Iowa's Caitlin Clark targeted on quick begin, not remaining residence sport – ESPN

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Caitlin Clark stated she will not be occupied with the truth that Monday’s NCAA match second-round matchup with West Virginia would be the final residence sport of her Iowa profession. As a substitute, she and the Hawkeyes – the Albany 2 Area No. 1 seed – are totally consumed by the battle they count on to get from the No. 8 seed Mountaineers (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
“Popping out with a robust begin shall be actually necessary for us; I feel that goes for any sport,” Clark stated Sunday. “However our group has performed in fairly a couple of March Insanity video games the place we did not come out and set the tone, and we have been capable of take a breath and reply.
“I feel understanding we’re not going to win by 25 factors. That is not what that is at this level. It’ll come all the way down to single possessions, and you need to execute possessions. That you must get [offensive] boards. We have to not flip the ball over. Little issues like that.”
It did not escape the Hawkeyes’ discover that the Huge Ten regular-season champion Ohio State Buckeyes, who gave Iowa considered one of its 4 losses this season, have been upset on their residence courtroom Sunday within the second spherical. The No. 2 seed Buckeyes misplaced 75-63 to the No. 7 seed Duke Blue Devils within the Portland 3 Area.
Two years in the past, No. 2 seed Iowa misplaced at residence within the second spherical, 64-62 to No. 10 Creighton. Final season, the Hawkeyes have been a No. 2 seed once more and did not draw back till late in a 74-66 victory over No. 10 seed Georgia, additionally within the second spherical at residence. That was a two-point sport with below a minute left, earlier than Clark sealed the victory by scoring the final six factors.
“Our group is aware of higher than anyone it is a sport that’s going to be shut,” Clark stated of dealing with the Huge 12’s Mountaineers. “Would not actually matter what quantity is subsequent to your identify. That is what makes this match so enjoyable. You have to come able to play. Georgia gave us an incredible battle [last year]. It simply reveals how necessary singular possessions are in these kind of video games.”
West Virginia, which completed in a three-way tie for fourth within the Huge 12 with Iowa State and Baylor, is below its second new coach in as a few years. Mark Kellogg took over for this season after Daybreak Plitzuweit left after only one 12 months in Morgantown, to go to Minnesota.
Kellogg has applied an analogous form of strain protection that longtime Mountaineers coach Mike Carey, who retired after the 2021-22 season, was recognized for. West Virginia led the Huge 12 in steals this season, averaging 13.9 per sport, and is sparked by guards JJ Quinerly (19.9 PPG, 2.9 SPG) and Jordan Harrison (13.9 PPG, 3.9 SPG).
“I feel we’re actually good defensively,” Kellogg stated. “We’re aggressive by nature, however we’re not the largest group, both. We do not have a ton of dimension, so we form of must make up for it in different areas.”
For Clark and the Iowa seniors, together with fellow starters Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall, it will likely be their final sport at Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment, the place each residence sport offered out this season.
However Clark stated the Hawkeyes usually are not dwelling on that now.
“The atmosphere is simply too aggressive. You are desirous to win so dangerous, that is probably not what you are targeted on,” Clark stated of the emotion of the sport. “That is one thing that can hit you both after the sport or as soon as the season ends. Greater than something, we have to use the group to our benefit. Having 15,000 those that wish to cheer for you, that is enormous.”

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