ALBANY, N.Y. — The primary sport of the Elite Eight will likely be a rematch of the 2023 NCAA championship sport between the LSU Tigers and the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Final yr, the 2 applications drew in 9.9 million viewers because the Tigers rolled to a 102-85 win over the Hawkeyes to assert their first championship in program historical past. Superstars Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark battled on the courtroom in what was the most-watched NCAA girls’s championship.
This yr, LSU and Iowa are probably to attract file viewership once more, although just one can have an opportunity to proceed on to the Closing 4 in hopes of returning to the title sport.
CBS Sports activities headed to the LSU and Iowa locker rooms to gauge how the gamers have been feeling about their newest efficiency. Each locker rooms gave off an aura of accomplishment, and maybe the smallest sigh of aid. Here is what they mentioned:
Iowa is not dwelling on the previous
Regardless of the familiarity with their opponent, Iowa is concentrated on the present Tigers, not final yr’s championship opponent.
“I believe total it is simply going to be a extremely nice sport for ladies’s basketball,” Caitlin Clark mentioned postgame. “They’re actually strong one via 5. We all know we’re going to need to rebound the basketball.
“However greater than something I believe simply constructing off this win right this moment, I believe this was the primary time in about three video games we have been in a position to put collectively what felt like a whole basketball sport on each ends of the ground.”
Iowa has the most effective offensive staff within the nation, and Clark is a key a part of the Hawkeyes scoring. Nonetheless, she’s not the one weapon. Because the season has gone on, Iowa has performed a greater job of getting extra gamers concerned.
On Saturday, all 5 of Iowa’s starters scored within the double digits. Clark recorded a game-leading 29 factors and 15 assists within the 89-68 win over Colorado. Sydney Affolter was an ideal 6-for-6 from the ground whereas Gabbie Marshall went 4-for-5 from the 3-point line.
“I used to be actually happy with her for a way she shot and when she’s taking pictures like that,” Kate Martin mentioned. “It’s simply so enjoyable to play with. It is arduous to protect and it makes us arduous to beat.”
Iowa’s potential to shoot from distance forces groups to determine if or how a lot they wish to throw numbers at Clark. Even in a zone protection, Iowa can join from deep.
In the meantime, LSU earned their win over UCLA partly as a result of the Bruins have been 7 for 32 on 3-pointers. It could be unwise to offer Iowa that many appears to be like from the 3-point arc.
LSU centered on protection
LSU and UCLA have been tied at 67 with 1:46 remaining in fourth quarter. Down the stretch, UCLA missed 9 makes an attempt, together with three free throws and LSU pulled away for the win. Flau’Jae Johnson scored 24 factors and 12 rebounds within the win.
“It was a superb feeling,” guard Mikaylah Williams informed CBS Sports activities. “We have had an extended season. We have had so many hardships and we have confronted a lot adversity that it feels good to lastly be on prime.”
Williams tallied 12 factors and three rebounds within the win. Whereas happy with the staff win, she expects extra environment friendly rebounding from herself and her teammates.
“We undoubtedly have to rebound higher, particularly down the stretch,” she added. “I additionally suppose we have to make stops — or personally myself — I have to make stops and never be the weakest hyperlink on the ground,” the freshman guard mentioned. “However that is okay, I am gonna decide it up for the subsequent sport.”
At their finest, the Tigers are a powerful rebounding staff with the flexibility to make use of their pace to interrupt down defenses in transition and off the dribble. They’re additionally a proud staff. On LSU sport days, gamers may be seen hyping one another up or interacting with the followers.
“Now we have very devoted followers and so they’re tremendous loud,” guard Hailey Van Lith mentioned. “We wish to use that to our benefit. Anytime we are able to get the group hyped for us — loud, making noise, after they’re making an attempt to name performs. And we’re a staff that feeds off that sort of vitality. We’re a hype staff.”
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