Tag: Iowa Basketball

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi tabs Iowa basketball’s Big Ten tourney date vs. Ohio State as must-win

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi tabbed Iowa’s Big Ten Tournament date vs. Ohio State as an “out without this win” game.

It’s probably not a major shock to hear that Iowa basketball’s date versus Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament is being deemed as a must-win for the Hawkeyes.

That’s precisely the case according to ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi. Lunardi included Iowa’s Thursday date against Ohio State as one of his “out without this win” games.

The Hawkeyes join programs such as Wake Forest, New Mexico, Villanova, Utah, St. John’s, Pittsburgh, Memphis, Texas A&M, Colorado and South Florida in Lunardi’s “out without this win” games.

Meanwhile, Ohio State is in Lunardi’s “win here, then win again” category. The Buckeyes join Virginia Tech, Providence, Syracuse, Kansas State, Oregon and UNLV in that distinction.

Lunardi placed Oklahoma, TCU, Mississippi State and Virginia among his “win and in” teams for conference tournament week. The Sooners and Horned Frogs play one another in an 8-vs.-9 matchup in the Big 12 Tournament.

Iowa is currently among Lunardi’s “first four out” in his most recent edition of bracketology.

Iowa (18-13, 10-10 Big Ten) missed a golden opportunity for another Quad 1 win in its final regular season date against Illinois (23-8, 14-6 Big Ten). A win over the Illini probably would have sealed the Hawkeyes’ fate as an NCAA Tournament team.

With a win, Iowa would have picked up a fourth Quad 1 victory on the season and enhanced its net ranking. Iowa also would have been the No. 5 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.

Instead, Illinois jumped all over Iowa early, building a 21-point lead midway through the first half and then hanging on and pulling back away in the second half for a 73-61 win over the Hawkeyes.

Junior forward Payton Sandfort knocked down five 3-pointers in the second half to try to give Iowa a chance, but his 23 points weren’t enough to bring the Hawkeyes all the way back.

As a result, the Hawkeyes are the No. 7 seed in the 2024 Big Ten Tournament and they will face No. 10 seed Ohio State (19-12, 9-11 Big Ten).

Iowa topped Ohio State 79-77 in the two teams’ lone meeting this season back on Feb. 2. Senior guard Tony Perkins led the way for the Hawkeyes with 20 points.

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Here’s why tickets to the 2024 WNBA Draft (hint: Caitlin Clark) sold out in 15 minutes

Tickets to the WNBA Draft are sold out. It’s got everything (but also nothing at all) to do with Caitlin Clark.

Caitlin Clark’s decision to join the WNBA has the sports world spinning and the excitement from hoops fans is through the rough roof. They’re so excited that tickets to the 2024 WNBA Draft sold out in 15 minutes. Caitlin Clark has a lot to do with that. Still, it isn’t just about Caitlin. Her meteoric ascension should remind everyone women’s sports is not just about a person or a moment. Women’s sports is a movement.

On Thursday, I received a text from a friend that said, “Did you hear about the Draft? Tickets sold out in 15 minutes.” My immediate thought was WOW. THAT IS THE CAITLIN CLARK EFFECT. But then I connected that thought to the more profound concept that has been happening for a while now. People watch women’s sports, are invested in women’s sports and want to be where women like Caitlin are.

You see, it wasn’t just about Caitlin lighting it up at Iowa or making the decision to turn pro. It was—and will always be—about women’s sports. People are following Caitlin for the moments she creates, but it’s the movement that will keep them. The movement has been happening for a long time now. WOMEN HAVE BEEN HERE. They are just waiting for the rest of the world to catch up.

Caitlin Clark has a totally not obvious NIL deal in Indiana ahead of WNBA debut

We’re not saying,…but we’re just saying.

On February 29, Caitlin Clark declared for the WNBA, and the not-so-secret speculation about her landing with Indiana Fever began. But a new NIL deal Clark has with Gainbridge is not helping that conclusion be any less obvious.

Upon hearing that Caitlin Clark decided to join the WNBA, the Indiana Fever sent tweets like this one (and this one) saying, but not actually saying, that Caitlin will be their pick when the 2024 WNBA Draft happens on April 15. Then, fans jumped in by making memes and thinking of scenarios where Caitlin and Aliyah Boston totally dominate the league.

Now, news of a new NIL deal Caitlin secured with Gainbridge, the same company with naming rights to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Indiana Fever and Pacers play, could not make this any less “BIG FLASHING LIGHTS, SHE’S ALL BUT GOING TO INDIANA” obvious.

Hawkeyes knocking on NCAA Tournament door in CBS Sports’ newest bracketology

The Hawkeyes have played themselves into a spot of contention. CBS Sports’ newest bracket has Iowa knocking on the NCAA Tournament door.

The Iowa Hawkeyes have rattled off wins in four of their last five games and have morphed themselves from a team destined for the NIT to a squad with a real chance at the NCAA Tournament.

