuy, and there's validity to it all except, please, please, please don't compare Caitlin Clark to Arike... yikes!

Point taken lol. Arike, while I think she's a very good player, never met a shot she didn't like. That being said ND doesn't win a NC or finish runner up the next year if she wasn't fearless, which I believe she managed to be without crossing the line to wreckless most of the time .

Given how message boards tend to attract generally old school posters I get we mostly prefer a certain style of basketball. UConn's style also tends to spoil us as well. I still believe that sometimes posters who mention the number of shots a player takes need to take a step back and think that maybe the player has been told to do that in order to increase the likelihood of winning. I'm also talking to myself here.

 

[The deacon]

I will confess that I have a prejudice against high volume shooters as being "ballhogs." Goes back to my childhood when "ballhogs" and "hot dogs" were generally dislike in favor of "team players." I'll never shake that prejudice. Too ingrained.

However, The high assist number by Clark and the number of triple doubles she has posted, makes be realize that her performance warrants an exception. She is a GREAT offensive player!

A GREAT offensive player....

Well said, visitingcock. Somewhere along the line, it might be once Caitlin's in the WNBA and/or playing for the US in the Olympics, you'll notice she's a GREAT player. For the moment, we're cool.

 

[The deacon]

Point taken lol. Arike, while I think she's a very good player, never met a shot she didn't like. That being said ND doesn't win a NC or finish runner up the next year if she wasn't fearless, which I believe she managed to be without crossing the line to wreckless most of the time .

Given how message boards tend to attract generally old school posters I get we mostly prefer a certain style of basketball. UConn's style also tends to spoil us as well. I still believe that sometimes posters who mention the number of shots a player takes need to take a step back and think that maybe the player has been told to do that in order to increase the likelihood of winning. I'm also talking to myself here.

Agreed re Arike, although it bears mentioning that those Notre Dame teams were stocked with really good players and, although I'd better whisper it here on the BY, a fairly good coach. Her role on the Irish was not as crucial as Caitlin's on Iowa, even in games in which Clark doesn't shoot 'volumes' of shots.

 

[cancontent]

I agree that Clark isn’t really pg, though she plays one on TV. She’s really a shooting guard with excellent handles. She’s a good passer to be sure, but she’s too important as a shooter to this team. Can Marshall really not play the point for Iowa? I wonder if Bluder isn’t making a mistake here.

I love Berger and Holmes — actually a better version of Clark and Czinano because they know how to involve the rest of the team better.

I had better hopes for Iowa after they lost to UConn. They threatened in the 2nd and 3rd quarters until collapsing in the 4th. Their scoring was more evenly distributed, with Marshall and Martin and Warnock having bigger roles. IU beat them too, but it was a close game, closer than I expected. They played a lot like Iowa. As a result, I expect UConn will beat IU if it comes to it and everyone’s healthy. I hope we see that game.

What you saw last night is how they've been playing all season and last season, if you ask me. Only exception with last season was that Gube (sic) was another reliable inside presence where they're relying a lot more on Holmes this season.

 

[Bjbod]

There seem to be a lot of posters here who don't seem to care for volume shooters, which Clark is. The fact she has so many assists doesn't seem to phase those who believe she takes too many shots for Iowa.

I've had this feeling for awhile, but I wanted to check the stats to see if I was right. Clark averages 24.8 shots/game in Iowa's losses, but only 17.8 in their wins. Last year: 23.4 vs 18.6. Probably several reasons to blame, but primarily this reflects on her surrounding cast: usually shorter and less athletic than the opposition. This makes it harder for them to score and even to get off shots, so Caitlin has to take over. She truly does enjoy seeing her teammates doing well (scoring) and loves to dish, but ultimately she wants to win. This has played out many times the past two years.

Last night's game was fun; first time I've seen Indiana this year and they are good. Plenty of height but not super athletic either. Great job of defense by them, especially on Czinano. They could go far in the tourney. Rematch on February 26th should be equally entertaining.

 

[The deacon]

I agree that Clark isn’t really pg, though she plays one on TV. She’s really a shooting guard with excellent handles. She’s a good passer to be sure, but she’s too important as a shooter to this team. Can Marshall really not play the point for Iowa? I wonder if Bluder isn’t making a mistake here.

I love Berger and Holmes — actually a better version of Clark and Czinano because they know how to involve the rest of the team better.

I had better hopes for Iowa after they lost to UConn. They threatened in the 2nd and 3rd quarters until collapsing in the 4th. Their scoring was more evenly distributed, with Marshall and Martin and Warnock having bigger roles. IU beat them too, but it was a close game, closer than I expected. They played a lot like Iowa. As a result, I expect UConn will beat IU if it comes to it and everyone’s healthy. I hope we see that game.

