Caitlin Clark Capitalised on LSU’s Lost Time, Can Iowa Hawkeyes Win the 2024 NCAA Title?
Caitlin Clark almost had the perfect season last time around. The reigning National Player of the Year won every individual accolade in her 2022-23 campaign for the Hawkeyes. Her prolific form led Iowa to the NCAA Finals for the first time in the program’s history. Unfortunately, she couldn’t get Iowa over the line as the LSU Tigers stopped their tracks in the Finals. They suffered a heartbreak 102-85 defeat in the championship game. Be that as it may, Iowa and Caitlin Clark have made a fantastic start to what may people a ‘redemption season.’
The 2022-23 NCAA finalists have been dominant from the word go this season, winning 10 out of their 11 games. As a result, they are currently sitting on the No.1 spot in the 2023-24 Big Ten Standings. Moreover, apart from their loss to Kent State, they have looked to be in complete control every time they stepped onto the court.
Also, in 7 out of their 11 games, Iowa has come out victorious with a margin of more than 20 points. What’s interesting is how they are securing these victories. Iowa hardly breaks a sweat and can easily dictate their opponents from start to finish.
Another noteworthy highlight of their game is their on-court chemistry. A lot of credit should be given to Lisa Bluder, as she has been successful in cracking the perfect team combination in the opening month. Moreover, the bench strength that this team possesses looks better than most of the starting line-ups. Additionally, each player has the potential and ability to be a nightmare for others. However, as perfect as the team looks, there are still some things that need to be addressed.
What are the grey areas in the Hawkeyes’ locker room?
One of the things that head coach Lisa Bluder needs to work on is to get more out of her underperforming forwards. The Hawkeyes have no shortage of talented and skillful options in their ranks. However, none of them have been able to match the expectations that the tournament demands. Bluder’s No.1 choice Hannah Stuelke has started in 8 out of the 11 games for Iowa so far. Furthermore, she has the best on-court figures on the team. Unfortunately, the No.45 has not delivered according to the competition’s standards. Similarly, Addison O’Grady, Jada Gyamfi, and AJ Ediger’s dismal show can mess things up for them in the latter half.
Another major area of concern for Iowa is its over-dependence on Caitlin Clark. The 2023 NCAA finalists rely heavily on their dynamic point guard to step up and save the day more often than not. Seemingly, only three players in their roster are having a double-digit average in the competition so far. In addition, there is a daylight difference if we compare the averages of Caitlin with her teammates. Clark’s astonishing average of 29.5 is miles ahead of Hannah Stuelke’s 12.8 per game who is occupying the second spot.
One of the major reasons why the Hawkeyes are running rampant this season is Caitlin Clark’s yet another successful season with
them.
