Agreed, we are ahead of where we were last year. Syd has emerged and is clearly taking over the role of Warnock. Her recent success sharpshooting from behind the arc is a very big deal and I hope she can keep it going. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality minutes from AJ during the Wisconsin game. She was positioning well, showing some grit and had some surprising awareness under the basket. Having another post option after Sharon, Addy and Hannah will likely be needed. It would be great to get her something more than garbage minutes going forward.
ESPN writers have South Carolina, UCLA & LSU in the Final Four w/ either Colorado, NC State or UConn as the 4th Team
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I agree. Goodman had a tough night but AOG gave us solid minutes. There didn’t seem to be much of a drop off if any from those 2 to AJ last night. I’m not sure she had to go up against Williams as much as the other two though? Really wish we had Williams on our team this year. We could be scary good with her and Stuelke down low.
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I sont know why we didn't chuck the ball at her even once while she was on the floor. Force the officals to acknowledge her interference on court. Would be amazing to watch the officals give a tech to the Iowa player for doing it though....
Interesting thoughts….I read an article several weeks ago on one of those fan sites, not sure which one, maybe SBnation. That said they weren’t nearly as good. It read much like a jealousy hit piece to me.
With that said, I more or less agreed… But since then I have watched women’s college basketball closely. I haven’t missed these women play, except for games not on TV in 2 years.
I’ve also watched other teams play. Nobody is unbeatable. And if you look at their stats, they aren’t actually anymore of a tough out than Iowa…
We have played and beaten nine likely tournament teams at least & we’ve beat 13+ teams by 20 points or more. We have beat a number of teams comparatively to what these other high ranked teams have..
Our defense is markedly better, and that’s by the eyeball test and the metrics, & our ability to get up and down the floor is even better and now that we’re finally coming into a groove on shooting dare I say our offense is better. We do need Hannah Stuelke to stay healthy and out of foul trouble but this is a really good team.
Affolter, Martin, Marshall, Clark, Stuelke and Davis (who greatly opened my eyes the other day) are a great 6 person team.
Feuerbach is solid and Goodman gives decent minutes. The interior and foul trouble is a concern, but overall this team IS better!
With that said, I more or less agreed… But since then I have watched women’s college basketball closely. I haven’t missed these women play, except for games not on TV in 2 years.
I’ve also watched other teams play. Nobody is unbeatable. And if you look at their stats, they aren’t actually anymore of a tough out than Iowa…
We have played and beaten nine likely tournament teams at least & we’ve beat 13+ teams by 20 points or more. We have beat a number of teams comparatively to what these other high ranked teams have..
Our defense is markedly better, and that’s by the eyeball test and the metrics, & our ability to get up and down the floor is even better and now that we’re finally coming into a groove on shooting dare I say our offense is better. We do need Hannah Stuelke to stay healthy and out of foul trouble but this is a really good team.
Affolter, Martin, Marshall, Clark, Stuelke and Davis (who greatly opened my eyes the other day) are a great 6 person team.
Feuerbach is solid and Goodman gives decent minutes. The interior and foul trouble is a concern, but overall this team IS better!
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I guess I'm drinking the kool aid because I think this team is better overall than last year's team, and that CC has become an even more overwhelming force. I think it would be at least a pick 'em against any of the other top teams.
My only concern is Goodman and O'Grady are not good enough to manage the inside game of South Carolina and LSU. I think Stulke can hold her own but she needs to be healthy and stay out of foul trouble. Davis and Martin have to be hitting shots to go with Clark if Iowa is going to beat them. If Iowa plays like they are now against them, I like their chances. Although it is easy to play well against teams like Wisconsin.
Iowa vs. any team with 2-3 athletic F/Cs is a glaringly bad match-up. Hawks really need Stuelke to stay healthy and out of foul trouble. If Goodman plays 10+ minutes you might as well automatically spot the other team 20 points. If the guards are making a high percentage of 3pt shots they can still overcome the mismatch.
Last year it seemed it was “Iowa goes as far as CC takes them” now I feel it’s “Iowa goes as far as supporting cast allows” she will put them in position for good shots and in games, whether they make them is yet to be seen.
Agreed. That’s why I wish we had Williams on our team. Think we’d stand a much better chance with a player like her at the 5 and Stuelke at the 4.
Iowa is missing a true center. Not much of a problem in the Big but the elite teams have a true center and that will be a big problem. Iowa isn't as good as we were last year. Top 10 probably but not top 5They then have UCLA and South Carolina meeting for the National Championship.
Caitlin is their unanimous National Player of the Year.
Is the Elite 8 this year's team's ceiling?
The Story:
Midseason predictions: Are we headed for a South Carolina-UCLA women's NCAA title game?
Caitlin Clark seems a lock for player of the year, but our NCAA champion picks may surprise. Who will join South Carolina and UCLA in the Final Four?www.espn.com
We've beaten K-State, VaTech, and Indiana so far. All have centers that were All-Americans last year.