Three of those wins have come against teams destined for March Madness in Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Northwestern. Iowa also has one more chance to get another resume-building win in the season finale when they host the Illinois Fighting Illini.

As things stand now heading into that game, Iowa is still on the outside looking in according to CBS Sports bracketologist Jerry Palm, but are knocking on the door loudly.

After ESPN slotted the Hawkeyes in their “next four out” category, Palm has moved Iowa up to the “first four out” category in his newest CBS bracket. Iowa sits as the second team out of the tournament behind Seton Hall who is 18-11 compared to Iowa’s 18-12 record. Iowa does have a slightly better NET ranking at 57 compared to Seton Hall’s NET of 62.

Ahead of the Hawkeyes in the “last four in” category is Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and St. John’s. Their NET rankings are 46, 28, 30, and 39, respectively.

Iowa has some work to do to catch those teams and a win against Illinois in the regular season finale is a must-win. If the Hawkeyes can pull it off, it may be enough to punch Iowa’s ticket to the NCAA Tournament as an at-large bid on the bubble. Any wins in the Big Ten Tournament stacked on top of it would be icing on the cake.

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Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7

Caitlin Clark had the classiest quote reminding everyone that she and her Iowa teammates are human

Caitlin Clark reminds fans that behind the records and the incredible entertainment factor, there are people.

Caitlin Clark doesn’t want to be remembered just for her for breaking records. She wants to be remembered for Caitlin the person and how much joy she and her teammates brought to women’s basketball and to  Iowa Hawkeyes fans.

Caitlin Clark owns a lot of records, including being the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I basketball. But, just ask Kelsey Plum warned months ago before Clark broke the women’s scoring record, Caitlin should be remembered for who she is beyond the records.

Caitlin echoed that sentiment on Sunday, after a record-setting day that saw Maya Moore and Travis Scott pay a visit and a sweet custom jacket to remember it all.

Here’s what she said to the media:

“A record is a record. I don’t want that to be the reason people remember me. I hope people remember me for the way I played with a smile on my face, my competitive fire. Sure, they can remember the wins but also the fun me and my teammates had together.”

This wild Caitlin Clark stat proves just how unbelievable her 3-point shooting range is

Caitlin Clark is simply unbelievable.

Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark broke the all-time Division I college basketball scoring record and she is rewriting history books in the process.

Clark, who recently announced that she will declare for the 2024 WNBA Draft, is one of the most impressive sharpshooters that the sport has seen. She is known for hitting 3-pointers from incredibly long distances and she even broke the women’s college basketball scoring record with a 3-pointer from the logo.

Iowa has even honored Clark’s scoring record by permanently marking the spot on the court where the record was broken, which has since become her signature shot.

While anyone who has watched her play know she is capable of shooting from incredibly far away, the numbers back this up as well. In fact, per CBB Analytics, Clark has made 84 field goals considered “long” 3-pointers beyond 25 feet.

That is considerably farther than the international 3-point distance (22 feet and 1.75 inches) for men’s and women’s college basketball, the WNBA, and FIBA. It is also beyond the NBA distance, which is 23 feet and 9 inches at the top of the key.

CBB Analytics

As you can see in her shot chart, Clark has made more “long” 3-pointers (84) than short 3-pointers (71) this season. Nearly one-third (31.5 percent) of her total shots are taken from this zone. To put that in perspective, the Division I average is 8.9 percent this season.

Meanwhile, her field goal percentage on shots between 25 and 30 feet is 39.3 percent. That is also significantly above the Division I average (29.5 percent) in 2023-24.

For comparison, no other women’s Division I college basketball has even come close to approaching as many long 3-pointers as Clark this season. In fact, she has more than the players with the second-most (Syracuse’s Dyaisha Fair has 47) and third-most (Marquette’s Mackenzie Hare has 34) combined.

Name Long 3’s Team Year
Caitlin Clark 84 Iowa (Women’s) 2024
Caitlin Clark 76 Iowa (Women’s) 2023
Max Abmas 72 Oral Roberts (Men’s) 2023
Darius McGhee 65 Liberty (Men’s) 2023
Max Abmas 56 Oral Roberts (Men’s) 2021
Antoine Davis 56 Detroit Mercy (Men’s) 2023
Jelly Walker 55 UAB (Men’s) 2022
Jelly Walker 55 UAB (Men’s) 2023
Max Abmas 54 Oral Roberts (Men’s) 2022

With more games still left to play this season, Clark has already made more long 3-pointers than any other Division I player in men’s or women’s college basketball since CBB Analytics began tracking this data in 2018-19.

We know that Clark is capable of shooting from deep but let’s give it even more context. Clark has made exactly as many 3-pointers from at least 25 feet in her 30 games this season as NBA stars Devin Booker (50 games) and Kawhi Leonard (54 games) this season, per Stathead.

That is simply remarkable range from the future WNBA superstar.

