The Iowa Hawkeyes got a scare on Sunday afternoon, going to overtime with in-state rival Drake, but entering the third year of Caitlin Clark's collegiate career looks like it might be the best season Iowa women's basketball has ever had.
Clark has been one of the best players in college basketball since her freshman year, a home grown scoring machine that has managed to keep the Hawkeyes afloat even during their growing pains of the past two years. Clark has been at the very least a top two players for the past couple of season, and this year, with Paige Bueckers recovering from an ACL tear, is likely to be regarded as the top player in the game.
Even with Clark's veteran status, entering her junior year, being the sole focus of attention would be burdensome as the Hawkeyes faced challenging opposition in the Big Ten and beyond, but she is buoyed by a veteran team, including center Monika Czinano who has returned for her fifth year in the paint for the Hawkeyes. Czinano is the 2nd leading scorer and leading rebounder so far this season. She doesn't have Clark's athleticism, but she does match the intensity and determination.
The other three players with the most playing time so far this season, outside threat McKenna Warnock, point guard Molly Davis and defensive specialists Gabbie Marshall are all also seniors. That is a lot of leadership and self determinism surrounding Clark, which will allow her not to be consumed by the attention of Iowa's opponents.
But the seniority of this roster also means that this is likely the last hurrah for this version of the Hawkeyes. Their road to continued domination in the Upper Midwestern basketball landscape was seriously and tragically dealt a blow over the summer, when recruit Ava Johnson and her family were struck by a drunk driver in Louisville. They were in town for an AAU tournament, and sadly, her father was killed, and Johnson's injuries were severe enough that her basketball career ended before it really started.
With that sense of urgency, the desire to capitalize on a veteran roster, the Hawkeyes are facing a challenging schedule. In part, that's because their in-state rivals are also better than they have been in a while. They held off a spirited Drake team over the weekend, and will face #7 Iowa State next month. They've also been slated to play in the Phil Knight tournament in Portland, and after a game against Oregon State, will be tasked with playing either Duke or Connecticut. Even without Bueckers, UCONN is #5.
It gets no easier when they leave Oregon. They will play #10 North Carolina State in the Big Ten-ACC challenge. The Hawkeyes are 4th in the country, and they are going to prove their mettle in the non conference slate. This is their time, and the Hawkeyes are poised to seize it.
No comments:
Post a Comment