Edit: Ayoka Lee from K-State was All-American 2021-22; injured last year. My mistake.
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We don't have the depth of those other programs. We can beat them but they can play deeper into their bench. That is why the terrible officiating in the final against lsu mattered so much. We can't sit our 2 best players for any length of time and stay competitive against top programs.
I'll agree we're missing a true Center. But we were missing a true Center last year as well. Monica was only 6-3 and not exactly a defensive force. She ran the floor great and was obviously great around the basket. Stuelke is a better athlete and better defensively. And she's doubled her scoring average. Martin has another year of experience, she's way better than last year. And Clark has taken it up even another notch which I'm going to say most people probably didn't think was possible. We're averaging 90 pts a game and only giving up 65 and that's with the 12th rated SOS from what I can find. Of course beating S Carolina again or one of these loaded teams will be tough but that's what happens when you reach the elite 8 or so. I'm also guessing those teams might all be wishing they had CC on their team!
I meant bias against the BIG, particually on the part of ESPN who is butthurt about all the money they lost with the media rights.
We don't have a Monica which is why a are not as good. It's tough to overcome a center 3-4 inches taller and just as talented if not more. BIG isn't as good this year and SEC is just as good. SEC is still the king
We don't have a Monica which is why a are not as good. It's tough to overcome a center 3-4 inches taller and just as talented if not more. BIG isn't as good this year and SEC is just as good. SEC is still the king
Match ups are key along with getting and staying healthy throughout.
I’m not as concerned about Goodman and OGrady vs LSU. I think they could foul enough to get in Reece’s head. If a 2x% 3pt shooter doesn’t go off, Iowa beats LSU. Reece was LSU’s least valuable player against Iowa.
Sharon struggled against Wisconsin, and still looks slow and foul prone on defense. I think she has more offense than she showed, and could settle in a bit during big 10 play if the game slows down for her. I think Addie showed the ability to wall up on defense, and looked like she might be starting to figure out how to play with Clark. Aj is undersized but showed the most post moves. This is the position I have been most concerned with and had hoped that the coaches would keep giving them minutes so they could be in position to be productive for a tourney run. If Iowa draws good 4/5 teams in the tourney they need to be hitting from outside for now. I think there is still a chance one of them figures it out and improves though.
I had to go back and look at this again?! What am I missing? The SEC has two teams that are ranked. Period! The ACC has six, the big 12 has four and the Pac 12 has four in the top eight….?!
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Look I think LSU can be elite good because of their players but they haven't proven it yet. South Carolina is really good. The rest can all be beat.
LSU is in a tight battle with Bama right now, 34-35 and they have only played 7 girls and they aren’t great shooters. They’ve taken 9, 3 pts & maid 2. They are far from a juggernaut…
USC and UCLA AND K-st are scarier than them in my mind.
South Carolina is a different story, but still beatable
USC and UCLA AND K-st are scarier than them in my mind.
South Carolina is a different story, but still beatable
They played a lot of minutes in final four games - did ok
Dennis is a freelance photographer and is at the Iowa WBB home games.
Is he right? Is Iowa headed to another Final 4?
Is he right? Is Iowa headed to another Final 4?
Looking at the top 16 today, there are going to be some hellish good games to get to the final 8 and then again to the final 4.
as of now, ESPN has Iowa on the opposite side of the bracket as South Carolina.
just imagine if we end up with an Iowa/South Carolina national championship game
Women's Bracketology: UCLA takes over No. 1 overall seed, Tennessee climbs to 4-seed
With so many unknowns, the Lady Vols were a double-digit seed in the preseason. They've played their way to a No. 4.
www.espn.com
Iowa would get smoked, that’s what would happen.as of now, ESPN has Iowa on the opposite side of the bracket as South Carolina.
just imagine if we end up with an Iowa/South Carolina national championship game
Women's Bracketology: UCLA takes over No. 1 overall seed, Tennessee climbs to 4-seed
With so many unknowns, the Lady Vols were a double-digit seed in the preseason. They've played their way to a No. 4.www.espn.com
Yeah. Iowa killed S Carolina in the pick and roll last year - that is not a strength for Iowa this year.
They are better, that’s something I’ve been saying for a month.
Not worrying about it at this point. We we're a huge dog last year (11.5 pts I believe) and Yet... I know these are different teams. They're better, and frankly so are we. Honestly Clark is better this year. I hope we get a chance to find out. All you can ask is to be in "the game".......
Hmmmm, surprised to find out Hannah and Kate Martin can’t pick and roll…oh well. I could have swore I see Iowa back cutting people constantly, but I guess not…
You probably want to reach out and let the people who do the rankings know that the SEC is still the king, being they only have two teams ranked…
Sure, but being back cut is different entirely. Kate might pick and pop once in awhile, but Monica was a beast in the pick and roll.
