Coach Bluder

[ShonnDeereGreene]

Yes Caitlin is the show (understatement), but I was completely impressed with Bluder’s gameplan, in-game decisions, and play calling. Some examples:

- defensing game plan overall
- the set plays to get the bigs rolling to the hoop
- the end of half play with 4 seconds inbounding to Czinano to Clark to Marshall (it didn’t go in but what a play)
- the decision to stick with Clark when she got her second foul and trust in her to play smart and equally managing Czinano playing time when she had 2 and 3 and 4 fouls.
- late game inbounding plays to get the ball to Clark for FTs.

What else!? Curious what others saw that is worth calling out coaching-wise!? Was a fantastic game by the coaching staff.

 

[LetsGoHawks83]

It was a damn coaching clinic.

I also enjoy her keeping he cool, in spite of many bad calls. Believe it or not, that rubs off on the players.

 

[Daisy Mae]

Clearing the lane and letting CC drive to the hoop for layups. Time after time. I never realized how quick CC is.

 

[LetsGoHawks83]

And for all the "well she has Caitlin Clark"....

What's the SC coach have? Multiple top recruiting classes. HUGE size advantage in the paint. "NPOTY" from last year...

You've been Bludered

 

[win1forthe]

She has a great staff, she trusts her players and everyone that plays contributes somehow, someway. They are just a ton of fun to watch

 

[LetsGoHawks83]

How about the ALL BLACK outfit by Lisa. Strictly business, unlike the LSU clown show

 

[Bigg2]

That end of half play was masterful!

 

[WWDMHawkeye]

Loved the picks we ran at the top of the key for the guards to curl and take it to the hole. Our staff knew we were quicker than their massive lineup. We beat them to the hoop at least 7-8 times, it seemed.

Also how we ran them. Again, our staff knew they couldn’t keep up with us in transition. We had their bigs worn out by the middle of the 1st quarter.

Defensive game plan has been mentioned in general, but I loved how we packed the paint and dared them to shoot 3’s. Raven Johnson did hit some wide open ones but overall their outside shooting was poor.

Absolutely brilliant game plan, and executed extremely well overall.

 

[Herky T Hawk]

People online are ripping on Staley for it just being out coached, but basically not coaching in the game. Bluder managed that game masterfully from the sideline. Staley made zero adjustments. With our pack the paint defense there were no changes whatsoever to their offensive game plan. They didn’t put their best defender on Clark until the very end of the game. They rarely double teamed Clark. They spent too much effort guarding our shooters and not stopping the pick and roll or dribble drives by Clark. If SC didn’t have a 6’7” player that didn’t even have to jump for a rebound, we win that game by 15 or more.

Our starters were better than their starters tonight, and it wasn’t really that close between those two groups.

 

[StormHawk42]

The defensive game plan was brilliant

 

[BioHawk]

Coach Bluder is the best coach at Iowa. I've seen other coaches put together amazing game plans and execute it, but I haven't seen other coaches do that game after game after game the way Bluder has. I'm sure that's easier to do with a player like Clark on your team, but the game plan for the last few games has been amazing and keeping the players focused has been outstanding. Just one more game to finish the job!

 

[Franisdaman]

Yes Caitlyn is the show (understatement), but I was completely impressed with Bluder’s gameplan, in-game decisions, and play calling. Some examples:

- defensing game plan overall
- the set plays to get the bigs rolling to the hoop
- the end of half play with 4 seconds inbounding to Czinano to Clark to Marshall (it didn’t go in but what a play)
- the decision to stick with Clark when she got her second foul and trust in her to play smart and equally managing Czinano playing time when she had 2 and 3 and 4 fouls.
- late game inbounding plays to get the ball to Clark for FTs.

What else!? Curious what others saw that is worth calling out coaching-wise!? Was a fantastic game by the coaching staff.

when they literally left people wide open from 3 that had to get into their heads a bit. Caitlin even brushed guarding them off. It was like Iowa was saying we know you can't make those shots but please try any way

 

[littlez]

This is 3 games in a row that Bluder has tossed out crazy defenses and they have absolutely worked. The fact that a team had won 42 games in a row with a girl shooting 21% from 3 says something. Of course there was no way we could keep them off the boards but we still had a game plan. We didn’t try to play them straight up and she made some but damn our girls battled. What a game.

