The Iowa girls’s basketball program and star guard Caitlin Clark get the freedom of going through the winner of the College of Tennessee Martin or the School of the Holy Cross in Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment. The Hawkeyes will tip off their NCAA Event on Saturday.
That is the primary time since 1992 the Hawkeyes have earned a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Event. At 29-4 on the 12 months and coming off a Massive Ten Event Championship, it is a powerful draw for whichever program finds a method to advance to the Spherical of 64.
Extra:Iowa girls’s basketball, Caitlin Clark land first No. 1 seed in NCAA Event since 1992
This is what to find out about each packages and a prediction for the way the Hawkeyes’ opening recreation spherical will go.
What to find out about UT Martin’s basketball program
The Skyhawks (16-16) are into the NCAA Event regardless of shedding the Ohio Valley Convention Event title recreation to Southern Indiana, which was was ineligible to compete within the large dance because the program moved from Division II to Division I in 2022. NCAA guidelines forestall packages which have moved divisions to compete in NCAA championship occasions for 4 years.
UT Martin is the beneficiary of that rule, making the ultimate and robotically clinching a spot within the NCAA Event regardless of ending second in its convention event.
The Skyhawks have been devastated by accidents this season, with seven season-ending accidents, in accordance with the college’s web site. Consequently, they run simply six gamers in rotation. Kenley McCarn is the group’s main scorer at 16.7 factors per recreation, carefully adopted by Anaya Brown at 15.1 factors per recreation.
Its offense, regardless of taking part in simply six girls at instances, is pretty environment friendly from past the arc. They rank sixteenth in 3-point area purpose share at 36.6% on the season, in addition to the top-scoring group from the Ohio Valley Convention.
What to find out about Holy Cross’s basketball program
Holy Cross secured a bid into the massive dance with a 61-55 win over Boston College on Sunday within the Patriot League title recreation. It is the third straight 12 months the Crusaders have received 20 or extra video games.
They’re led by senior guard Bronagh Energy-Cassidy, who averages 16.6 factors per recreation. A Dublin, Eire native, she’s the thirty sixth member of the 1,000-point membership with Holy Cross and the Patriot League Event MVP for the second consecutive season. She’s an elite 3-point shooter, capturing 39.7% from past the arc this season.
That is their second consecutive journey to the NCAA Event. Final 12 months, Holy Cross misplaced its first-round matchup with Maryland, 91-63.
Prediction for Holy Cross vs. UT Martin
Holy Cross runs a barely greater lineup than UT Martin, with eight gamers within the rotation. They need to be capable to outrun the Skyhawks in convincing style.
Prediction for Iowa vs. Holy Cross/UT Martin
Whoever Iowa will get, they need to be the heavy favourite. So long as Iowa prevents the three-ball from falling with consistency from both faculty and limits turnovers, they’re going to be simply nice.
Eli McKown covers highschool sports activities and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Comply with him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.