Iowa pulls out a nail biter. Martin and Stulke were the keys to this win although UConn had some tough foul calls called on them. Really thought UConn outplayed Iowa but killed themselves with poor shooting.
Iowa played much better in the second half. A terrific game for both teams. Like Terry, I think SC will end up winning the final game.
Did any of you have problems with the feed in this game? I did not get to see the final plays of the game.I would venture I missed half of the game with slow connection on ESPN or problems via the video player. A bit discouraging to say the least.
I agree, but it clearly was a foul. What bothered me was toward the end, when Uconn's #2 scored a layup in a crowd under the basket, the replay showed clearly that she took a full step from a fixed position before putting the ball up, and it wasn't called, and the announcers didn't comment. Oh well. Calls are going to be missed. Looks like Uconn, who IMO had the better 5 players on the floor, just got tired in the second half with a roster cut down to 8 active players because of injuries. One thing that became obvious to me throughout the game is that, 1) Buecher is an outstanding player, and 2) Caitlin passes almost as well as she shoots.
Imagine refs from the 60's or earlier watching a game now... they would probably have seizures over traveling alone.
More verification of the interest in Women's College Basketball. It will be interesting to see if the current high is maintained or leaves with Catlin Clark going to the WNBA? BRISTOL, Conn. -- Iowa's 71-69 victory over UConn at the women's Final Four on Friday night averaged 14.2 million viewers on ESPN, making it the most-viewed women's basketball game on record and the largest audience for an ESPN basketball broadcast. The previous women's hoops mark was 12.3 million for last Monday's Iowa-LSU game in the Elite Eight. Game 7 of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference finals between Cleveland and Boston was ESPN's most-watched basketball game at 13.51 million. The Iowa-UConn matchup is also one of the most-viewed games in any sport other than college football and the NFL over the past couple years. Last year's NCAA men's basketball title game between San Diego State and UConn averaged 14.79 million. Iowa again sets ratings record in win over UConn
The traveling may have changed but that doesn't bother me. I shake my head at all the grabbing and hacking.
South Carolina is so talented and deep, they are dominating the boards getting multiple 2nd and 3rd chance shots. With Kardoso they can score almost at will inside and they have several players who can drain 3 pointers. Their bench almost matches the starters in terms of scoring, keeps the starters fresh. Nobody plays 40 minutes. Like Nika Muhul of UCONN who really controlled Clark, they have players making it very hard for Clark to get to her spots and get clean looks. She's scored 25 points though, but has had to work really hard.
Great run by Iowa but SC’s front court presented problems that Iowa had no answer for. Also Raven Johnson played incredible defense on Clark from the 2Q to the end of the game.
The quality depth on the SC roster is just amazing. Tessa Johnson and Fulwiley are freshman coming off the bench and making significant contributions, they got 37 points from their bench and they had 9 players who played double digit minutes. Iowa ion the other hand got zero points from the bench and had 6 girls who played double digit minutes. 3 starters played 40 minutes. That's just amazing, not many teams can keep that many players happy and contributing. I thought it interesting that she tells recruits that if you want to play a lot of minutes and average 25 points a game then South Carolina isn't for you. Clearly she's been able to sell that as she has a loaded team
In one of the biggest and shocking coaches moves, if it happens, will be John Calapari leaving Kentucky for Arkansas. His AD just a week or so ago gave him a vote of confidence and they announced he would be returning to Kentucky next year. Sure he's had flameouts in the NCAA's but he's still recruiting well and winning a lot of games. But of course it's Kentucky and those early exits recently no doubt grind at the fans. But Arkansas? I guess they can pay what it takes to get him to Fayetteville but what is it about that job that would even attract him? Musselman did a good job, but the Razorbacks didn't have a great year this past year and it's not like Arkansas is a top program. I guess he felt his welcome was getting thin in Lexington and decided to go where people would be excited to see him on the sidelines, well at least until he loses some games! ________________________________ Nothing like a bombshell news drop on the eve of the national championship game. John Calipari is leaving Kentucky and headed across the SEC to Arkansas, finalizing a five-year deal to replace Eric Musselman in Fayetteville. Nobody could have foreseen this chain of events when SMU fired Rob Lanier after just two seasons, leading to the Mustangs poaching Andy Enfield from USC and Musselman departing Arkansas for the Trojans' vacancy. Arkansas took a couple of early swings at Ole Miss' Chris Beard and Kansas State's Jerome Tang, but both coaches turned down the Razorbacks and returned to their respective schools. So, Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek reassessed the search and came out with a new name atop his target list: Calipari. The impact of Coach Cal's move from Kentucky to Arkansas
They keep talking that Scott Drew is the target now for Kentucky. Baylor likely can't match the money and NIL support that he'll get at Kentucky. But he's already won a National Championship so it's not like he has to go to Kentucky to get a shot at a championship. He's got a family and kids who have grown up in Waco, one of his kids is a student at Baylor. He likely could coach at Baylor a long time, and make a ton of money by normal standarss. Is it worth it.
This is the third Dan Hurley staff Luke Murray has worked on. The first two were Wagner and Rhode Island. Prior to that he was a graduate assistant at Arizona and his dad would occasionally attend games.
This has to be a NIL/$$$ decision. There is no way that before NIL that a player like him would stay another year in college rather than test the NBA waters. He's a great college player for sure, but it probably means that his NBA evaluations are a 2nd rounder or maybe a free agent and the UNC NIL people put together a package that would match what he might earn as a 2nd rounder or free agent. ______________________________________ RJ Davis, an All-American and Wooden Award finalist last season, is returning to North Carolina for a fifth season. Davis announced his decision in an Instagram post early Wednesday morning with the simple caption: "I'm back." The runaway winner for ACC Player of the Year, Davis averaged 21.2 points and 3.5 assists per game last season while shooting 39.8% from 3. He was North Carolina's first Associated Press All-American since 2017.
Grabbed this off an ND Board. There was a thread on another board about ND MBB struggling in the portal. A Hoosier fan posted this: Indiana has the number 1 transfer class in the country right now and it's being reported that: * No 1 ranked portal player Oumar Ballo - $1.2 Million * No 17 ranked portal player Kanaan Carlyle - $1 million * No 34 ranked portal player Myles Rice - $1 Million This is in addition to Malik Reneau & Mckenzie Mgbako who are both 5 star returning starters and a 5 start incoming freshman who are both making a pretty penny as well. We're potentially talking about a $6 million dollar roster and it's absolutely wild that this is what college basketball has become.
They are following right along with football. Imagine what a top 10 football roster is costing right now!