Clark and Czinano know well how to involve the rest of the team. Fact of the matter is that Indiana's 'rest of the team' is better than Iowa's.

As for Gabbie Marshall, she's playing because she's a good defensive player. She is not a point guard. When Caitlin's not at the point, it's transfer Molly Davis. Warnock is a solid contributor, and Martin plays hard, but that 6 of 6 from three vs. UConn was her Warholian 15 minutes.

As for UConn beating Indiana in the tournament, I surely hope so, but I also do believe it'll take Caroline and/or Azzi to play significant minutes.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Interesting thoughts, MSSportsGuy, and there's validity to it all except, please, please, please don't compare Caitlin Clark to Arike... yikes!

Yes, Caitlin took 20 more shots than her teammates last night, but that disparity was not the norm.

Note the Hawkeyes are shooting 50 percent from the floor for the season, 52 percent without Caitlin's shots, and Clark is shooting 46 percent. It's not like her shooting is dragging Iowa off a cliff. And a high percentage of shots by her teammates are layups she sets up or wide open threes because she's so closely guarded.

Even last night, she shot 43 percent on what was a below-average night for her, likely due to the reality that Indiana plays better defense than most other teams. By the way, Clark is averaging 19 shots per game, not an extraordinary number considering the team's reliance on her.

And that's my point. When they were watching her 11 3-pointers (and make 3) go up...they were open. And in fact, most of them shoot the 3 better than she does. So IMO she's better off conceding more of those shots OR take 2s where she's MUCH more efficient and where she gets to the line more. This isn't to say IOWA isn't a good team I just feel that in order to get to the next level they need to make adjustments and I just don't think it's taking more contested 3s by Clark. As exciting as Clark is...she's a mid-30 % 3-point shooter. She's a mid-40 % 2-point shooter. If she must shoot that much...the shot selection has to be better. Seems kind of crazy to point to her where they could improve, but that's because she's such a large part of their offense.

 

[cancontent]

I've had this feeling for awhile, but I wanted to check the stats to see if I was right. Clark averages 24.8 shots/game in Iowa's losses, but only 17.8 in their wins. Last year: 23.4 vs 18.6. Probably several reasons to blame, but primarily this reflects on her surrounding cast: usually shorter and less athletic than the opposition. This makes it harder for them to score and even to get off shots, so Caitlin has to take over. She truly does enjoy seeing her teammates doing well (scoring) and loves to dish, but ultimately she wants to win. This has played out many times the past two years.

Last night's game was fun; first time I've seen Indiana this year and they are good. Plenty of height but not super athletic either. Great job of defense by them, especially on Czinano. They could go far in the tourney. Rematch on February 26th should be equally entertaining.

Yes it will. Question for me is will the crowd noise be blamed for affecting the clocks should it happen at Carver? Hearing the commentators bring that up as a possible reason for last night's hiccups had me chuckling.

 

[The deacon]

And that's my point. When they were watching her 11 3-pointers (and make 3) go up...they were open. And in fact, most of them shoot the 3 better than she does. So IMO she's better off conceding more of those shots OR take 2s where she's MUCH more efficient and where she gets to the line more. This isn't to say IOWA isn't a good team I just feel that in order to get to the next level they need to make adjustments and I just don't think it's taking more contested 3s by Clark. As exciting as Clark is...she's a mid-30 % 3-point shooter. She's a mid-40 % 2-point shooter. If she must shoot that much...the shot selection has to be better. Seems kind of crazy to point to her where they could improve, but that's because she's such a large part of their offense.

It's possibly McKenna Warnock is as good a three-point shooter as Caitlin Clark... at least she has a good track record in games this and last season. Yet you say 'most of them' shoot it better from three than Caitlin? Hmmmm, you might need to check the stats, and watch the games.

More to the point, you get on Clark for being 3 of 11 and being a mid-30s three-point shooter. Actually, she's at 37 percent. And you didn't note that the rest of the Hawkeyes were 3 of 10 last night (2 of 4 by Warnock).

Kate Martin had that 'where did that come from' 6 of 6 game vs. UConn but otherwise, there's no one on the Iowa's regular rotation who's more likely than Caitlin to make a three than Warnock.

And Clark's not a mid-40s 2-point shooter, rather 54 percent.

Lisa Bluder loves the wide-open game, she loves three-point shooting... trouble is, the Hawkeyes aren't as well-stocked with three-point shooters (or players who can create their own shots) as people might think.
Hannah Stuelke is very promising, and Czinano is usually a remarkably good shooter in the paint.

