Sixth-seeded Colorado (25-8, 13-5 Pac-12) is well aware of the challenge it has on its hands tonight versus No. 2 seed Iowa (28-6, 15-3 Big Ten) at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Wash.
That said, the Buffs aren’t bowing down at the altar of Caitlin Clark and Iowa. In fact, they feel their Pac-12 slate has prepared them more than adequately for the task of trying to slow down the nation’s top scoring offense and perhaps the eventual national Player of the Year in Clark.
“Every game we’ve gone into here in March Madness has just been like it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. I think we’ve really used that to just have some confidence going into it saying that we have seen really good defense that we saw from Duke and from other teams in the Pac-12. And the offense Iowa has, we have seen that too in the Pac-12. So, there’s nothing new to us in that way,” Colorado junior guard Frida Formann said yesterday.
Formann averages 11.7 points per game, which ranks as the third-best on Colorado. She shoots 39% from 3-point range.
In the front court, Colorado will challenge Iowa with bigs Quay Miller and Aaronette Vonleh. That duo averages 13.1 points and 12.1 points, respectively.
Vonleh echoed some of Formann’s sentiments about the Pac-12’s ability to prepare Colorado for this contest tonight.
“I would say the Pac-12 is just, like, I think it’s the best conference, because there’s no drop off. There’s no day off. Every team is so good and has such a high level of talent. So you’re constantly playing against great players, great teams, great competition.
“I think that really helps us prepare for the post-season. Because we’re not just stepping into March, like on our heels, like surprised when we play against good competition. We prepared all season for this,” sophomore CU center Vonleh said.
On paper, Colorado does bring one of the better defenses nationally into this contest. The Buffs surrender just 58.5 points per game, which ranks 46th in the country. Colorado also checks in at No. 60 on field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents makes on 37.7% of their floor attempts.
One of the biggest keys for Colorado will be defending the 3-point line. Iowa ranks ninth nationally in 3-pointers made per game, averaging 8.97 per contest. Meanwhile, CU surrenders just 29.5% 3-point shooting to rank 90th nationally in that department.
What’s the plan then defensively tonight?
“I think we’ve just talked a lot about our identity as being aggressive on defense, being disruptive. So whatever way we can do that against Iowa. We’ve talked about it already. But yeah, always being aggressive, being disruptive, that’s what we do on defense,” Formann said of the strategy in defending Iowa.
It’s Colorado’s calling card, and the Buffaloes’ ability or inability to slow this game down could be one of the most important puzzle pieces.
“We do pride ourselves on defense and that’s a big focus point for us. We just have to be locked in on personnel, make players do things that they’re not comfortable doing, and just be disruptive in general,” Vonleh said.
Iowa would secure its fifth all-time trip to the Elite Eight with a win. As tipoff nears, here’s a look at Iowa’s preparation inside Climate Pledge Arena through pictures.