 

[Cougars_80]

This is a team that play together as one unit one heartbeat

 

[AEG82]

Lisa did the damn job! She can stay until she damn well sees fit now. I'll fight anybody who disagrees with that lol.

 

[Franisdaman]

And for all the "we'll see has Caitlin Clark"....

What's the SC coach have? Multiple top recruiting classes. HUGE size advantage in the paint. "NPOTY" from last year...

You've been Bludered

So, Dawn Staley is known as a great recruiter who supposedly, according to the recruiting "experts," gets the best of the best.

So, where were her star guards?

Here's how SC shot themselves to 73 points:

26-57 (46%) from 2 point range
4-20 (20%) from 3
....................................
30-77 (39%) overall shooting

9-13 (69%) FTs

 

[LetsGoHawks83]

I don't know how you don't try doubling CC.

She's going to get her shots or assists if you only up one girl on her.

 

[chuck285]

People online are ripping on Staley for it just being out coached, but basically not coaching in the game. Bluder managed that game masterfully from the sideline. Staley made zero adjustments. With our pack the paint defense there were no changes whatsoever to their offensive game plan. They didn’t put their best defender on Clark until the very end of the game. They rarely double teamed Clark. They spent too much effort guarding our shooters and not stopping the pick and roll or dribble drives by Clark. If SC didn’t have a 6’7” player that didn’t even have to jump for a rebound, we win that game by 15 or more.

Our starters were better than their starters tonight, and it wasn’t really that close between those two groups.

You're right, the best team won easily.

 

[Hawksbyamillion]

I don't know how you don't try doubling CC.

She's going to get her shots or assists if you only up one girl on her.

Louisville tried it for a little bit but it didn’t work. With that said I don’t feel Staley made great adjustments.

 

[tippet1]

How much longer does Bluder coach? She is in her early 60's and Clark will be moving on in the next year or two. Does she retire when Clark graduates or does she stay a few more years?

 

[chuck285]

And the best recruiter won coach of the year even tho she was out coached

 

[Hawksbyamillion]

And the best recruiter won coach of the year even tho she was out coached

Bluder doesn’t care. The players come first for her and what she wants most for them is to take home a championship Sunday.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Louisville tried it for a little bit but it didn’t work. With that said I don’t feel Staley made great adjustments.

Probably a little overconfidence on their part, sticking to what they do because it's worked 42 times in a row before that...........

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Bluder doesn’t care. The players come first for her and what she wants most for them is to take home a championship Sunday.

I couldn't be happier for her and her staff.

The true definition of putting in the work, handling the grind and paying their dues and trusting that it will eventually pay off.

 

[longliveCS40]

What's the SC coach have? Multiple top recruiting classes. HUGE size advantage in the paint. "NPOTY" from last year...

You've been Bludered

A team full of masons.

 

[BustingNarratives]

An absolute masterpiece. Van Gogh would be jealous.

 

[ShonnDeereGreene]

The offensive gameplan to spread out the taller, longer SC defense was great too! Hard to figure why Staley never adjusted and had help defense cut off the lane when CC or Martin drove, other than she really didn’t want sniper Gabbie nailing corner 3’s.

 

[ichawk24]

How much longer does Bluder coach? She is in her early 60's and Clark will be moving on in the next year or two. Does she retire when Clark graduates or does she stay a few more years?

Bluder has 10+ years left in her. She is currently 17th all-time in ncaa womens games won.

There are currently 6 coaches with 1000 wins. Lisa needs 181 to get there, and I bet she makes it.

List of college women's basketball career coaching wins leaders - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

The offensive gameplan to spread out the taller, longer SC defense was great too! Hard to figure why Staley never adjusted and had help defense cut off the lane when CC or Martin drove, other than she really didn’t want sniper Gabbie nailing corner 3’s.

They said it in the pregame broadcast. SC wanted to limit Iowa's 3 pt shooting (they only made 7). They were willing to give up 2s to take away 3s, trusting that their size, athleticism and physicality would win out in the end.



Except it didn't.........

 

[WWDMHawkeye]

The offensive gameplan to spread out the taller, longer SC defense was great too! Hard to figure why Staley never adjusted and had help defense cut off the lane when CC or Martin drove, other than she really didn’t want sniper Gabbie nailing corner 3’s.

