1. As I mentioned on today's podcast, Iowa's win over Wisconsin on Saturday didn't look like an upset, physically. If anything, both Hawkeye lines fought to a slight advantage over their Badger counterparts, no small feat in any year that has started with a "2". Iowa and Wisconsin are the only two teams even at .500 in the Big Ten so far, and Sconnie's going to have to navigate a decent portion of the rest of the year without its starting QB. Not that Iowa has the luxury of playing a layup game against anyone, but the path to Indianapolis is as clear as anybody could ask for in the middle of October.
2. And then the Crossover at Kinnick, my goodness. The atmosphere was electric live — not only 55,646 in the house, but locked in on every moment, sometimes so loud not even the Hawkeyes could hear each other in a huddle. Everyone's criteria differ when it comes to determining a "greatest" sporting event, but by a lot of common metrics, Sunday was at the highest level in women's basketball history.
3. Accordingly, the visuals coming out of the event have been nothing short of spectacular. Case in point: the UI video team's Crossover special:
Like everything else about the event, their production team knocked this out of the park. Working on learning more about the logistics as we speak.
4. On that note, if a formal announcement is necessary: I'm taking the women's basketball beat this season, with help from @BraydonRoberts5. It was a genuinely difficult decision, but only because there wasn't a bad option. Both coaches have earned their seniority at Iowa, and have done so with unimpeachable integrity. Both teams play exciting, winning basketball. Both rosters have an exciting mix of star power and new roles and faces — and a fun, diverse mix of personalities. No bad options.
Ultimately, it came down one thing, and it's probably obvious: this might be it for Caitlin Clark at Iowa. And if it is, I've got to be there for it.
There's been a veritable parade of All-Americans through Iowa City in both men's and women's basketball recently; seven combined in the last decade alone. None of them have been anywhere near the epicenter of their sport that Clark is. She commands attention and then delivers on it, consistently and proudly. She just drew 55 grand to watch a college exhibition in 50-degree weather — all while Game 3 of the WNBA Finals was on.
I believe Clark when she says she hasn't decided what to do after this season. She sure looks ready to play against the best in the world. A mantle impossibly full of personal awards. Game, fame and poster frames. I also think she knows she's not going to have a relationship with her coaches that approaches what she's got at Iowa. And who knows: if the choice is between being drafted by, let's say, Indiana or spending another year in IC to the front of the line for a Bay Area roster spot when the expansion team opens in 2025...
However all that shakes out, as the publisher of this site, I owe it to you subscribers to be there for it and bring it to you. Recruiting coverage will obviously have to look different — the national market isn't there for Rivals to build out a database like the men's (yet) — but it'll be part of what we offer at the premium level all the same. Currently building out a season preview for the last week in October.
5. Accordingly, Eliot will be credentialed and covering the men's basketball beat. He's already developing inroads with the staff and players, and it would have been counterproductive to have him spending the winter away from the coaches doing the recruiting that he'll still be covering, just as I'll still be covering football. For all the reasons I described above, this is a tremendous opportunity to put out some compelling coverage, and based on the work he's done this year already, I'm so excited to see what he can do with that team and all the different ways that season could unfold.
6. Maybe it's only funny to me, but I (and several hundred other people) ended up in the background of this Caitlin Clark meme from Sunday, third laptop to the left of the DePaul defender.
Hoodie was up, so it must have been the second half. Some of those breezes had bad intentions.
That's a lot of faces in the frame — any of you know anyone who also made it into the background? How many folks do you know who were at Kinnick Sunday? I got several texts during and after the game from fellow attendees.
As always, thanks for reading and supporting!
2. And then the Crossover at Kinnick, my goodness. The atmosphere was electric live — not only 55,646 in the house, but locked in on every moment, sometimes so loud not even the Hawkeyes could hear each other in a huddle. Everyone's criteria differ when it comes to determining a "greatest" sporting event, but by a lot of common metrics, Sunday was at the highest level in women's basketball history.
3. Accordingly, the visuals coming out of the event have been nothing short of spectacular. Case in point: the UI video team's Crossover special:
Like everything else about the event, their production team knocked this out of the park. Working on learning more about the logistics as we speak.
4. On that note, if a formal announcement is necessary: I'm taking the women's basketball beat this season, with help from @BraydonRoberts5. It was a genuinely difficult decision, but only because there wasn't a bad option. Both coaches have earned their seniority at Iowa, and have done so with unimpeachable integrity. Both teams play exciting, winning basketball. Both rosters have an exciting mix of star power and new roles and faces — and a fun, diverse mix of personalities. No bad options.
Ultimately, it came down one thing, and it's probably obvious: this might be it for Caitlin Clark at Iowa. And if it is, I've got to be there for it.
There's been a veritable parade of All-Americans through Iowa City in both men's and women's basketball recently; seven combined in the last decade alone. None of them have been anywhere near the epicenter of their sport that Clark is. She commands attention and then delivers on it, consistently and proudly. She just drew 55 grand to watch a college exhibition in 50-degree weather — all while Game 3 of the WNBA Finals was on.
I believe Clark when she says she hasn't decided what to do after this season. She sure looks ready to play against the best in the world. A mantle impossibly full of personal awards. Game, fame and poster frames. I also think she knows she's not going to have a relationship with her coaches that approaches what she's got at Iowa. And who knows: if the choice is between being drafted by, let's say, Indiana or spending another year in IC to the front of the line for a Bay Area roster spot when the expansion team opens in 2025...
However all that shakes out, as the publisher of this site, I owe it to you subscribers to be there for it and bring it to you. Recruiting coverage will obviously have to look different — the national market isn't there for Rivals to build out a database like the men's (yet) — but it'll be part of what we offer at the premium level all the same. Currently building out a season preview for the last week in October.
5. Accordingly, Eliot will be credentialed and covering the men's basketball beat. He's already developing inroads with the staff and players, and it would have been counterproductive to have him spending the winter away from the coaches doing the recruiting that he'll still be covering, just as I'll still be covering football. For all the reasons I described above, this is a tremendous opportunity to put out some compelling coverage, and based on the work he's done this year already, I'm so excited to see what he can do with that team and all the different ways that season could unfold.
6. Maybe it's only funny to me, but I (and several hundred other people) ended up in the background of this Caitlin Clark meme from Sunday, third laptop to the left of the DePaul defender.
Hoodie was up, so it must have been the second half. Some of those breezes had bad intentions.
That's a lot of faces in the frame — any of you know anyone who also made it into the background? How many folks do you know who were at Kinnick Sunday? I got several texts during and after the game from fellow attendees.
As always, thanks for reading and supporting!