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Hoops fans loved how Caitlin Clark was more concerned with her team’s play than her all-time scoring record

Caitlin Clark is the ultimate selfless competitor.

Caitlin Clark rightfully ascended her throne at the top of Division I college basketball when she broke Pete Maravich’s all-time scoring record on Sunday afternoon. But when the iconic Iowa Hawkeye had an opportunity to wax poetic about her place in the sport and what the record meant (including what she thought while shooting the decisive technical free throws), Clark deferred to something far more important to her.

Winning the game.

While talking to Fox’s Allison Williams at halftime, Clark spent just a few seconds on the record before quickly pivoting to what Iowa needed to do to beat No. 2 Ohio State. Because of course she did.

Clark is a legend expressly because she cares about winning above everything else. Even all-time records:

If it wasn’t already clear, that interview should tell you everything you need to know about Clark. The likely future No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft does appreciate that she etched her name in history. But winning and thriving with her teammates takes absolute precedence over individual accomplishment.

And that’s the (approximate) 5,000th reminder of why Clark is so special.

Caitlin Clark was so giddy after a surprise meeting with her childhood idol Maya Moore

Caitlin Clark turned into a kid again when Maya Moore came out.

Caitlin Clark wouldn’t be the excellent basketball player she is today without the players who paved the way before her, and one of those players in particular was Maya Moore. The UConn and Minnesota Lynx legend was one of Clark’s biggest influences, and on Sunday, Clark got to meet her idol for the first time… well, kind of the first time.

During an interview with Clark before Iowa’s game against No. 2 Ohio State, ESPN had Moore pop out to surprise the NCAA’s new career scoring record holder. Clark let out an audible gasp. “I’m fan-girling so hard,” she said, before explaining how she met Moore as a kid and was able to hug her and get an autograph.

This was a cool moment for both women, and a full-circle moment for Moore, who remembered when she got to meet some of the legends who influenced her. Clark will no doubt do the same for future players.

Iowa Hawkeyes’ road win over Northwestern intensifies NCAA Tournament bubble talk

It was a must-win and the Hawkeyes delivered. Iowa has thrust themselves into the thick of the NCAA Tournament bubble conversation.

A team that looked nearly dead in the water two or three weeks ago has found late-season life and is making one heck of a charge. The Iowa Hawkeyes have gone from an NIT team to forcing themselves into the thick of the NCAA Tournament bubble conversation.

Iowa’s road win over Northwestern was a massive, bubble-moving win that created an even clearer path for the Hawkeyes to make the tournament. The win has thrust them into ESPN’s bubble watch and into the work to do category with one more regular-season game to go.

Every “Work to do” team should take a page from Iowa’s book. The Hawkeyes have won four of five, including road wins at Michigan State and Northwestern. Fran McCaffery’s group entered the game against the Wildcats being shown well outside the projected field, but winning 87-80 in Evanston will push them up to or very near “first four out” status. While Iowa has been lighting up the scoreboard during this five-game run (1.21 points per possession), keep in mind the new look in Iowa City is interior-oriented. The Hawkeyes are carving up opponents inside the arc — while also making their rare 3-point attempts. (updated March 2) – John Gasaway, ESPN

The belief is Iowa remains on the outside looking in but this win has given it a bit of control in its road to the postseason. The Hawkeyes welcome the Illinois Fighting Illinois, a lock for the tournament, next Sunday in the regular-season finale.

If Iowa can knock off the Illini, it may just be enough to show the selection committee that it is getting hot at the right time and earn a bid. That would leave it up to the committee if no other wins occurred, but the Hawkeyes’ best path is to beat Illinois and snag at least one victory in the Big Ten Tournament.

Wins in the Hawkeyes’ next two games should do the job and punch their ticket to the tournament. Nothing is a guarantee in March, but if Iowa can do that, its resume gets awfully hard to ignore.

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Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7

Social media reacts as Iowa basketball captures resume-enhancing win at Northwestern

No beer! Social media reacted as Iowa basketball collected a massive 87-80 win at Northwestern to enhance its NCAA Tournament resume.

Led by a terrific tag-team effort from sophomore guard Josh Dix and junior forward Payton Sandfort, the Iowa Hawkeyes went into Welsh-Ryan Arena and collected a massive 87-80 win over Northwestern.

Dix led Iowa with 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-5 from downtown. Sandfort added 23 for the Hawkeyes, connecting on 7-of-14 from the field and 4-of-8 from 3-point range.

Iowa saw double-figure performances from graduate forward Ben Krikke with 12 points and senior guard Tony Perkins with 10.

It was a fantastic day from the floor for the Hawkeyes as Iowa shot 55.0% from the field and 50% from 3-point distance.

In the process, Iowa collected an all-important Quad 1 victory to enhance its NCAA Tournament resume.

As they should be, Hawkeye fans were overjoyed on social media with the triumph.