 

[Iowa57]

I agree that Clark isn’t really pg, though she plays one on TV. She’s really a shooting guard with excellent handles. She’s a good passer to be sure, but she’s too important as a shooter to this team. Can Marshall really not play the point for Iowa? I wonder if Bluder isn’t making a mistake here.

I love Berger and Holmes — actually a better version of Clark and Czinano because they know how to involve the rest of the team better.

I had better hopes for Iowa after they lost to UConn. They threatened in the 2nd and 3rd quarters until collapsing in the 4th. Their scoring was more evenly distributed, with Marshall and Martin and Warnock having bigger roles. IU beat them too, but it was a close game, closer than I expected. They played a lot like Iowa. As a result, I expect UConn will beat IU if it comes to it and everyone’s healthy. I hope we see that game.

Clark is absolutely a PG. She's the best passer and ball handler on Iowa by a wide margin. She's also the only guard on the team that can consistently get a shot off the dribble.

Maybe on the national team in the future Clark will move over to the 2, but that says more about the players she'll be with than whether she can play PG on her own.

 

[Dillon77]

Just a general comment that I've gleaned from reading about Clark's career for the past few years on this board.

There seem to be a lot of posters here who don't seem to care for volume shooters, which Clark is. The fact she has so many assists doesn't seem to phase those who believe she takes too many shots for Iowa. I recall the same things being said about Kelsey Mitchell when she was at OSU, and definitely was said about Arike at ND.

Like many people I too prefer basketball games that are balanced, crisp, with lots of passes and getting people the ball in the right spot. However, over the years I've also seen teams where if the alpha player didn't take a lot of shots, they had no chance of winning. It may not be ideal but it's reality.

This isn't is a criticism of any specific person or their views, just an observation combined with my two cents. From all accounts Clark is an exceptional player and has given Iowa a breath of fresh air in basketball.

Good post.
I look at Caitlin Clark as high-volume possession, whether that be ball-handling, passing, shooting. Heck, she's a darn good rebounder as well. Shooting-wise, you might be thinking of Kelsey Mitchell or Arike (from my alma mater), but who she reminds me if Sabrina Ionescu: she'll do whatever it takes on any given night to bring it home.

They both had posts to set up: Ionescu had Ruthy Hebard; Clark has Czinano. They're the epicenter of the games because that's the way they're constructed.

I think that Clark would like to keep her shots under 20 a game. In fact, the best extended performance I ever saw her in was in leading the U.S.A. to the gold medal in Europe. Of course, she had teammates she could set up/play with from Azzi Fudd and Diamond Johnson to Lauren Betts (there's that center again) and, most notably, Sonia Citron. (It's waay interesting how well Citron plays off volume-centric players, but that's another post.)
I think it would've been really interesting if Iowa had brought in a capable guard to play off Clark, but it is what it is at this point.

Like Ionescu, I think Clark ultimately might be better in the pro's moving to an off-guard position that allows her to often control the ball. Bringing the ball up most possessions takes a boatload of energy, both physically and mentally. As good a ballhandler and passer is, I think her truest strength is her ability to let it rip. (And it's a blast to watch). I think she might be even better in the pro's.

 

[Bone Dog]

As for Gabbie Marshall, she's playing because she's a good defensive player. She is not a point guard. When Caitlin's not at the point, it's transfer Molly Davis. Warnock is a solid contributor, and Martin plays hard, but that 6 of 6 from three vs. UConn was her Warholian 15 minutes.

I agree. Though folks thought Nika was primarily a defensive player before this year. Maybe Gabbie doesn't have the same competitive fire Nika does. But whoever it is, we had these same conversations two years ago when Geno decided to move Paige "off the ball." It's a calculation, but it's based on his vision of the team and the game. Interestingly, last year, when Paige played, she was often at the point again.

Also agree about Martin's 15 minutes. But for that, the 2nd and 3rd quarters wouldn't have been nearly as competitive. This is also why I think a healthy UConn beats IU again this year. Now let's hope we're healthy enough to watch what promises to be a great game.

Only exception with last season was that Gube (sic) was another reliable inside presence where they're relying a lot more on Holmes this season.

Also agree with this assessment. Gulbe was a solid partner to Holmes and I was worried they'd be diminished by her departure. But it seems to have inspired Holmes to up her game even further. They may be better without Gulbe than they were with her. I'm not sure what to make of the rest of the team. Garzon looks like a find, and Parrish and Scalia seem like good contributors. But last years group was a well-oiled machine, and they just don't feel like that to me... yet.

