Faculty Basketball
Nobody can be shocked to see Caitlin Clark carry Iowa to the nationwide championship sport for the second straight 12 months, however there’s a explicit vulnerability inside Iowa that would maintain school basketball’s largest star from going out along with her first nationwide title earlier than turning professional.
A part of what made the Hawkeyes such a power final season, once they fell to LSU within the championship sport, was the play of frontcourt standout Monika Czinano, who after 5 collegiate seasons is now taking part in for TFSE-MTK Budapest in Hungary.
Czinano was a continuing throughout Clark’s first three years in Iowa Metropolis and “her dominance within the put up taught Caitlin how profitable teammates created house and alternatives at different spots on the ground,” in keeping with an ESPN report on Wednesday.
Earlier than the season began, Clark trusting Czinano’s replacements was one thing Iowa affiliate head coach Jan Jensen informed ESPN was “gonna be the wrestle for her.”
And whereas Hannah Stuelke had a stable season taking up for Czinano, she has been inconsistent, and backups Sharon Goodman and Addison O’Grady don’t encourage the identical confidence.
The query marks up entrance could possibly be a giant downside for the top-seeded Hawkeyes as they enter March Insanity and attempt to ship Clark out a winner on the Last 4 in Cleveland.
A possible matchup in opposition to No. 4 Kansas State looms within the Candy 16 in Albany, and the Wildcats handed the Hawkeyes their solely non-conference lack of the 12 months on Nov. 16 behind star heart Ayoka Lee, who recorded 22 factors, 12 rebounds and two blocks in a sport Clark shot 9-for-32 and 2-for-16 from 3-point vary.
Lee, a unanimous all-Massive 12 first-team choice, averaged 20.1 factors, 8.4 rebounds and a pair of.7 blocks in 25 video games this season.
Ought to Iowa actual revenge, a possible rematch with LSU awaits within the Elite Eight, if the reigning nationwide champs can get by No. 2 UCLA within the Candy 16.
Although the taunts of Clark and LSU star Angel Reese generated essentially the most headlines, Reese’s presence down low is what Iowa can be apprehensive about if the 2 groups meet once more.
Reese, not afraid to get bodily underneath the basket, led LSU in factors (19) and rebounds (13.1) per sport, and was second within the nation in rebounds per sport this season.
A Clark run to a nationwide title earlier than she takes on the WNBA can be a boon for ESPN, which broadcasts the ladies’s NCAA Event, however Iowa’s Achilles’ heel may maintain Clark from getting her storybook ending.
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