Nika Guarding Caitlin - Thoughts? | The Boneyard

Nika Guarding Caitlin - Thoughts?

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AmeriConn

AmeriConn

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On the couch with my popcorn.

Prince Harry Interview GIF by Robert E Blackmon
 
AmeriConn said:
On the couch with my popcorn.

Prince Harry Interview GIF by Robert E Blackmon
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It will take a team effort to stop her. I am guessing 30 for her, 15 for the Center and 20 for the rest of the Hawkeyes for a team total of 65. That won't be enough for them. The game will be a lot harder for us without Dorka playing defense against their big (whose name escapes me) and drawing some fouls against her.
I watched the Iowa game last night and Clark can get her shot off where ever and when ever she wants. Three real gunners in this game and thankfully we have two of them!
 
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It'd be a good test for Nika. I bet Geno has designed some defensive switches into his planning for this game. We'll probably see Nika and Azzi on her for a lot of the time. But I also expect to see Aubrey on her for at least part of the game. We just need to choose our spots -- let Aubrey shut her down in the 3rd quarter when we go on a big run, for example. When we're up 20, let Nika and Azzi harry her at the perimeter in the 4th and deficit will have the Hawkeyes will so fixated on getting her the ball and running screens and clearouts for her that the rest of their offense will sputter. Two years ago, we did something like this: Christyn covered her much of the game -- and did an awesome job of it -- and Evina and Aubrey and Paige took up the slack some, too. In the end, Clark was a non-factor and made a number of uncharacteristic mistakes as a result of the pressure.
 
jdubct said:
I would not be surprised if Aubrey takes most of the load of guarding Caitlin freeing Nika to energetically point guard the team.
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This is a match up that I look forward to.
 
Charliebball said:
50%/50% chance she fouls out.........
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Nika is the wrong guard to guard Caitlin BUT Aubrey at least for the first half and Nika the second half seems safe. That Iowa shooter is exceptional, true. She is not without weaknesses. I agree the potential of Nika losing her cool is the Nika we love.
I agree with the writer who says use Nika and Griffin.
Caitlin is taller than Nika, will shoot over her --and there-in comes the fouls. But we have seen 3 great games from the "spirit of Croatia ". 2 things are obvious: Nika has one speed one mentality---all out, and she has matured, great combination. I guess, for this game ALONE, I'll allow Geno to make that choice.
 
Charliebball said:
What's effective............under 30?;)
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No, but 20 is do-able and I think Fudd, Lou, Caroline, Edwards, Nika can make that up over the rest of the Iowa team. Remember when Caitlin is scoring 20 other Iowans aren't.
 
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Caitlin Clark is a great player. But she takes so many shots to score her points. Last night, she was 12 for 23 & 2 for 8 from 3 point range against a mediocre defensive team. UCONN will convert many of those missed shots into points on their end.
 
I would agree with others that Aubrey's size combined with her quickness is the better option for Clark but I'm sure there will be some Nika and Fudd. Geno has often said that the best defense is constantly giving a good player a different look instead of letting the player get accustomed to one defender.
 
I always trust Geno, the best coach ever! Whether it's Nika or Aubrey, he should come up with an answer or make an adjustment. It blows my mind to see what this group is capable of. Who ever thought that Aubrey Griffin would ever be the force that she is and how much Nika has matured. I wouldn't want to start a fight with Nika, the most intense basketball player I've seen since the late Drazin Petrovic in the NBA and from guess where? Croatia! Hopefully both Caroline and Dorka heal, and let's go Huskies.
 
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The issue in this game isn't who's going to guard Caitlin. Our problem is that Dorka can't play. Iowa's center is a big part of their offense, and if Aaliyah has to guard her the risk of accumulating fouls is heightened. Dorka's five fouls to give could spare Edwards' dilemma. As is, there's no Husky to take Czinano off Aaliyah's back. This would be the case whenever UConn has to face a scoring big w/out Dorka. It's the answer to the question of whether Aubrey should start or not. I expect Geno to use multiple players to guard the Iowa center, but Czinano is a load, quick and deadly under the basket.
Caitlin, too, will be a team project, but she, alone, isn't going to beat us. Protecting our one true point guard (Nika) is more important than trying to shut down Caitlin.
 
I hope they'll have the guts to go right at Clark early and get her some fouls that will put her on the bench for a while.
 
jaydee602 said:
Caitlin Clark is a great player. But she takes so many shots to score her points. Last night, she was 12 for 23 & 2 for 8 from 3 point range against a mediocre defensive team. UCONN will convert many of those missed shots into points on their end.
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Yes and no. There are a lot of inefficient volume shooters in college basketball, but Clark isn’t (usually) one of them. Her career FG% is 46.2% which is excellent for a guard as ball-dominant as she is.
 
I think Nika is very aware of how important it is for her to be on the floor. Unless the refs are looking for calls against her I don't see her being at risk of getting in foul trouble - even then I think she and certainly Geno will make adjustments. I think she will spend more time disrupting the offense flow in general and be part of a team effort to never let Caitlin get the ball, with time and position to operate comfortably. I expect to see Aubrey spending a lot of time on Caitlin. Perhaps Caroline at times as well if she can keep pace, because her length could be very effective in disrupting Caitlin's shots.
 
#12in21 said:
I think Nika is very aware of how important it is for her to be on the floor. Unless the refs are looking for calls against her I don't see her being at risk of getting in foul trouble - even then I think she and certainly Geno will make adjustments. I think she will spend more time disrupting the offense flow in general and be part of a team effort to never let Caitlin get the ball, with time and position to operate comfortably. I expect to see Aubrey spending a lot of time on Caitlin. Perhaps Caroline at times as well if she can keep pace, because her length could be very effective in disrupting Caitlin's shots.
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nice post. nika has never fouled out and her fouls have never even came close to costing us a game. i expect the same trend going forward.
 
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Griffen will get the nod on Clark to start the game. Geno will then put everyone on her as needed except for Fudd. He can’t afford for Azzi to get into foul trouble. Iowa has two bigs in the post. Patterson is going to get plenty of minutes. Still blows my mind that Amari has shown no improvement. Saddens me really. The team needs for her to start shinning.
 
What we don't need is losing the momentum that Nika brings to our offence. Caitlin moves so much that I am afraid the fouls will come, especially when the refs seem to favor the stars. Aubrey would be the best choice, taller, more athletic. I think offensively we are the better team, so I would not sacrifice our point guard to guard a player that may score anyway, no matter who guards her. Let Aubrey and the others worry about Caitlin and concentrate on our scoring. If we do what we do on offence, we will win no matter how many points she scores.
 
DriveLH said:
I think a combination of Nika and Aubrey will be effective.
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You took the words right out of my mouth. Nika is NOT fouling this year like last year. Apparently she has found a better way of checking without fouling. Aubrey is a tenacious defender and her height will be effective against Clark. The edge that always goes to Uconn is their team play and cohesiveness performing their attacks at the basket. Iowa will put up a fight, but it will not be enough to stop the Huskies! Uconn all the way! GO HUSKIES!!!
 
Let Nika bother Clark when she brings the ball up the floor, then have Aubrey switch on to her in the halfcourt. Use Azzi to double when you can.

Nika will force her to keep her dribble tight and take a few seconds off the shot clock by picking her up full court. Aubrey’s length and quickness will make it difficult for Clark to get her shot off or get to the basket. As long as Aubrey stays disciplined and out of foul trouble, I like this matchup. Using Azzi to double with Aubrey will help with that as well, get the ball out of Clark’s hands for a few possessions, and help make sure we’re showing her different types of defensive coverage to keep her uncomfortable.
 
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