 

[The deacon]

Clark is absolutely a PG. She's the best passer and ball handler on Iowa by a wide margin. She's also the only guard on the team that can consistently get a shot off the dribble.

Maybe on the national team in the future Clark will move over to the 2, but that says more about the players she'll be with than whether she can play PG on her own.

Spot on, Iowa57. I'll be hoping to make it to the day when Paige is that national team point guard, and Azzi's on the other wing. Fingers crossed they both are healthy at that point.

What a joy it would be to watch those three as teammates for the USA!

 

[LwrcasefaN]

It's possibly McKenna Warnock is as good a three-point shooter as Caitlin Clark... at least she has a good track record in games this and last season. Yet you say 'most of them' shoot it better from three than Caitlin. Hmmmm, you might need to check the stats, and watch the games.

More to the point, you get on Clark for being 3 of 11 and being a mid-30s three-point shooter. Actually, she's at 37 percent, which as a stretch could be considered 'mid-30s, but you didn't note that the rest of the Hawkeyes were 3 of 10 last night (2 of 4 by Warnock).

Kate Martin had that 'where did that come from' 6 of 6 game vs. UConn but otherwise, there's no one on the Iowa's regular rotation who's more likely than Caitlin to make a three than Warnock.

And Clark's not a mid-40s 2-point shooter, rather 54 percent.

Lisa Bluder loves the wide-open game, she loves three-point shooting... trouble is, the Hawkeyes aren't as well-stocked with three-point shooters (or players who can create their own shots) as people might think.
Hannah Stuelke is very promising, and Czinano is usually a remarkably good shooter in the paint.

Until very recently...at least 3 or 4 others shot the 3 better than Clark. They certainly don't shoot it much worse. If she's the mid-40s or mid-50s from 2... the same point. Take more 2s. If you look at Iowa's losses (minus maybe KSU)...Clark took a ton of 3s and shot a poor percentage while her 2 pt shooting was probably 55+ % percent in those same games. I don't think numbers always reveal everything, but sometimes they are symptoms. In this case, I think the shot selection is an issue. NC State beat Iowa (don't know how) by a lot, but no one else really has. UCONN only beat them by 7. So a little variation might take Iowa a long way.

 

[The deacon]

Good post.
I look at Caitlin Clark as high-volume possession, whether that be ball-handling, passing, shooting. Heck, she's a darn good rebounder as well. Shooting-wise, you might be thinking of Kelsey Mitchell or Arike (from my alma mater), but who she reminds me if Sabrina Ionescu: she'll do whatever it takes on any given night to bring it home.

They both had posts to set up: Ionescu had Ruthy Hebard; Clark has Czinano. They're the epicenter of the games because that's the way they're constructed.

I think that Clark would like to keep her shots under 20 a game. In fact, the best extended performance I ever saw her in was in leading the U.S.A. to the gold medal in Europe. Of course, she had teammates she could set up/play with from Azzi Fudd and Diamond Johnson to Lauren Betts (there's that center again) and, most notably, Sonia Citron. (It's waay interesting how well Citron plays off volume-centric players, but that's another post.)
I think it would've been really interesting if Iowa had brought in a capable guard to play off Clark, but it is what it is at this point.

Like Ionescu, I think Clark ultimately might be better in the pro's moving to an off-guard position that allows her to often control the ball. Bringing the ball up most possessions takes a boatload of energy, both physically and mentally. As good a ballhandler and passer is, I think her truest strength is her ability to let it rip. (And it's a blast to watch). I think she might be even better in the pro's.

Just a quick addendum about your excellent post, Dillon77: if memory serves, I recall that I thought while Clark earned the MVP for that US team, I felt Sonia Citron was the team's second-best player... and she's starting show that for your Irish. Olivia Miles is the 'name' player for ND but Citron is just so good.

 

[The deacon]

Until very recently...at least 3 or 4 others shot the 3 better than Clark. They certainly don't shoot it much worse. If she's the mid-40s or mid-50s from 2... the same point. Take more 2s. If you look at Iowa's losses (minus maybe KSU)...Clark took a ton of 3s and shot a poor percentage while her 2 pt shooting was probably 55+ % percent in those same games. I don't think numbers always reveal everything, but sometimes they are symptoms. In this case, I think the shot selection is an issue. NC State beat Iowa (don't know how) by a lot, but no one else really has. UCONN only beat them by 7. So a little variation might take Iowa a long way.

I don't know where those '3 or 4' disappeared to, LwrcasefaN, but we'll agree to disagree here. I hope you watch more of Iowa's games. If you do, you'll more understand my points.