Indeed. Even though we didn’t shoot great from 3, the threat of Martin, Marshall, and Warnock hitting open ones really paid off. SC clearly respected our 3-point prowess — about as much as we DISrespected theirs. It was crazy seeing our entire defense below the FT line almost all game long. Just packed it in and dared them to put it up from outside.

 

[mphawk]

Coach Bluder is the best coach at Iowa. I've seen other coaches put together amazing game plans and execute it, but I haven't seen other coaches do that game after game after game the way Bluder has. I'm sure that's easier to do with a player like Clark on your team, but the game plan for the last few games has been amazing and keeping the players focused has been outstanding. Just one more game to finish the job!

That was one of the changes the coaching staff said they had to make after losing in the Sweet Sixteen to Creighton last year. More adjustments in-game and between games. Kudos to them for building something bigger after a loss.

 

[doughuddl2]

And the best recruiter won coach of the year even tho she was out coached

Staley was crushed by Bluder.

When your team owns just about every rebound take the shot and let the bigs get the misses. When CC waved off playing D on the 3pt line player she should have drove in and shot from the free throw line.

CC under handed scope layups to be ahead of the defenders swatting blocks were spectacular.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

Staley is regarded as a great coach, but she wasn't the best coach last night. She recruited her players, but besides often having the 3 tallest players on the court getting offensive rebounds, SC didn't seem to have much of a game plan.

 

[longliveCS40]

Staley is regarded as a great coach, but she wasn't the best coach last night. She recruited her players, but besides often having the 3 tallest players on the court getting offensive rebounds, SC didn't seem to have much of a game plan.

They aren't a good team. They are big and that is literally it.

They are lauded for their good defense but it's only due to their size. They are lauded for rebounding...again size.

Terrible shooters, bad passers, turnover prone did I mention absolutely awful shooters?

 

[WadeLookingbill]

Yes Caitlin is the show (understatement), but I was completely impressed with Bluder’s gameplan, in-game decisions, and play calling. Some examples:

- defensing game plan overall
- the set plays to get the bigs rolling to the hoop
- the end of half play with 4 seconds inbounding to Czinano to Clark to Marshall (it didn’t go in but what a play)
- the decision to stick with Clark when she got her second foul and trust in her to play smart and equally managing Czinano playing time when she had 2 and 3 and 4 fouls.
- late game inbounding plays to get the ball to Clark for FTs.

What else!? Curious what others saw that is worth calling out coaching-wise!? Was a fantastic game by the coaching staff.

Also, perfect use of timeouts. The timeout in the 4th with about 6 to play was desperately needed to catch their wind and re-group in front of the tv timeout.
Also thought substitutions were very well handled, I.e. getting quick rest before tv timeout, offense/defense, foul trouble.

Just a world-class effort by the staff.

 

[HawkRugged17]

 

[littlez]

They aren't a good team. They are big and that is literally it.

They are lauded for their good defense but it's only due to their size. They are lauded for rebounding...again size.

Terrible shooters, bad passers, turnover prone did I mention absolutely awful shooters?

They had won 42 games in a row. By writing that you’re also not giving us enough credit. That’s the biggest win in the history of Iowa basketball. That’s a damn good team we beat.

 

[BHoppy]

They aren't a good team. They are big and that is literally it.

They are lauded for their good defense but it's only due to their size. They are lauded for rebounding...again size.

Terrible shooters, bad passers, turnover prone did I mention absolutely awful shooters?

They are a good team. They just have different strengths than the Hawks.
You are not giving Iowa much credit saying they are not good. They did win 42 games straight and won the championship last year.
I would say they are not a complete team, but give them credit for what they have accomplished.
Now in game coaching and adjustments, not great at all.

 

[BGHAWK]

Probably a little overconfidence on their part, sticking to what they do because it's worked 42 times in a row before that...........

I agree. I believe it was between the 3rd and 4th Q when she was interviewed and when asked what she could do, she basically just said we'll be ok.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

They aren't a good team. They are big and that is literally it.

They are lauded for their good defense but it's only due to their size. They are lauded for rebounding...again size.

Terrible shooters, bad passers, turnover prone did I mention absolutely awful shooters?

I don't follow women's BB closely, but you are dead wrong. You don't win almost 50 games in a row, mostly by huge margins, if you are not a good team. Sure size is their huge advantage, but that still makes them damn near impossible to beat. They have been a great team for a while.