A few inches off, and Iowa’s situation would have looked miles different. Not that there would have been any shame in losing to either Maryland or Indiana (although the Hawkeyes would have loved to come much closer than 28 points against the Terrapins), but a two-game losing streak heading to Minneapolis for the Big Ten tournament would have practically sunk Iowa’s chances at a top seed.
Instead, the Hawkeyes have momentum and a lot to play for this weekend.
Iowa clinched the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten tournament by edging Indiana on Clark’s shot, and in doing so, the Hawkeyes earned plenty of accolades and positive feelings. Now, they’ve got to make the most of the chance in front of them.
Iowa Needs To Start Strong Against Purdue
The Hawkeyes will open the tournament Friday against Purdue, which barely survived against Wisconsin in round two. It’s a game that Iowa should handle with ease, but it’s an important contest nonetheless, because it’s a chance for Iowa to build on the momentum that the Hawkeyes created against Indiana.
In a three-day situation, teams go on momentum and adrenaline by the end of the week. In a situation like Iowa’s, where a team must go through two powerful opponents to win the league title, getting through the first game without using up too much energy is critical. Iowa has some depth, but the Hawkeyes have five starters who average 27 minutes a game or more, making it important to not get worn out too early in the week.
Purdue has nothing to lose in facing Iowa, as the Boilermakers are probably looking at a No. 9 or No. 10 seed in the NCAA tournament. If Purdue gets through the first 10 minutes, it will start to believe it can play against Iowa. If the Hawkeyes can put the Boilers away early, they should comfortably ease into the semifinals.
CAITLIN CLARK'S BUZZER-BEATER SENT IOWA CITY INTO A FRENZY 😨 #ThatsaW pic.twitter.com/0Sf4Sx5AwO
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 26, 2023
Iowa-Maryland III Would Be a Critical Contest
If the Hawkeyes get through their first game at the Big Ten tournament, the likely opponent would be Maryland. And Iowa needs to be thinking of this as its most critical game at the Big Ten tournament.
That’s because the loser of Iowa-Maryland III is almost certainly out of the race for a No. 1 seed and possibly heading to South Carolina’s bracket as the No. 2 seed. With Greenville hosting two of the four regionals this season, nobody wants to have to beat the Gamecocks in their home state on the road to the Final Four. The defending champions are 29-0, and in their home state, they’re virtually invincible.
To beat the Terrapins in Minneapolis, Iowa has to take better care of the basketball. Against Maryland, that’s easier said than done. Brenda Frese’s teams always play tough defense, and the Hawkeyes have struggled in both games with the Terrapins. Iowa gave it up 24 times in College Park and committed 19 turnovers in Iowa City in a win. Maryland will force mistakes, and Iowa has to minimize its own errors and make critical shots to stay ahead of the Terrapins.
Above all, Iowa must defend the arc better than it did in College Park. Maryland is blessed with a plethora of talented guards, to the point that the Terrapins don’t bother with a forward or center. In the loss to the Terrapins, Brinae Alexander and Lavender Briggs came off the bench to shoot 9-for-12 from deep. Obviously, that cannot happen again.
Caitlin Clark only knows Big Ten title appearances pic.twitter.com/1vxyz9J3wm
— Blake Hornstein (@BlakeHornTV) March 5, 2023
Iowa in the Big Ten Title Game
If the Hawkeyes get to face Indiana for the Big Ten championship, they should come into the game brimming with confidence. For one, they beat Indiana for the Big Ten championship last season, so they’ve proven they can handle the pressure that a championship game carries. For another, they’re the team coming off a victory in a classic game.
Had Iowa come into this game having lost twice to Indiana, it might have been difficult for Iowa to believe it could beat Indiana. When you give a team everything you’ve got, as Iowa did against the Hoosiers, coming up short can be devastating should you meet that same team again.
Clark made sure that didn’t happen by stepping up the way she has all year. A third meeting with the Hoosiers would likely come down to who has more left in the tank, as both teams boast excellent talent and know that they’re good enough to best the other one.
And if Iowa gets to this game and gets another chance to play Indiana, it’s probably playing for the last No. 1 seed. The Hawkeyes would enter the NCAA tournament as winners of seven of their past eight games, with two wins over Indiana to their credit. That’s a tough profile for the NCAA selection committee to resist putting on the top line.
That’s the opportunity Iowa’s got in Minneapolis, and that’s because of Caitlin Clark’s shot.
Caitlin Clark is the FIRST-EVER player to drop a triple-double in the women's Big Ten title game 😱🔥 @HighlightHER
30 PTS
10 REB
17 ASTHer 10 triple-doubles are the MOST in conference history (men's or women's) pic.twitter.com/Bp93385h6M
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 6, 2023
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