The expectations for Caitlin Clark are obscene. Let’s put this aside now. She is coming off the national title game and back-to-back seasons averaging over 27 points. While it’s almost guaranteed she eclipses 27 PPG again, it might be difficult to repeat the same team success. Iowa is not UConn, South Carolina or (I assume) LSU, and the Hawkeyes’ closeness to the rest of the field was on display Thursday night.
I’m not going to act like an expert on women’s college hoops, but as a fan of hoops in general, Clark really had to work for her 44 points, and No. 3 Iowa needed all of them in an 80 win -76 against number 3. 8 Virginia Tech. The nature of her strengths makes you think she’s Steph Curry, and while she’s not far off, it seems more like first-year Curry than the second-year Curry who took Davidson to the Elite 8 .
Don’t confuse nitpicking with hatred, because a 44 burger against a top 10 team is exemplary. It’s just that 44 points on 31 attempts — while the next closest teammate only had nine shots — is a lot. With the departure of Monika Cziano, Clark’s longtime pick-and-roll partner, the team needs a second banana.
Since I don’t care at all about Iowa’s success, this should at least make for great television. A more relevant and timely comparison for Clark and Iowa might be Caleb Williams and USC, but I guess that’s kind of the problem: It’s hard to replicate success in back-to-back college seasons . Lamar Jackson’s Heisman campaign came during his penultimate year on campus, and the same for Bryce Young.
The roster change affects all of us, so it’s no surprise. A season ago, Clark hadn’t made 31 shots in a game until the Hawkeyes’ upset of No. 1 seed South Carolina in the Final Four. It can start to seem gross when one player has more attempts than the other four starters combined, but when a big player is established, it doesn’t feel as empty.
So maybe temper some of those aspirations and appreciate individual greatness?
Caitlin Clark and the Smush Parkers isn’t a bad consolation prize. Ideally, fans will be treated to a repeat of the top players’ bets from last March. In the meantime, let’s see how hot she can run. If it’s like Thursday night, we’re going to see a show.
Milwaukee has enough basketballs for two Batmans
With Damian Lillard out due to a calf strain against Indiana on Thursday, Giannis Atetokuonmpo reminded the NBA that when the Bucks duo figures it out, it will be devastating. The two-time MVP gave up 54 points on 19-of-25 shooting (check the efficiency, Caitlin), but Milwaukee still lost, 126-124.
The top-heavy Bucks roster should lend itself to two most-used players, and everyone needs to realize they can be as aggressive as usual. The 76ers are a perfect example of how this should work. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey attempt 21 and 19 shots, respectively. Antetokounmpo and Lillard are 17 and 16 years old.
What about the game, you ask? Philly’s combo averages 13 assists between them, while Milwaukee’s tandem only combines for 8. Production over the last few years would indicate that Dame and Giannis should create at a level comparable to that of Joel and Tyrese .
Does it inspire confidence that first-year head coach Adrian Griffin was forced out on Thursday and fired his top offensive assistant before the season? No, no, it’s not, so this is a continuing story to watch.
Expectations for Milwaukee on offense were high enough to make them title favorites, and Giannis reiterated Vegas’ thought process against the Pacers. The flip side is Lillard’s absence which shows that the two are holding back when sharing the court.